The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1915-12-24
A STATE
MESSAGE
BY ESTHER VANDEVEER

Carl" said the hereditary prince of
Auretania to his chum, Count Krakou-
sky, "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 I
come to the throne. That's all very
well, but I don't propose to tie myself
down for life to a Gorgon. I wish you
to look her over and report"
Anything your highness DESIRES"
replied the count, "but I'll not prom
Use to keep off your preserve. I may
win the meat Of the nut and leave
you nothing but the she'll"
IF you find her a Jezebel I 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 man 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 a 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 or a brunette, handsome or
homely, witty or dull? Indeed, she
fred questions at him so fast that he
could not find opportunity to reply to
them all.
But while she was talking of the
prince 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 be carried
out. He could certainly say truthful.
ly that the lady was a very attractive
person. At any rate. she was so to
Krakousky.
However, the count did not feel at
liberty to make a long stay in Metro.
polia and the next day proposed to
return. 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 9
command and put off his return till
he should have the lady's permission
to 60.
The count from the moment he met
Caspar Audenreid saw nothing Of him
When he asked the princess what haG
become of his associate she told hin
that he seemed to have taken a fancy
to her maid Of honor and the mait
seemed to reciprocate. II have there
fore permitted them to remain togeth
err" she said, mot caring to interior,
in a love affair.""
1t occurred to Count Carl that thi,
was a device on the part of the prin
cess to prevent her own Irritation will
himself from being interfered with
he would have chuckled at having 81
readily slipped into the princess favo
In place of his master had it not beef
that he was fascinated with her an,
remembered that a union between him
self and one of royal blood was i'm
possible.
The count was kept at the capital o
Metropolia so long that he feared whel
permitted to leave that he would NEE
with a severe reception. However. h.
tore himself away at last and ven
tured to Auretania.
well" said his master, what d
you think of herr"
shes not half bad" replied Carl.
Not half bad! Why. you're in low
with her."
How does your highness know
thatT' stammered Carl.
~"Audenreid. whom | sent to watc'
you, has told me So"
well. | warned you. What did Az
denreid know Of the matter? He SAL
: nothing Of me-"
II was Audenreid."