The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-03-24

struct the scene, If you will permit
me-perhaps with little touch of the
romanticist's art.
"Of course the queens pledge was
sacred. There was no thought OF
spying upon the lovers. And in fact
so justified was the queen in her faith
in Barton's honor that he went to the
rendezvous fully determined to say
good-by for ever and go. But when he
saw Princess Bertha in the summer
house, where she had tremblingly
waited, and when she saw him, they
fell into each others arms, and for
the first time they felt each others
kisses upon their lips.
Then they forgot everything but
their love for each other. For half an
hour they sat entranced, hardly speak
ing, only Elurmuring words of happy
love. Then the young man realized
that half of his allotted hour was gone,
and he asked her whether she knew
how short a period remained to them.
And she cried pitifully, and chung to
him, and begged him not to leave her.
I will go away with you,' she sobbed.
I will go with you to the worlds end,
for cannot lose you. shall die with
out you. I am of no Importance to
anyone; let US go to America and for
get our past and the disparity in our
rank. and only know that we love
one another. Yes she continued, 4
I,o vrySf@ 60 -
captain, and I will sail with you all
over the world, or will live in some
little sea city waiting for you to re-
turn from your voyages, happy in the
thought of our reunion, living only for
you
Remember, Tarrant, she was only
twenty; she had been brought up as
simply as all princesses are; she knew
of life, nothing of love beyond
what her heart had taught her. And
they had loved each other since their
earliest childhood.
'If Barton was honorable, he was
no stronger than most men are. How
could he hold out against his sweet
hearts pleadings when his whole be-
ing thrilled with the thought of her,
when he had never lived for anything
else than to be with her? All thought |
Of honor was swept away in the
strength of his passion, and he swore
that he would take her away with |
him, and that they should never again |
be parted.
"'You shall leave everything to me-
ne told her. Tomorrow my ship sails |
or Cherbourg with a load of cattle,
md must take that last trip, because
have given heavy bond for my posi-
ion, and IL I failed my employers
would lose several thousand pounds.
But shall give them notice that this
rip is to be my last, and in a way
hat will awaken no suspicion. A week
rom today I shall be back and wait
ng for you at the Cowes railway sta
ion, with our tickets to America.
lake no money, but pack few clothes
nto handbag and meet me there at
light o'clock
THE princess promised, and then
'arton realized that their hour was
one. They kissed each other fare
Tell, and he tore himself away. The
rincess went back into the castle,
nd although this was something who'll
? outside of the range of any earlier
experience, her love so strengthened
er that she was able to conceal her
reat happiness from her parents.
Nay, more than that; she hid her
lans from that shrewdest of women,
10 old queen herself. Victoria sent
" her the next morning and, after
few preliminaries, told her that Bar
IN had announced his intention OF
'aving England because he felt that
9 ought no longer to compromise her
lture. Had he spoken of that? Yes,
a'am, answered the girl calmly. An /.
atruth was little thing to her now;
Id this was not untrue, for assuredly .
arton was leaving, although his plan /
as changed somewhat. The queen
as satisfied, and marveled at the D.,
rength which the princess showed {
lder her affection. Her parents, too, 9
ere well pleased with her. {
1.-THE days rolled slowly by until at q
st the eventful evening came. The l
incess, pleading indisposition, re- q
red to her room and graciously told Y
n maid that she need not attend her; b
10 could 60 to her supper. The
incess' apartments were in wing b
the castle, near the high road, and G
ere would be no one stirring at that v
'ur, for the supper rooms were on b
9 other side and there were no serv- n
ts in the halls. At seven o'clock she q
cked a few necessary articles of n
,thing in a bag and slipped out of v
r room and crept quietly down the q
rrt6or. No one was near. She sped g
IN the stairs guiltily, gained the
ie entrance unobserved, and hurried Il
ross the lawn under the shade Of
. great elm trees. Presently she n
d reached the high road, and then 81
Q was safe enough, for none of those ii
10 passed guessed that the girl with
, bag was runaway princess from cl
borne. It was only a few minutes
Tx to the railway station. b.
Now let US turn to Alfred Barton. a
J took his little vessel across the
annel, having written notice Of his e.
ention tn leave before she sailed | 81