The Washington times., 1911-09-12

| HlJgnt nave been the lawful and accuS
toned tenants Of the house for any out
ward evidence to the contrary
On the afternoon of the third daj
Prince Eugen was distinctly and seri
ously worse. Nella had sat up with hin
day >'''
Her father had spent the morning al
the hotel. and Prince Aribert had KEEP
watch. The two men were never alb.
sent from the house at the same time
and one of them always did duty as sen.
tinel at night.
Nella sat together in the patients bed
room. The doctor had just left. Theo.
dore Racksole was downstairs readine
the New York Herald.
The Prince and Nella were near the
window which looked on to the back
garden. II was a queer. shabby little
bedroom to- shelter the august body OF
a European parsonage like Prince Eugen
of Posen.
Curiously enough, both Nella and her
father ardent democrats though they
were had been somehow impressed by
the royalty and Importance of the fever
stricken Prince-impressed as they had
never been by Aribert.
They had both felt that here, under
their care, was a species of individuality
quite new to them and different from
anything they had previously encoun-
tered. Even the gestures and tones of
his delirium had an air of abrupt yet
condescending command-an imposing
mixture Of suavity and haughtiness.
AS for Nella, she had been first struck
bY the beautiful "E' over a crown on
the sleeves of his linen, and by the sig
net ring on his pale, emaciated hand.
After all these trffiing outward signs are
at least as effective as others of
deeper but less obtrusive significance.
The Racksoles, too, duly marked the
attitude of Prince Aribert TO his
nephew. 1t was at once paterna} and
reverential; 1t disclosed clearly that
Prince Aribert continued, m spite Of
everything, to regard his nephew as his
sovereign lord and master, as a being
surrounded by natural and Inevitable
pomp and awe. .'
This attitude, at the beginning, SEEM
ed false and unreal to the Americans;
gradually they came to perceive that
they were mistaken, and that though
America might have cast out the mon
archical superstition" nevertheless that
superstition had vigorously survived
in another part of the world.
You and Mr.. Racksole have been
extraordinarily kind to me-" said Prince
Arlbert very quietly, after the two had
sat some time in silence.
why. how?" she asked. unaHectedly.
We are interested in this affair our
selves, you know. 1t began in our hotel
you musnt forget that Prince"
II DON'T" he said. "I forget nothing
But / cannot help feeling that I have
led you into a strange entanglement.
Why should you and Mr.. Racksole be
here hiding in a strange house in for
eign country, subject to all sorts of an
noyances and all sorts of risks, simply
because 1 am anxious to avoid scandal,
to avoid any sort Of talk, in connection
with my misguided nephew?
1T is nothing to you that the heredi-
tary Prince of Posen should be liable to
a public disgrace. What will It matter
to you If the throne of Posen becomes
the laughing stock of Europe?" ~
II really don't know. prince" Nella
have a habit of gdng through with
we have begun"
"AhH' he said. who knows how this
thing will end? All our trouble, our
our watchfulness, may come
to nothipg. l tell you that when see
cannot learn his story until he RECEIVERS.
am ready to go mad .--..4
I'VE might be arranging things, max
Ing matters smooth, preparing for the
future. if only we knew-knew what he
can tell us. I tell you that am ready
TO go mad. If anything should happen
self
But why9' she questioned. Sup
posing, that is. that anything could |
ldppSu " IIc-WIiCH IL CdH L
Because I have dragged you into
his" he replied. gazing at her. 1T Is |
nothing tC you. You are only being |
Kind
How do you know it Is nothing to
re. Primer" she asked him quickly.
Just then the sick man made a con-
7ulsive movement and Nella flew to the
bed and soothed him.
From the head of the bed she looked |
'rer at Prince Aribert, and he returned
Ter bright, excited glance. She was in
Ter travelling crock, with a large white
Belgian apron tied over 1t.
Great dark circles OF fatigue and
leeplessness surrounded her eyes, and
o the Prince her cheek seemed followed
md thin; her hair Law thick over the
empIes, half covering the ears. >,
Aribert gave no answer to her query;
merely gazed at her with melancholy
Intensity.
Il think Nwill go and rest" she said
t last. You know all about the medi-
ine.F
"Sleep weIl,'' he said. as he softly
pened the door for her And then he
vas alone with Eugen.
1t was his turn that night to watch,
or they still half expected some
trange, sudden visit, or onslaught, or
move of some kind or another, from
ules
Racksole slept in the parlor on the
round floor. Nella had the front bed
oom on the first floor: Miss Spencer
'as' immured in tho attic: the last
AIMED LADY had been singularly quiet
nd incurious, taking her food from
leila and asking no questions; the old
oman went at nights to her own
bode in the purlieus Of the harbor.
HON after hour Aribert sat silent by
is nephew's bedside. attending mechan-
ally 10 his wants, and every now and
hen gazing hard into the vacant, an
IIished face IS IL trying tc extort
cid.
ArIbert felt that If he could have only
alf an hours. only a quarter Of an
ours. rational speech with Prince Eu-
en. all might be cleared UP and put |
ght: and he was tortured by the fact
lat that rational talk was absolutely
apostolic until the fever had run its
purse.