Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-09-10

was serious. and her eyes were mourn
full. She carried an envelope In hel
hand tightly
princess. what is itg'
She is dead. highness. and l found
this letter under her pillow"
Herbeck took the envelope.
"DeadT" Hildegarde's eyes filed.
who is deadT" demanded the duke
Emma Schultz. father oh. / know
you viii forgive me for this deception
She has been in Dreiberg - a month
dying. and / have often stolen ont Ia
see her" She let her tears fall unre.
strained.
The duke stared az the rug. Present
~ be said. let her be buried I'm con
secrated ground. Wrong or right that
chapter is closed. my child. What f.
IN the letter, HerbeckT"
HerbeCk was n strong man. lie WAS
always far removed from tears. bu,
there was a mist over the usual CLARITY
Of hts vision lie ripped down the
dap IL was only a simple note TO her
serene highness begging her 20 give
the inclosed banknotes TO one Crotch.
en-. who lived I'm the Krumerweg. The
notes represented thousand crowns.
Take them. little goose girl" saLl
the duke. Your ship has come in
This will be your dowry"
An icy shiver ran UP and down,
Gretchen's spine. shiver OF wonder
delight, terror. A thousand crowns, 4
fortune,
And l shall add TO il another thou
sand" said Hlldcgarde. "Give them
10 me. father"
In all this fortune amounted 20 ne
tie more than 500. but 20 Gretchen
frugal and thrifty. 90 whom q single
crown was large sum. TO her IL rep
resented wealth. She was now the
richest girl In the lower town. Dreams
OF Kaleidoscope variety flew through
her head. Tears sprang into her eyes.
she had the power 20 do no more than
weep.
The duke was the first 10 relieve the
awkwardness Of the moment
Count has IL not occurred 10 YOU
that we stand in the presence Of two
very beautiful young women
Herbeck Scrutiuized Gretchen with
care. Then he compared her with the
princess. The duke was right. And
the thing which struck him with most
force was that. while each possessed
a beauty individual 20 herself. Il was
not opposite. hut strangely alike.
When the duke was alone he slowly
passed ON 90 his secretary and opened
. q IN II. In IA
the desk and united the string one
by one he ranged the articlcs-two lit-
tie yellow shoes little cloak trimmed
with Crmlne. There had been a Iocket.
but that was now worn 10y her high
ness.
Hermann Brcunncr lived in the gran
tie lodge just within the eastern gates
Of the royal gardens lie was a wild
over and shared the ample lodge with
the undergraduates and their families.
He was man OF broOding moods. and
there was no laughter "a his withered
heart. lie adjusted his heavy specta-
cles and held the note slantingly to-
ward the candle. A note or letter was
a singular event in Hermann's lie.
This note. left by the porter OF the
Grand hotel, moved him with surprise.
IL requested that he present himself
at $ O'Clock az the Office OF the hotel
and ask 90 be directed 70 the room OF
Hans Grumbach, whoever he might Ice
lie decided 20 go. Certainly this
man Grumbach did not urge him with
out some definite purpose. The con
cierge az the hotel, who knew Her
mann. conducted him 10 room 10 on
the entresole. Hermann knocked. A
voice babe him enter.
You wished to see meT'
Yes Offering a chair
You are Hermann Breunncr." be
gan Grumbach. "and you once had "a
brother named Hans"
Hermann grew rigid in bis chair. u
have no brother"
'You did have"
Hermann's head dropped. My God.
yes. I did have a brother. but ne was
a scoundrel"
Perhaps he was a scoundrel. lie is
dead" softly.
Gods viii be DONE But Her
mann's face turned lighter
AS boy he loved YOU"
And did l not love him?" said Her
mann fiercely. did l not worship that
boy. who was more like a son 60 me
than a brotherT"
Il knew your brother. I knew him
well. He was not scoundrel. only
weak He went 10 America and be
came successful In business. lie fought
with the north in the war. lie was
not coward. He did his lighting
bravely and honorably. He died facing
the enemy. and his last words were Of
you He begged your forgiveness. He
implored that you forget that black
moment He was young. be said. and
they offered him a thousand crowns.
In moment OF despair he FELL
Despair, Did he confessy7
Eyes"
did he tell you to whom he sold his
honorT'