Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-03-28

lily roll.
He made deprecating gesture
Don't let that disturb you, cousin"
"And, believe me, also, had no in
tention to disclose my relationship" L
protested.
The king laughed. "You could not
hide it with that face" he said. per
chance you never heard of a certain
letter dispatched to Hugo by his broth
err Frederick after Henry's death2" he
asked.
"And delivered by his ambassador
1 supplemented
''rhe same. Hugo seems to have
kept a journal"
He kept the letter itself and copy
of his answer" / added
The king laughed. altogether HUI
go must have been a rare fine fellow
with mind of his own"
"He was son of Henry ILL.," an
swered.
The king nodded "Yet twas pity
he did not accept Frederick's offer"
Il fancy the new life was more to
his mind
Doubtless. But had he returned it
would be you and not Ferdinand of
Lotzen who would be the heir pre-
sumptive of Valeria.'
| smiled. Had he returned l would
not be l."
True enough" said he. "But think
of the crown of your ancestors that
might be yours"
1T is enough to be a Dalberg.
have never thought of the CROWN" l
answered.
There spoke the son of Hugo" he
said
Then door behind us opened and l
heard the trail of a gown-whose, it
was easy to guess. Only one woman
could have the privilege of entering
the kings presence unbidden.
AS Courtney and arose and stepped
back, the princess halted uncertainty
Come, Dehra," said the king You
know the American ambassador
Courtney bowed, but the princess
held out her hand, saying cordially:
Eve are glad to welcome Mr.. Court
uey mere as resident.
Courtney made some fitting reply
there was always one on the end of
his tongue And then the king turned
to me.
Major Dalberg," he said, salute
your cousin"
For moment l was too confused to
move. The one thought that kept
pounding through my brain was,
What am 1 expected to do?" Fred
erick had saluted me with kiss: was
1t possible he meant me to kiss Dehra.
L glanced across at Courtney; he was
struggling to suppress his merriment;
then back at the princess and caught
What l was fool enough to imagine
was a look Of glad surprise. She had
recognized and remembered me.
That settled it. 1 stepped forward
and deliberately kissed her on the
cheek
The next instant my mouth stung
with the blow Of an open hand, and |
was looking down into the flashing
eyes and flaming face of the princess.
1t was quite evident l had not been
expected to kiss her.
"Sir!' she exclaimed "Sirw And
with each word she seemed to strike
me afresh. Then words failed her.
and with another gesture of disdain
she gave me her back.
"Your majesty, who is this she
began.
Then she stopped, and 1 heard her
catch her breath. The next moment.
with high held head, she swept by
me and from the room, and with her
going crumbled all the bright castles
l had builded on the memories Of that
ride In the forest six years before.
l turned, expecting to face the scorn
OF the king, and found him wiping the
tears from his eyes and shaking with
laughter.
So this was what had sent Dehra
from the room in anger. And straight
way the skies frightened. Plainly If
her father were not offended l might
yet make my peace with her.
Then I, too, began to smile. Doubt
less there was a funny side to it,
though it seemed to be more evident
to the spectators than to me. At any
rate, the king still laughed, and so did
Courtney, though quietly and discreet
~. His, admit, did not relish. so |
spoke.
Il am very sorry, your majesty. 1
meant no offense"- began.
Nonsense, major" the king inter
rupted. "You gave none. She mis-
understood the whole matter. | for
got she doubtless knows nothing of
the American branch Of the house. so
my calling you cousin conveyed no
meaning II indeed she even heard it.
She simply thought you a presumptu-
GUS stranger. But no Dalberg is
stranger to Daiberg and least of all
In the presence of the Dalberg king.