The Republican journal., 1913-09-25
A Royal Change
of Mind
By ARTHUR W. BREWSTER

KING OF WOrtenberg Tor the hand OF
the latter's oldest daughter. Amalia.
for the formers son, Prince Carl The
matter having been satisfactorily ar
ranged so far as diplomacy was con-
cerned, the prince set out for the CAPT.
tai Of Aurania to make the acquaint-
ance of his fiancee Being averse to
display of any kind, he travelled in
cognito and arrived at the palace with
out being heralded.
Passing along a corridor on his way
to his room. he met young girl who
from her costume might have been
a governess. reader or have occu,
pied any Of the lesser duties of one
belonging to the palace. Never had
the prince seen woman who so COM
pletely struck his fancy Princes need
to be more careful of their doings in
some respects. but may take greater
liberties in others. Prince Carl pur-
posely stumbled and. falling toward
the girl. kissed her
She passed on without making any
protest, though her cheeks turned Grim
son. The prince as soon as his atten-
ton could be diverted from her saw
a man standing at the other end of the
corridor looking at him with fire in
his eye. Carl took no notice of this
person, but entered the suit of apart
ments that had been assigned him
The royal family and guests met for
dinner. and Prince Carl was then for
mally welcomed and introduced to his
fiancee, the Princess Amalia He was
also introduced to her younger sister
the Princess Louise, and was aston
ished to recognize in her the girl whom
he had kissed in the corridor 4 third
Introduction was to Danilo, crown
prince of Endimia. who he was told
was sutton for the hand of Louise
He was the man who had witnessed
the kiss.
Neither Louise nor Danilo made
the slightest reference to Prince Carts
transgression. nor did they ever show
by their manner that they We're con-
scious of it. This was not matter
of surprise to Carl who was used TO
court ceremonial and the treatment of
enemies with a studied politeness. But
he knew we'll that he would have to
answer for his bold act How he would
be punished he did not know. but since
that was an age when men fought per-
sonal combats he expected a challenge
The only person whose manner was
not satisfactory to Prince Carl was the
Princess Amalia. She treated him with
such scrupulous politeness that it was
evident she had been informed of his
transgresson. The day after his ar
rival the king. her father sent his
prime minister to say that since the
marriage with the Princess Amalia
had been arranged political comrli
tons had arisen that would render the
match undesirable
Upon receiving this information
Prince Carl made preparations to leave
the capital. On the evening before his
departure an officer of the household
guards called upon him to ask salts
faction on the part of Prince Danilo
for an insult offered the Princess Lou
lse Carl referred him to friend, and
it was arranged that a meeting should
take place the next morning at sun
rise in an onen space surrounded by
trees in the royal park
On the evening of his arrival Prince
Carl had sent 4 courier back to his
father the king of Aurania, to say
that the match with the Princess
Amalia was impossible and to send
posthaste a request for the hand Of
the Princess Louise. The reply to
this, formal demand for the hand
Of the younger princess, was handed
the king of Wortenberg at the same
time that Carl received Danilos chal-
lenge The king, knowing of Carl's
expected departure the next day, at
once called a family conclave to de
eide upon whether to give the prince
encouragement to remain or to permit
him to depart After discussing the
matter before arriving at a decision
the Princess Louise was called in and
the case stated to her Should the AT
fair with Danilo. which was being
considered by the council of state. be
allowed to go through. or should it be
broken off and consideration be given
to the demand of the king of Aurl-
MIA?
Il will not marry Prince Danilo."
she said. And if Prince Carl pro-
noses to me 7 will marry him no mat
ter what action the council may take"
Now. the princess was young wo-
man of considerable firmness. She
laid out duties for herself to perform
daily. and it was in working costume
that Carl had mistaken her identity
Her father we'll knew that when she
took a position all the kings horses
and all the kings men couldn't make
her change it. Without waiting to
hear what he had to say further she
went to her apartments for considera-
ton, for she had got wind of the duel
to take place in the morning and
wished to prevent it. The result Of
her deliberation was a note to Danilo
saying that. though she had been high
ly honored by his proposition she
would decline It,
This was tantamount to an order for
him to withdraw his challenge. for, ex-
cept for being considered an appli
cant for her hand be was not called
upon to protect her. Carl went to the
grounds in the morning. where he re-