Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-09-30

I'm YOUR PRESENCE, HIGHNRSs ?"
was revealed to her for the first time
strange flowers she had never seen be-
fore. 1t was all q fairyland. There
were marble urns With hanging vines
and marble statues.
A hand grasped her rudely by the
arm.
what are you doing here?" thun-
dered the head gardener. BE OF with
youw
How dare you touch me like that?"
she cried angrily.
Something in her glance cooled even
the warm blooded Hermann.
But you live in Dreiberg and ought
to know"
"You could have told me without
bruising my arm" defantly.
''Hermann"
Gretchen and the head gardener
whirled. Through q hedge which d.
vided the formal gardens from the
tennis aud archery grounds came
young woman In riding habit.
What is the trouble. HERMANN
she inquired.
Your highness. this young woman
here had the impudence to walk into
the gardens"
HAS she stolen any nowersT
"Why. no. your highness. but It is
not customary"
I'VE. you and l. Hermann" said her
hlghness. with a smile that won
Gretchen OH the spot. will overlook
this first offense Perhaps this young
lady had some errand and lost her
way"
"Yes. your highness." replied Crotch
en- eagerly.
"Ah: You may 20. Hermann"
Hermann bowed. gathered up his
pruning knives and scissors. which he
had let fall. and stalked down the
path.
"Whom were you seeking2" her high
ness asked. rather startled by the un-
deniable beauty Of this peasant.
Il was seeking your serene highness.
live ut No. 40 the Krumerweg.
"Krumerweg" Her highness reach.
ed for the note and read 1t. and az she
read tears gathered in her eyes. FOL
low me-" she said. She led Gretchen
to marble bench and sat down.
"Nhat is your nameT
"Gretchen. highness."
"Weli. Gretchen. sit down."
''ln your presence. highnessr'
aghast. T.
Don't bother about my presence on
a morning like this. Sit down."
This was command. and Gretchen
obeyed with alacrity. The two sat
mutely. They were strangely alike.
Their eyes nearly matched. their hair.
even the shape Of their faces. They
were similarly nodded. too. only one
was slender and graceful after the
manner Of fashion. while the other
was slender and graceful directly from
the hands of nature. The marked dif.
ference lay. Of course. In their hands
The princess had never toiled witt
her fingers except on the piano. Gretch
en- had plucked geese and dug vega
tables with hers. They were rough
but toll had not robbed them Of thei,
natural grace.
"How was she?" her highness asked
"About the same. highness."
"Have you wondered why she Shouts
write to me-?
"Highness. 1t was natural that
should" was Gretchen's frank admis-
sion.
''She took me In when nobody knew
who I was. clothed and fed me and
taught me music SO that some day I
should not be helpless when the battle
OF life began. Ah." impulsively. had
J my way she would be housed in the
palace. not in the lonely Krumerweg.
But my father does not know that she
Is In Dreiberg. and we dare not tell
him. for he still believes that she had
something to do with my abduction"
Then she stopped. She was strangely
making this peasant her conHdant.
What q within!
Gretchen did not move. She saw
that her highness was dreaming, and
she herself had dreams.
"Do you like music?'
"Highness, am always singing"
La. In. lap sang the princess ca.
priciously.
LA. la. la!" sang Gretchen. smiling.
Her voice was not purer or sweeter;
It was merely stronger. having been
to the open air.
'Bravar' cried the princess. "Who
Taught you to singT
Nobody. highness."
"What do you dor
Il am a goose girl. In the fall and
winter work at odd times in the
Black Eagle"
Tell me all about yourself"
This was easy for Gretchen; there
vas so little.
Neither mother nor father. Our
Ives are something alike. A handsome
girl like you must have a sweetheart"
Gretchen blushed. "Yes, highness.
am to be married soon Ho 1s a v,r<