River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-12-04
1Copyright 1913. by ". G. Chapman)

attendance at the palace; you will
take up your quarters there and will
keep the Princess Juliana constantly
under your supervision.
Now, my dear Lane, there is
very unfortunate incident in this af-
fair. The notorious Princess Clothil-
de, of Austria, who is well known to
be connected with the League, has
been installed at The Hague for sew
eral weeks as the Princess Juliana's
music teacher. She has completely
won the favor of Queen Wilhelmina,
and all representations made to her
majesty on this point have been fruit
less. When the queens mind is made
up nothing can shake her. In that
respect she is a true Netherlander
And her majesty, unfortunately, has
the most complete confidence in
the Princess Clothilde. So you will have
to regard the princess as an enemy
within the gates. Won Grobelaar will
doubtless post you on all necessary
matters. You can trust him implicit
| ly. Good morning, Mr.. Lane. You
will report to me here five days hence
at the same hour"
Lord Claude handed Paul his cigar
cite case again, lit cigarette for him,
and bowed him to the door. In spite
of the nonchalance of his demeanor,
Paul felt that Tresham was seriously
alarmed as to the outcome
The thought of meeting Clothilde
again, matching himself against her,
sent the blood coursing wildly through
PauFs veins. He hurried home, pack
ed his suitcase, and caught the next
train for Harwich, whence a fast
steamer landed him in Holland on
the following morning. That afternoon
he reached The Hague and he drove
at once to the palace and was soon
in consultation with Won Grobelaar.
The minister proved to be a resolute,
tried old man of about seventy years.
He welcomed Paul without the slight
est formality, and anXiously read
through the credentials which Lord
Tresham had furnished him. Then,
with grave mien, he asked him to
be seated
Il have received a communication
from Lord Tresham," he said HE
has described you thoroughly, both in
features and manner, so that | am
confident that you are the person whom
you represent yourself to be. You
will appreciate the necessity of these
precautions when | tell you that Hol-
land is facing the greatest crisis in
all her checkered history It's pre-
4 nic &c CIT 1Iz1n tn h11f
we know enough to be aware that it
centers upon the Princess Juliana, and
it will be effected tomorrow evening,
as soon as the news is telephoned to
The Hague that her majesty has rati-
fled the treaty which is now pending
with Germany. Your task will be to
guard the little princess. You are
to act under my orders as the princess
guardian until her majesty returns. In
particular, you are to watch scrupu
lousy the Princess Clothilde, who is
quite we'll known to be an agent of
the League, and who, unhappily, was
placed in charge of the princess mu-
steal tuition by her majesty in spite
of all our representations.
Come, now" he added, land I will
introduce you to her highness."
With a beating heart Paul followed
the old minister along the main CORR
dor of the old-fashioned, rambling pal
ace, until they entered the royal apart
ments Sounds of child practicing
scales were heard as soon as the heavy
swing doors were opened, and Won
Grobelaar led Paul into the music
room, where, seated upon high stool,
| the royal princess was lingering a
small keyboard with her tiny fingers,
under the direction of Clothilde, who
sat beside her on a straightforward
chair
The entrance of the two caused an
immediate cessation of the lesson. The
child princess looked round curiously;
the other princess, she of Austria, rose
and stood looking at Paul deffantly
Her face was deeply flushed, and Paul
could see that her own agitation al
most equaled his own. He made an
obeisance to the child automatically,
and then heard Won Grobelaar begin
the laborious formula of a Dutch in
PRODUCTION.
Mr. Lane and l are old acquaint-
ances,' murmured Clothilde, inclining
her head.
Mr. Lane is to be assistant super
visor of her highness during her ma
iesty's absence" said the old gen
tleman.
Paul mumbled something which
seemed appropriate at the time What
it was he could not afterward recall.
In spite of his resolutions, the sight
of the woman whom he had once loved
devotedly. and whom, he knew, he
loved, in spite of his volition, still, had
completely overcome his self-posses-
sion He walked to her side like
man in a dream, and in the same me-
ichanical fashion went through the
process of introduction to the chief
nurse. Vrouw Leidermeer. a stout, mid
dle-aged person of apparent capabil-
ity.
During the remainder of that day the
four never left one another. They
seemed inspired by mutual distrust.
Under other circumstances, it would
have seemed comical to Paul for two
men and two women to attend labori-
ously upon the wishes of child that
devoted its pampered day to playing
with an enormous collection of toys
bricks, dolls of all kinds-and throw
ing them aside as it grew tired of each.
But to Paul the situation was fraught