The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-07
THE GOOSE GIRL
A Roma ntic Story BY
HAROLD Mac RATH Sss1
AuE60r 0T
HelxaHaaA te60x. H5ekHfp1f Mef7dH, ere.
con.rtcM 1oog TAs Robbs McrrtU Company
copyroAt 1909. rae Bobbs-MerrtH oompanD
OF
HefsaH0HAte6 BOX. the ZNfe0f MeHd

highness will give the proposal Your
thoughtfui consideration"
Have your way, then, but ON your
head be 1t II you commit me to any
thing"
The duke wgs about to gather up
hts documentary evidence, when Her.
beck touched his hand.
~ have an idea said the chancel-
lor. "a great many letters reach me
| from day TO day. ! have an excellent
memory. Who knows but that mighy
| Ind the true conspirator. the arch
| plottery Leave them with me. your
Highness."
Il shall not ask you to be careful
/ with them. Herbeck.'
Il shalt treasure them as my life"
] The duke departed, stirred as he
/ had not been since the restoration
OF the princess. Herbsek sometimes
| irritated him. for he was never in the
wrong. be was never impatient. he
was never hasty, he never had to 90
over o thing twice This aupernas
insight. which overlooked ali things
but results, set the duke wondering
II IIerhack- ~as- tfasIs nj htaia4s "A. = II
only he could catch him at fault once
| in while,
I, Count Won HerbeeK remained at hts
desk. his face as inscfutable as ever.
1 HIN GyGE Hlkbput eNpECbStUfs anu Astb
! lips expressing nothing. He smoothed
out a sheet OF paper, affxed the state
seal, and IN flowing hand wrote a
diplomatic note, considering the pro-
posai OF his royal hignness, the prince
regent or Jugenheit, on behalf of his
nephew, the king. Thig he placed in
/ the diplomatic pouch, called for
! courier. and despatched him at once
for tho frontier.
/ The duke sought his daughter. She
was IN the music room, surrounded
by several of her young women com
panions, each holding some musical
instrument in her hands. Hildegarde
was singing. The duke paused. shut
ting his eyes and striving to recall
the. voice of the mother. When the
voice died away and the young women
leaned back in their chairs to rest
the duke approached Upon seeing
him all rose. With smile q dis
missed them.
my chitd.'' ne began, taking
Hiidegarde's hand and drawing her
toward window-seat, the king of
Jugendheit asks for your hand"
Mine. father"
Even SO"
Then l arm TO marty the king of
Jagsndheit?" There was little JOY in
her voice.
''Ah, we have not gone So far as
has simply made proposal How
would you regard 1t. knowing what
you do OF the past, the years that you
lived III comparative penury, amid
hardships, unknown. and almost
without HAmsf"
Whatever your decision H. | shall
abide by IT,"
1t is q hard iesson we have 10
learn. my child. We can not always
marry where we iove: diplomacy ana
poitticx make other plans. But for
tunatety for you you love no one yet"
He put hts hand under her chin and
searched the desps OF her gray eyes
These eyes were more like her
nIother's than anything else about her.
The king is young. handsome, they
say. and rich. Politically speaking, Il
~ouidtbe great match"
II en- In your hands You know
what In heat
The duke was poignantiy digappoint-
ed. Why did she not refuse outright.
ind iErantig. contemptuousy, as be-
came one OF the House of Ehrenatein
Anything rather than this eesnpla-
cones.
1 what IL me nkeg' disengaging his
hand and turning her face toward
the window.
That no one seems TO know Hc has
been to his capital but twice In ten
years. which doubtless pleased his
uncle, VINO loves power for it's own
sake. This young king has been In
Paris most of the time. That's the
way they educate kings these days.
They teach them all She Vices and
make virtue an accident Your father
loves you. and II you ara Inclined to-
ward his majesty, II Ii is in your heart
, to become 4 queen. l shall not let my
prejudice stand In the way"
She caught UP his hand with a
strange passion anu kissed it.
Father. do not want to marry
Il any ONE wisxfully. "Rut a dueent"
she added thoushtfuIly.
ut - only q sound, my dear; do
not let II delude you. Herbeck advises
! this alliance. and while I realize that
hie Judgment Ia right, my whole soul
rtvolts against II. But all depends
upon ycn."
Would 1t benefit the people
would It be FOR the good OF the
stAte?'
Here was reason. Yes: nay objec-
! .-.ons are merely personal said the
I duke. =.
For the coed CT my country, which
. ] love, am ready 60 make any sacri-
nee. / shail think II ovor."