The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-06-06
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to the little mademoiselle telling her Of
his scheme.
Mademoiselle could hardly wait. I'm
asaine how her little heart beat as she
waited for the appointed hour. and how
excited she was when she saw this coach,
just like Mime. VS. draw up to the con-
vent door.
''Oh, there is Nine v. come to take me
out she said to her governess. as she
hurried as fast as her poor body would
carry her to the great front door of the
convent. There, indeed. was a lackey.
dressed in livery just like Nine. VS.. He
gave her a note addressed to the superior
which she carried in great haste to the
good nun.
From Mime. ". of course" said the
superior. glancing at the note. ITO be
sure you can go. child. / always like to
have you go with her, so long as your
governess is with you.
With that mademoiselle ran back to
her governess and babe her put on her
hood and come with her. So the two got
into the coach and although the sharp
eyes of mademoiselle saw that the fit
ings of the coach were newer than those
of Nine. VS. the governess suspected
nothing for several minutes.
But no sooner were they out Of sight OF
the convent than the coach stopped and
the prince, who had been waiting, OPEN
ed the door and jumped in.
"Oh, my dear prince" cried madem-
oiselle. her eyes trimming with happi-
ness.
Help! help" screamed the governess,
almost faiting with alarm. Then, Shrek
ing. she threw herself on her knees on
the floor of the coach.
Have done with your foolishness,"
said the prince. But the governess con-
tinued to scream Justify. whereupon the
prince rammed his handkerchief into her
mouth to keep her quiet.
All this time the coachman drove with
all haste to the country home of a friend
of the prince who was in the secret. Here
the prince jumped from the coach and
with all tenderness helped his little mad
emoiselle to alight. the lackey meantime
bustling the startled governess out of
the coach into the house.
At the door the princes friend stood
with a smile and a hearty welcome.
The good father and have been wait
ing this half hour he said. laughing.
Sure enough, there stood a jovial wan
dering priest whom the princes friend
had secured to perform tho ceremony.
The little party. including the governeAs
who now, at the sight OF the priest.
seemed to be paciled. all went into the
chapel adjoining the house and the
prince was married to mademoiselle.
Then followed a supper that the
princes friend had ordered-Just a SIM
pie meal. not at all what a prince usually
would have at his wedding. But who
knows. maybe 1t tasted better than a
feast in a palace for all that For q
few hours the happy prince and his low
ing bride stayed at their friends house,
but when It was time for mademoiselle-
or the princess. as she now was. to re-
turn to the convent, she and her gov
erness got into the coach and drove
away.
The first thing that the princess did
when she returned was to go to the sis
ter superior and tell her everything she
had done.
Then the princess wrote to her mother
telling her what had happened and beg
ging her to give her her blessing.
Now wouldn't. you. II you had been
Mime. r.. have forgiven the princess, II
you knew she loved the prince? OF
course you would, but Mime. r. was such
a hard-headed old thing that she was as
cross as ever could be and vowed that
the prince should never see her daunhter
again as long as she lived and sent word
to the convent to have six nuns stand
guard over her daughter day and night.
The princes mother and father. too.
were as cross as COulQ De.
Meantime. the prince. who hadn't seen
his wife since the day they were mar
Red went to the king.
You see, your majesty" he said with
due respect, II was betrothed to Mile.
R.. and our wedding would have come to
pass anyway II IL had not been for 4
question Of money. I caro- not whether
she comes to me penniless or not. I
want her for herself. not for her for
tune"
Now. I suppose the king must have Q
warm streak somewhere In his old heart.
At anysrate. he listened very kindly to
the prince and then said:
Go. tell your mother thu II she does
not sign the marriage contract I shah
make the marriage valid by my own SOW
ereign authority"
This was saying q great deal a. You
know. and the prince was overcome with
gratitude. He delivered his message and
the king stood by his promise. Tho con-
tract was signed and the prince and
princess lived happily all the rest II
their lives. /