The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1914-12-16
A
Lover S est
Bv LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

NJ Prussia was in the iiiltrl'i"'iii"'
market. One day Prussihn depu'a
tion called on the reigDing duke W
one of the smaller Of the German states
and made proposal for the manu- o'
the dukes youngest daughter E'Sh
then nineteen, years old. Her father
astonisbed and delighted al Icing 80
honored went at once to communicate
the news to his daughter. Elsa re'eN
ed it without the transports eXhi''i'ea
by her father.
II am disappointed" she said "'or
have always supposed that not enough
princes Of the blood would lie 'ounu
for nv older sisters and that "ou'u
be permitted to marry. If at ali, TOT
love will not wed the prince.
Her father argued and storned. put
could only secure his daughters con-
sent to the wedding on CONDITION 'na'
she spend some time In Berlin that sne
| might become acquainted with Tue
nrince and IL he did not please her she
,.ou,d break the bptrothal. Since her
| father must accept this condition OF
send refusal to the KING OF i'"s'"'
he consented to 1t.
rb. crown prince pleased Elsa very
mucb with his personality. but did not
show her the attention she hau Il riEn'
TO expect from a tiance, lhere were
many eallants at the PruSSinn COURT
and the princess accepted the at'en'
lions of those who were sufficiently I'M
politic to give them. for 1t was nor eA-
pected that any man would ueNo'e n''i'
self to the betrothed of the heir aP'
parent. Count Caspar Audenreid was
ono who seemed willing to trespass ON
the royal domain, and ms a''eh'io"'
being accepted it was not long "eio'e
; the matter began to excite comment.
! Meanwhile the crown prince. VINO
= took an interest in state anairs.
0 husied himself with them and when a'
=. leisure instead of seeking the company
, of his betrothed. devoted himsell "
=, other women, lie did not seem to nouce
Count Caspar's attentions 10 r's", "
l. If he did they did not seem TO troup'e
- him. ,n,
y ELSA was pi1ued by his indifference.
+; Sha did not love the count or any u
- .ho ,tb,r courtiers who paid her atten-
' tion Indeed. she was niich cut w
q because the prince slighteu her' "a
last she concluded to withdraw iro"
ncrlin and on reaching her own NOME
, ,,,nnal her father to send word to tht
:, king Of Prussia that his daughter iii.
- Informed herself of the crown prince
~ desirobility and that she had NOT peer
,ueiciently we'll pleased with nm u
marry him.
z nc, was aware that her leaving Der
l lin would be Interpreted to mean .'',
sbe had refused the heir apparent
}. .h, throne. which would be considers
h an insult to the Prussian court an
nation She therefore detcrln'heu
depart secretly or at any rate "''"o0
leave. -, ,,,,ir
Ope night Il carriage stood waitin
q -. a doorway directly below her apar
y mcpts in the palace. Inc princes
y vciled. descended. entered the 'eh'e
L. and was driven away. a,
4 ON reaching wooded spot some VI
tonce from the city the carriage Wa
= stnnned and the door opened d!
- masked man - ,o soi
"pordon me. your highness' ne sal
81 am looking for one whom eApe'
ed to be with you.
.And who may he beT'
eS "Count Caspar Audenreid
ssya And pray what interest Is 20"
ES Audenreid to you!
M@ "None to me personally. out as y
10y ,hn has insulted my master, the Grow
ID prince. he is n good deai Vi 'ne ~. =
q me. | desire to avenge th"t ins".,
Il "you mean that his royal highh'
10 indifferent to his loss. but eA''en
~ sensitive to his dignity
LAS TO that the prince must SIZE
for himself. .,r, -, ,
s,ni.ct | presume you will peri
.Rut perhaps my master may des
% analogue. for his neglect OF one
whose hand he had proposed.
an that case It Is not necess'
chat I should return to Berlin
why not:"
ale stands before me-
How have you been able to rec
sE nize me-"
~ would know you through any
guise."
"Nay I ask where you are going!
"TIome."
"why are you leaving Berlin!
BECAUSE I will marry no man
: trcots me with Indifference.
And you are not accompanied
Count Audenreid?"
THAT you can see for yourself
"wm you give me anotnet tFIA''
the "Not in Berlin | shall be happ.
receive you ut my fathers capital
lenQ MAY l accompany you?"
him Elsa hesitated. A change had
IDENTIFY come over her betrothed.
med departure would doubtless occasio
great deal of talk and trouble.
lcId- "You may" she said.
The prince entered the vehicle.