The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-12-10
A STATE
MESSAGE
By ESTHER vANDEvEER

>~AAs c0AO LIZ ACAOO4l0A PAAA$0 va
Auretania to his chum, Count Krakou'
sky. 1.-THE diplomats have got up a
match between the Princess Alexia of
Metropolis and myself. They consider
it a fine political deal for me when l
come to the throne. That's oil very
we'll, but l don't propose to tie myself
down for life to a Gorgon. l wish you
to look her over and report"
Anything your highness DESIRES"
replied the count, "but I'll not prom
Use to keep of your preserve. l may
win the meat of the nut and leave
you nothing but the she'll"
IF you find her a Jezebel l hope you
will However, I'll have you watched.
l wish you to take a young man with
you named Caspar Audenreid. He'll
join you at Metropolis"
The count saw nothing Of Audenreid
till having been accorded an interview
with the princess. AS he was about to
enter the palace a a accosted him
and showed him a letter from Prince
Otto announcing that he was Caspar
Audenreid. and they went in together.
They were received by a maid Of hon
or, who told them that the princess
would receive them presently. In the
meantime the maid Of honor did what.
she could to entertain them.
When the princess came in Count
Carl, who was saving what he had to
say for the princess, was looking out
through a window, leaving the maid of
honor to Audenreid. Carl approached
the royal lady with great impressment.
bowed very low, kissed the tips of her
fingers and told her that his master
had sent him to assure her of the hap
piness he anticipated in their approach
ing union. The princess received the
messenger graciously and proposed
that they should walk in the royal
gardens.
The maid of honor rose to follow her
mistress. but the latter gave her by
look q command to remain away. The
count and the princess proceeded to
the gardens. where her royal highness
led him to a bower and. motioning
him to a seat beside her, asked him to
tell her all about the man she expected
to marry. Was he tall or short. a
blond OF a brunette, handsome or
homely. witty or dull? Indeed. she
fired questions, ut him so fast that he
could not find opportunity to reply to
them all.
But while she was talking of the
she seemed to be thinking Of
the count, now throwing her eyes at
his, now taking them suddenly away.
only to turn them back again. 1t was
not long before Carl began to think
that his threat to rob his master of
the princess heart might DC carried
out. He could certainly say truthful
" that the lady vas a very attractive
person. At any rate. she was so to
However, the count did not feel at
to make a long stay in Metro
polla and the next day proposed to
But the princess told him that
she was preparing a message for Prince
Otto and had not yet got it ready. She
limited that she was waiting for some
decision on the part Of the prime min
lister and the cabinet. OF course Count
Carl could not disobey what was a
and put off his return till
he should have the lady's permission
60.
The count from the moment he met
Caspar Audenreid saw nothing Of him.
When he asked the princess what had
become of his associate she told him
that he seemed to have taken a fancy
to her maid Of honor and the maid
to recipr0cate. Il have there
fore permitted them to remain togcth-
er." she said, mot caring to interfere
in q love affair"
1t occurred to Count Carl that this
was a device On the part of the prin- !
to prevent her OWL Irritation with
himself from being interfered with.
iae would have chuckled at having so
slipped into the princess favor
in place Of his master had it not been
that he was fascinated with her and
that a union between him.
self and n Of royal blood was i'm
possible.
The count vas kept at the capital Of /
Metropolis so long that he feared when
permitted to leave that he would meet |
with a severe reception. However. he
tore himself away at last and ven
tured to A%uretania.
WELL" said his master. what do
you think Of herr"
''She's not half bad" replied Carl.
Not half bad! Why. you're in love
with her."
How does your highness know
stammered Carl.
"Audenreid. whom I sent to watch
you, has told me So"
well, I warned you. What did Au-
denreid know of the matter? He saw
nothing Of me-"
II was Audenreid."
You Audenreid!
Yes. and the maid Of honor was the
princess"
The approaching nuptials Of the roy
al couple were announced. and in due
time Prince Otto proceeded with a suit
a a. 49,. - -eA.H - N~.-A N>.N