Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1910-03-04

lOur he smoked cigars Win nervous
haste, and then he fell to watching the
face of the illuminated clock above the
trees.
His perturbation was very evident,
and the prince noted in sorrow that its
cduse was connected In some manner
with the slowly moving hands Of the
timepiece.
His highness arose and went TO the
young mans bench.
Il beg your pardon for addressing
you" he said. but | perceive that you
are disturbed In mind. If II may serve
to mitigate the liberty ! have taken !
will add that | am Prince Michael, heir
to the throne of the electorate of Val
as you may gather from my appear.
ance.
ut is a fancy OF mine to render
aid to others whom | think worthy Of
1t. Perhaps the matter that seems
to distress you is one that would
more readily yield TO our mutual eff
forts
The young man looked up brightly at
the prince-brightly but the perpendic.
ular line of perplexity between his
brows was not smoothed away. He
laughed. and even then II did not. But
still he accepted the momentary diver
sion.
Glad to meet you. prince" he said
good humoredly. Yes, Id say you
were incog. all right. Thanks for your
offer of assistance. but don't see
where your butting In would help
things any. It's kind OF private af-
same"
Prince Michael sat at the young
mans side. He was often rebuffed.
but never extensively. His courteous
manner and words forbade that.
Clocks" said the prince. ARE
shackles on the feet OF mankind. |
have observed you looking persistently
at that clock. Its face is that of a
tyrant; its numbers are false as those
on lottery ticket: its hands are those
Of bunkO steerer who makes an
appointment with you to your ruin.
Let me entreat you to throw off Its
humiliating bonds and TO cease to
order your affairs by that insensate
monitor of brass and steel"
II don't usually" said the young
man. II carry watch except when
I've got my radiant rags on"
Il know human nature as | do the
trees and grass said the prince. with
earnest dignity. II am master OF
philosophy. graduate in art. and
hold the purse of a Fortunatus. There
are few mortal misfortunes that can
not alleviate or overcome. have read
your countenanee and found In 1t hon
esty and nobility as well as distress.
| beg of you to accept my advice or
aid. Do not belle the intelligence !
see in your face by judging from my
appearance of my ability to defeat
your troubles"
The young man glanced at the clock
again and frowued darkly. When his
gaze strayed from the glowing horo,
logue of time 1t rested intently upon a
four story red brick house In the row
of dwellings opposite to where be sat.
The shades were drawn, and the lights
in many rooms shone dimly through
them.
Ten minutes to o. exclaimed the
young man. with an impatient gesture
of despair. He turned his back upon
the house and took rapid step or two
in a contrary direction.
Remain commanded Prince Mi.
chael In so potent voice that the dis
turbed one wheeled around with a
somewhat chagrined laugh.
I'll give her the ten minutes, and
then I'm off," he muttered, and then
aloud to the prince. "rll join you In
confounding all clocks, my friend, and
throw in women too"
"Sit down." said the prince calmly.
II do not accept your addition. Wo-
men are the natural enemies Of clocks
and therefore the allies of those who
would seek liberation from these mon
sters that measure our follies and linn
1t our pleasures. II you will so far
confide In me / would ask you to re-
late to me your story"
The young man threw himself upon
the bench with reckless laugh.
Your royal highness, l WILL" he
said I'm tones Of mock Difference. "Do
you see yonder house-the one with
three upper windows lighted? Well,
at o'clock l stood in that house with
the young lady l am-that Is. | was
engaged to. l had been doing wrong.
my dear prince. had been naughty
boy, and she had heard of it, | want
ed to be forgiven. Of course. We are
always wanting women to forgive us.
aren't we. prince?
81 want time to think over It, said
she. There Is one thing certain-l
will either fully forgive you or will
never see your face again. There will
be no halfway business. At half past
g. she said. at exactly half past s,
you may be watching the middle upper
window Of the top floor II l decide
to forgive l will hang out Of that win
dow white silk scarf. You will
know by that that all is as was be-
fore, and you may come to me. If
you see no scarf you may consider
that everything between us is ended
forever That" concluded the young
man bitterly, ''is why have been
watching that clock. The time for
the signal to appear has passed twen.
ty-three minutes Do you wonder that
am a little disturbed. my Prince of
Rags and Whiskers"
LET me repeat to you" said Prince
Michael in his even. well ,modulated
tones "that women are the natura