The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-01-24
A ROYAL PRINCESS
BY JACK WALTON.

Copyright, 1917, Western Newspaper Union)
In the remOtest kingdom, subjects
were anxiously discussing the marriage
of the prince. 1t was desired that some
settlement be made which would as
sure the continuance of a threatened
throne and the old kings face was ar
fectionately apprehensiye, as he
watched his son turn in disapproval
from each royal princess, brought upon
some pretense, before him. Even "Lura
the VIGOROUSLY beautiful" failed to
awaken n glimmer of interest in the
somber eyes. But if Prince Otto's heart
was untouched by the encounter 1t
was not so with Lura. Love at first
sight" was evidenced in her adoring
gaze.
Turing were the flashing glances
from her dark eyes, the smiles inviting
friendliness. But the prince remained
obdurate. Returning one day from Il
canter he came suddenly upon a lovely
girl, reaching to pluck a flower above
her head. With quick gallantry the
prince dismounted to assist, then with
bride across his arm, he strolled be-
side the girl through the castle gar
dens.
The maiden, he learned, was Eliza
beth, "lady in waiting" to the Princess
Lura. His eager pleasure in the cpl
sode was betrayed TO the waiting Lura.
Abruptly she dismissed Elizabeth upon
some errand, endeavoring herself to
entertain the prince. But the prince
answered absent-mindedly his eyes
following the while, the way Elizabeth
had gone. The jealousy Of the prin-
cess aroused, no later chance meeting
between prince and maiden escaped her
notice.
One moonlit evening, the two, who
had been so unexpectedly and mutual
ly attracted, came by chance to the
colonnade. A movement of flight upon
the part of Elizabeth brought forth all
the pent-up love of Otto's heart and in
voluntarily he caught her to his breast.
In joyous wonder the girl gazed into
his eyes, their lips met. An unseen
witness of the scene, Lura fingered hor-
rified, then turned to face the king, he,
too, she perceived, had noted silently
the mad embrace.
A few days later, Lura assembled
her maidens together to enjoy the
weird skill of a noted hypnotist. To
| amuse his audience, and at Lura's di-
rection, he placed those who offered
| their services, under control, forcing
them through many laughable situa-
| tons.
Suddenly a look of hatred crossed
the face of the princess. With COM
handing gesture she motioned the
| Lady Elizabeth to offer herself O sub
| ject Unmoved the girl waited eXpec-
tant. Suddenly leaning forward Lura
held out to the hypnotist a costly ring.
| Perplexed, Elizabeth glanced from one
to the other, then slowly and visibly
her composure fell away. Staring I'M
blinkingly into the face of the hypno-
fist, she moved and acted automatic
ally at his diction. Lura watched
breathlessly, until the man rudely
| swapping his fingers before the unre-
| sponsive face, awakened the girl as a
babe half-smiling, from sleep.
When all had gone, Lura beckoned
the hypnotist to her, unfolding her re-
vengeful scheme. because of the old
kings refusal to force his son to marry
the most beautiful princess" she said,
"he must die. And because the woman
| of Otto's heart must be made despica-
BILE in his sight, while under hypnotic
control, and in his presence, she must
| do the deed"
Fearfully the man held out capitu-
lating at last to the enormous bride.
In the garden he found Elizabeth
dreaming over her books. At his ap-
| proach she arose, vaguely startled. I'M
mediately his eyes were upon hers, his
| clawlike hands on her shouders-the
| girls face grew eXpressionless. Obedi-
| emily she followed the hideous grimac-
ing figure; stealthily through the castle
corridor followed the girl in her con-
trolling dream.
Behind the throneroom draperies,
| the hypnotist paused to place in the
| hand clasped behind the girls back,
a loaded pistol. Then conceallng him.
self in the draperies, he continued his
suggestions as she passed inside.
The old king and his son looked up
In bewllderment as the Whitehead fig
ure appeared before them. Outside
| the hypnotlst raised his arm as one
aiming a weapon, inside, the girl also
| raised her arm, exposing to the aston
ished rulers, a cleaning revolver. Then,
| in an instant she had whirled about,
rushing nolselessly to the draperies,
| forcing out at the pistols point the sur
prised and crlnging hypnotlst Still
compelling, to the foot of the dais she
led him and gave explanation.
The hypnotist burst forth in accuse.
| ton against the princess and her
vengeful plot was unfolded. As the
man was led away for trial, the king
made known his wish to speak with his
counselors. And when the dlstln-
| guished men came forward, taking the
hand Of Elizabeth, he presented her.
| Upon Bonded knee they paid her hom-
| age. And when all others had left the
room, the prince coming down from his
throne, took Elizabeth tendery into
| his arms.
My queen, my queen" he said. And