The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-29

] | not at all want she thought or felt, 1 Peggy McGuire was too much concern ed with the importance of the visitor that she had brought with her, the 1 first live princess that she had suc- ceeded on bringing into captivity. But Anastasie Galitzin had not missed the i little by-play and inquired with some amusement as to the very pretty girl ] who had come out of the house. "Oh-the housekeeper's niece" re- | piled Peggy. in her boarding school | French. "I don't like her. I thought she'd gone. She's been having a petite l affaire with our new forester and su- perintendent."
 Anastasie Ga1itzin, who was in the act of descending from the machine, remained poised for moment, as it were. in midafr. staring at her hostess. "Ah!" she said. 'fVraiment!" By this time the noise of the motor had brought Stryker and the down stirs maid from the house, and in the confusion of carrying the luggage in doors, the conversation terminated. It
 was not until Peggy's noisy greetings to her father in the hallway were con- cluded and the introduction of her new guest accomplished that Jonathan McGuire was permitted to tell her in a few words the history of the last week, and of the injury to the superin- tendent, who law upstairs in the room
 of the guest of honor.
 'H-m," sniffed Peggy, "I don't see why you had to bring him here!" Its a long story, Peg" said Mo Guire calmly. I'll tell you presently.
 Of course the princess is very well come, but I couldn't let him be taken anywhere but here, after he'd behaved so fine all drought the rioting." Well, it seems to me- Peggy be- gan when the voice of her guest cut in rather sharply.
 and then, in her pretty broken Eng fish, You say, Monsieur. 1t is he Peter Nichols-who 'as been badly ,urt ?'
 'Yes. nna'am. pretty had-shot through the breast-
 "Sainte Vierge!''
 But he's getting on all right now.
 He'll be sitting up in a day or so, the doctor says. Did you know him, ma'am?''
 Anastasie Galftzin made no reply, ] and only stared at her host, breathing with difficulty. Peggy, who had been
 watching her startled face, found her self intensely curious. But as she would have questioned, the princess recivered herself with an effort
 Moves, monsieur. lit is noth- l ing. But if you please-I should like to 90 at once to my room." And Peggy and her father. both of them much mystified, led the way up the stairs and to the room that had
 been prepared in the wing of the house, Stryker following with the bag and dressing case.
 At the door of the room the princess begged Peggy to excuse her, pleading weariness, and so the astonished and curious hostess was forced to relin- quish her latest social conquest and seek her own room, there to mediate upon the extra ordinary thing that had happened. Why was AnaStasie Gal itzin perturbed at learning of the wounds of Peter Nichols? What did 1t all mean? Had she known him somewhere in the past-in England in Russia? What was he to her? But in a. moment Jonathan McGuire joined her and revealed the identity of his mysterious forester and superin- tendent. At first Peggy. was incredu- lous, then listened while her father told story, half true, half fictitious, which had been carefully planned to answer all the requirem ents of the sit uation. And unaware of the syclonic distur bance he was causing in the breast of his only child, he told her of Beth and Peter, and of the evidences
  spite of their difference in station. Peggy's small soul squirmed during the restital, but she only listened and said nothing. She realized that in a situation such as this mere worods on her part would be super1uous. The Grand Duke Peter Nichola evitch, Here at Black Rockl Her pops su- perintendent, And she had not known. She had even insulted him. It was hideous!
 And the princess? The deep emo ton that she had shown on hearing of the dangerous wound of the conva- 1escent was now explained. But only partly The look that Peggy had surprised in Anastasie Ga1ftzin's face meant something more than mere so- licitude for the safety of one of Rus sia's banished grand dukes. It was the princess who had been shocked at the information, but it was the wom- an who had shown pain. Was there had there ever been-anything be- tween Anastasie Galitzin and this this Peter Nichols?
 Facts about the early stages of her acquaintanceship with Anastas1e Galit- zin now loomed up with an unpleasant definiteness. She had been much flat tered that so important a parsonage had shown her such distinguished marks of favor and had rejoiced in the celerity with which the intimacy had been established. The thought that the Princess GaEtzin had known 1 all the while that the grand duke was living incognito at Black Rock and had merely used Peggy as a means to
 bring about this visit was not a
 pleasant one to Peggy But the fact was now quite obvious. She had been
 making a convenience of her. And
 what was now to be the result of this visit2 The princess did not yet know of the engagement Of his highness to the scullery maid. Who was to tell her?
 The snobbish little heart of Peggy McGuire later gained some consola- ton. for Aanastasie GalitZin emerged from her room refreshed and invigor- ated, and let much grace to the dinner table. telling father and daughter nething the early life of the con- vaiescent. exhibiting a warm friend