Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-12
Continued from, page g

runaway they sought. And Grand Duke |
Karl, readily run to cover upon his second |
visit to the Van Kirk mansion, had madly |
proclaimed his love for miss Thurley,"
whom alone he wished to wed.
The Baron was thus doubly bewildered |
and harassed. If the Princess still lived and |
was discovered, these two must wed and be |
returned to Hertzegotha forthwith. If it |
should be discovered, beyond peradventure, |
on the other hand, that Princess Thirvinia |
had paid for her folly with her life, it might |
not be altogether preposterous to persuade |
Miss Thurley, as her double, to assume her
royal place. The adjustment of matter
so delicate was not simple affair.
The Baron was not in the least discounted
now to discover Thurley temporarily absent
from the scene.
81 shall approach the subject of my ap-
pearance frankly" he said to Alice, as soon
as mere conventional greetings had been ex-
changed, "and perhaps it is as well to re-
quest permission to ask few questions of
yourself at once"
"Please feel quite at liberty to do so" said
Alice, masking her feelings with a smile. |
"Perhaps shall be able to assist you
"Please acquit me of any desire to intrude
personal curiosity in a matter become ex-
ceedingly grave" he begged courteously,
"and permit me to apologize in advance for
quirements in a matter of some delicacy.'
Alice nodded, and he continued.
"Perhaps Miss Thurley has already ac-
quainted you with the substance of our last
Conference!'
eyes, to some extent"
"That is we'll and should save considerable |
time. May | now inquire what attitude of
mind Miss Thurley expressed or betrayed
concerning his Excellency the young Duke?"
"Why,' said Alice, II think she hardly
knew herself"
"He was honored by carriage visit with
yourself and Miss Thurley recently?'
"He drove with us, yes"
IL am aware of his instant infatuation
with and high regard for your protegee. Is
it possible now, or might it ever be possible, |
for Miss Thurley to requite his esteem, his |
love, in a word,-should occasion arise to
make such an outcome desirable?'
Alice was certain now the genuine Prin-
cess was dead and Thurley politically re-
quired. She was almost equally convinced
that Thurley had actually been abducted
for this reason and the Baron was here to
make all possible amends, without, however, |
relinquishing his captive.
She answered incautiously, "Was this the
reason you desired and requested her to con-
tinue in the cole somewhat thrust upon her |
by an Overzealous public?"
He colored slightly. Certainly not! At
the time of that request no such necessity |
seemed even remotely suggested, believe |
me, Madam. There may be no such neces- |
sity now. Perhaps | am premature in pre- |
pairing for any such emergency. l have
merely asked you the question:
Alice felt little, the constraint of his |
position. She resolved upon holder stroke. |
3Thurley might learn to care very dearly |
for any honorable, handsome young man;
but not, Baron Hochhaus, by force!"
HE looked his genuine surprise. "By |
IL force? Most certainly not. my dear Mrs. |
Van Kirk! Miss Thurley's entire coopera-
ton, if not her voluntary, spontaneous re-
spouse to the young Dukes exalted emotion,
would be an absolute essential to the fur
therance of any such development as fancy
and necessity might presuggest at this per-
haps untimely moment"
Alice had almost hoped for proof that the
Baron had procured Thurley's spiriting
away. She could have been certain, at
least, of the girls comfort security, and
freedom from violence or danger. Now she
underwent doubt, SO candid was the Baron.
Yet she tried another tack.
as not the matter, the question, after all,
one to be answered only by Miss Thurley
herself?"
"Most certainly, in its fnalitv. Yet |