Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-11-26

VS. well. But Van der Donken said that
King Huberts mind was set on the
Princess Xenia, and he believed that
If she could be persuaded to decline
Prince Carl the matter would be SIM
plifled He suggested that Carl pay
the visit to Xenia, but 80 made up that
he would appear unattractive to her,
end he could treat her so indifferently
or even rudely that she would refuse
to marry him.
The minister finally persuaded Cath
crime to agree to this, and the prince
went back to Lituria with Van der
Donken. Then, having made his prep;
arations for the journey, taking with
him only two friends who were in his
secret, he set out for the capital Of
Brentino On the way he darkened
his complexion. One of his friends, an
artist, painted little pimples all over.
his face, and the prince put on red
these features on the part of Anneke
and thought they might repel the Prin-
cess Xenia.
When the formal introduction took
place the princess raised her fan to
her face-what for no one knew, but
Prince Carl presumed that 1t was to
conceal her disgust for him. But 1t
seemed rather to conceal smile, for
she offered her hand to him most cor
daily He bowed and kissed 1t, then
looked up ut very beautiful girl.
There was that in her appearance to
remind him of some one he had seen
before, but he could not place the per-
son. He tried to say something dis
agreeable, but the words stuck In bis
throat The princess slipped her hand
on his arm and drew him away from
the others into an apartment where
they would be alone together.
From the moment the prince saw the
Princess Xenia lie was attracted to
her, and It was not long before he re-
GREETED having disobeyed his father In
refusing to marry her. The saying
absence makes the heart grow fond
err" did not pertain to him. The Prin-
cess Catherine being out of sight was
out of mind. Nevertheless he had been
so long dominated by her superior will
that the idea of being unfaithful to her
filed him with terror. At the same
time the influence of the woman pres
ent became steadily stronger. The
Princess Xenia did everything needful
to concentrate his mind upon herself.
She gave fetes In her honor, and in
each her costume was designed to en-
nance her beauty,
Prince Carl had promised Catherine
that every day he would send her a
message telling her how he was getting
on I'm repelling the Princess Xenia. The
day after his arrival at Brentino he
wrote that he was acting as brutally
as possible. But those about him no.
tlced that BIS pimples had suddenly
been healed. The second day he wrote
that he had offended the princess. But
while dressing In the morning he wash
ed Off his dark complexion The third
day he wrote that he was very near
being sent away. This he really be-
lleved to be true, for when sitting by
Xenia she pulled Off his wig and ap-
peared to be very much displeased With
him for coming to court disguised.
On the fourth day Carl wrote Cath
crime that something especial had hap
pened; he would write her a full &C.
count Of 1t soon. This is what he re-
ferred to:
When he Joined the Princess Xenia
he found In her stead his wife, AnnelHe.
She threw her arms around his neck,
but he repealed her. Then she pulled
Off his red wig and, turning to foun-
tain, washed her face. Turning to him,
he recognized the Princess Xenia.
What does all this mean2" he asked.
ut means that your father, King
Hubert, having received from my ia
Their an offer Of my hand for you, in
formed us that 80 far as he was con-
cerned the offer was accepted, but I'M
fortunately you had fallen under the
spell Of another woman. If, however,
| would agree to plan to defeat this
other woman devised by his prime
minister he hoped all would be Welt
| assented and was married to you as
a h0mely simpleton."
The princess kicked Off her wooden
shoes and displayed a pair of tiny
feet incased In kid shoes. She un-
fastened her petticoats and appeared
in a morning gown of silk and laced
Next her bodice came off and showed
corsage to match her other appareli
Then the prince folded her in his arms.
The prince at once sent for Van der
Donken, who came posthaste and was
informed that Prince Carl and Prin-
cess Xenia, having been married Sc
cretly, desired that preparations for
their public wedding should be made
with as little delay as possible. The
prince never wrote Catherine what had
happened, having forgotten all about
her. Van der Donken returned to
King Hubert, and the king was so
pleased with his management of the
problem that he at once created hims6
duke.
An announcement made that the
kingdoms of Lituria and Brentin1
would be united by the marriage rofl
Prince Carl and the Princess XeniM
filed the people Of both kingdoms Witt
delight. A few weeks later a public
marriage took place at the capital ~
Brentino, at which there was great,fb1
joicing. For many years Queen Xenial
preserved the red wig and wooden
shoes In which she had been private4
~ married to King Carl, and aftersheE
death they were removed to the roy61
AZ for the Princess Catherine, She
was 80 cut up by being tricked thaE
she never married, and after her f6j
TIERS death the crown OF PomariM
passed to another branch OF the royal
family.