Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-22

What you say still remains to be
proved. Now, what is at the bottom
Of all this?" was the demand.
Hans crossed the room to the dukes
desk and spread ont his treasures I'M
der the Pickering c~andlelight. The
duke, with a cry Of terror. sprang to-
ward the secret drawer. His first
thought was that the shoes and cloak,
upon which only his eyes ever rested
now, had been stolen Nothing was
missing. He was overwhelmed, but he
steadied himself. He came back to
the desk and fingered the locket. The
duke opened the locket, looked long
and steadfastly at the portrait and
shut 1t. Then he went to the drawer
again and returned with the counter
parts. He laid them side by side. The
likeness was perfect in all details.
Carmichael" he said, twill you
please help me? Do l see these things
or do l not? And IL l do which Is
mine, and what does this signify"
Grumbach answered: This. high
ness. l took these from the little prin-
cess with my own hands. They have
never been out Of my keeping. Those
you have 1 know nothing about"
The duke rubbed his eyes. my
daughterT"
1.-THE Princess Hildegarde is not your
daughter, highness.' said Hans.
"Gott!" The duke smote the desk in
despair. "Herbeck! I must send for
Herbeck!"
Not yet, highness; later"
"But If not Hildegarde- I believe
I must be growing mad"
Patience, your highness," said Car
michael.
"Patience!!" YEARLY. "You say pa
tience when my heart is dying inside
my breast! Patience! Who, then, ia
this oma l have called my child?"
"God knows, highness" Hans stood
bowed before this parental agony.
But what proof have you that she
is not? What proof. 1 say?"
"Would there be two lockets, high
nessT"
"More proof than this will be need
ed. Produce It,"
Speak" said Hans to the gypsy.
"Highness," said the gypsy. bowling.
"he speaks truly. He came with us.
For fear that the little highness might
be recognized as we Travelled, we
/ changed her clothes. He took them.
together with the locket. One day the
soldiers appeared in the distance. We
all fed. We lost the little highness,
and none Of us eve knew what be-
came Of her. She wore the costume Of
my own children"
"We shall produce that in time" said
Won Arnsberg.
"Damnable wretchw said the duke,
addressing the gypsy.
The other shrugged. He had been
promised immunity. That was all he
cared about unless it was the bag Of
silver and gold this old clock member
had given him a few hours gone.
II am summoning> her highness,' -
said the duke as he struck the bell.
"And. highness," added Grumbach.
dispatch some one for Gretchen, who
lives at 40 the Krumerweg."
The goose girl? What does she
know? All. l remember. She is even
now with her hishness. l shall send
for them both"
Gretchen C~armichaers bewilder.
ment increased. What place had the
goose girl in this tragedy?
Nov. while we are waiting" re-
sumed the duke, his agitation some
what under control, 1.-The proof, the
definite proof"
Her highness stumbled one night"
said Hans, land fell upon the Gre. I
snatched her back. but not before her
left arm was badly burned"
The gypsy nodded. II saw it, high
ness"
And that was why Grumbach went
to the military baii with opera glasses!
Carmichael was round eyed. But
Gretchen?
1.-The Princess Hfdegarde has no
scar upon either arm" continued
Grumbach. II have e them. They
are without a single Jaw"
More than that" reiterated the
duke. That is not enough"
They became silent. Now and then
one or the other stirred. The duke
never took his eyes of the door
through which her highness would en-
ter.
Hildegarde came in presently, tender
with mercy. an arm supporting Crotch
en-, who was red eyed and white.
"You sent for US. father?"
How the word pierced the dukes
heart! "Yes. my child" he answered.
for. it mattered not who she was. he
had grown to love her.
II am sorry you sem for Gretchen"
said Hildegarde. 'She is i'll"
Gretchen sighed. 10 her the faces
of the men were indistinct, and, be-
sides, she was without interest. list
less. dropped.
my child. will you roll up your left
sleeve?" said the duke.
my sleevev' Hildegarde thought
fully looked around.
II cannot roll up this sleeve. ia
Their" blushing and a trife angry at
so strange a request.
Hans opened his knife and laid bare
! her left arm. She tried to the
arm.
LET me look at it, Hildegnrde." re-
quested the duke. To him she pre-
scented her arm. But there was neither
mole nor scar upon the round and love
~ arm.
why do you do this. father?"