Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-31
Copyright 1914, BY Dodd, Mead and
Company

ceprisht, 1914 BY Dodd, Mead and :
Company {
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CHAPTER XII.
Tho Lieutenant Receives Orders.
"HE next day brought not only an
agreeable change in the wealth
er, but most surprising altera-
ton In the manner of Mrs. Gas.
ton, whose attitude toward R. Schmidt
and his friends had been anything but
amicable up to the hour Of Miss
Gu1le's discovery. The excellent lady,
recovering very quickly from her in
disposition, became positively polite to
the hitherto repugnant Mr.. Schmidt.
She melted so abruptly and so COM
pletely that the young man was
vaguely troubled. He began to won
der If his incognito had been pierced,
so to speak.
He forbore asking when Miss Guile
might be expected to appear ON deck
for her constitutional, but she volun-
teered the information, which was
neither vague nor yet definite. In
fact, she said that Miss Guile would
be up soon.
Now it Is necessary to relate that
Miss Guile had been particularly firm
In her commands to Mrs. Castor. In
the first place, Mrs. CASTOR was given
to understand that she was not to
breathe 1t to a soul that R. Schmidt
was not B. Schmidt, and she was not
to betray to him by word or sign that
he was suspected Of being the Prince
Of Graustark. Moreover, the e1acting
Miss Guile laid great stress upon an
other command r.. Schmidt was
never to know that she was not Miss
Guile, but some one else altogether.
You're right, my dear" exclaimed
Mrs. CASTOR In an excited whisper as
she burst In upon her fair companion,
who was having coffee and toast In
her parlor. Marie, the maid, was
waiting to do up her mistress hair,
and the young lady herself was allur-
ingly charming In spite Of the fact
that it was not already done up"
HE is the-eEhe Is just what you
think"
Good heavens, you haven't gone
and done 1t, have your cried the girl,
a slim hand halting with piece Of
toast halfway to her lips.
Gone and done it,"
you haven't been blabbing, have
your"
'How can you say that to met Am
I not to be trusted? Am ! 80 weak
and
Don't cry. you old dear! Forgive
me. But now tell me-sbsolutely-
Just what you've been up to-" and Mrs.
CASTOR repeated every word Of the
conversation she had had with r.
Schmidt, proving absolutely nothing,
but stoutly maintaining that her In
tuition was completely to be depended
upon.
"And, OH" she whispered In conclu-
sion, wouldn't 1t be perfectly wonder
full If you two should fall in love with
each other
Don't be sillyi"
"But you have said that ifThe should
fall In love with you for yourself and
not because
II have also said that I win not
marry any man-prince. duke, king.
count or anything else-mless ! am
in love with him. Don't overlook thai,
please"
'1,,lt he Is really very nice. should
think you could fall In love with him.
Just think how It would please your
father and mother. Just think
II won't be bullied!"
"Am bullying your" in,amasement
mo. but father tries to bully me,
and you know it."
When she appeared on deck long
afterward she found every chair oc-
cupied. A warm sun, a far from tur-
bulent sea and refreshing breeze
had brought about marvellous trans
formation.
She made several brisk rounds Of
the deck, then, feeling that people
were following her with their eyes
admiringly, to be sure, but what OF
that?-she abandoned the pleasant ex-
ercise and sought the seclusion Of the
sunless corner where her chair was
stationed The ships daily newspaper
was Just OF. the press, and many Of
the loungers were. reading the brief
telegraphic news from the capitals Of
the world. She procured a copy Of
the paper from a steward and was
glancing at the headlines as she made
her way into her corner. Double
loaded type appeared over the rumor-
ed engagement Of Miss Maud Apple
gate BNthers, the beautiful and ac-
complished daughter Of the great capt.
talist, and Robin, prince Of Grau-
stark. A queer little smile played
about her lips as she folded the paper
for future perusal. Turning the cor
ners Of the deck building. she almost
collided with R. Schmidt. who stood
leaning against the wall, scanning the
little newspaper with eyes that were
blind to everything else.
"Oh!" abe gasped.
I'm sorry," he exclaimed, crumplfng
the paper IN his hand as he backed
away, flushing. Stupid Of me. Good
morning. -.
"Good morning. Mr.. Schmidt. It
wasn't your fault. I should have look
ed where was going. see you have
a paper. It appears that Miss Blith-
ers and the prince are to be married
after all"
Eyes, 1t is quite apparent that the
Blithers family wants a title at any
eost" he said.
Her ayes flashed with amusement at
bis reply.
would you like to take q few turns
around the deck, Miss Cutler he m
| quired, q trace Of nervousness IN his
manner.
Before deciding she shot an investi-
| eating glance into the corner. Mrs.
CASTOR was not only there, but was