The Goose Girl

s nothing at the Opera, so he decided to spend the earlier part of the evening in the public gardens. He was lonely; he had always been lonely. Men who carry depressing secrets generally are.

t that brilliant uniform side by side with the grand duke's. As it was impossible for him ever to become a duke, his ambition had been to arrive at the next gr

s secretly met and locked behind their backs. Grumbach sighed. Never would he know aught of this dou

Seeing Grumbach, she loo

rl," said Grumbach,

ion. Her companion, however, flushed under

profile. Once his eye wandered rather guiltily. Her figure was in keeping with her face. Then he saw the little wooden shoes. Ah, well, as long as kin

o-night, Gretchen,

s a c

if you will not go,

. And you have not gone to work yet. And every day costs you a crown to live, and more, for all I know. You

s not stop to bother about

happier as our crowns accumulate, to ward off

ns, my heart." The vintner's hand again sought hers, and

nd the lights of the pavilion grew dim. He was a boy again, and he was carrying posies to the pret

ly. The police officer who had examined his pa

excellency the chancellor has directed

t of the ordinary in this expression. Any foreigner would have been seized with confusion under l

rr; they we

the fast beating of his heart, banished the astonishm

an the chancell

interested in German-Americans. It may be that he wishes to ask what the future

he pr

ughed. "There

ked Grumbach, now t

criminals over there, but it is

ce of the grand duke of Ehrenstein," Grumbach added. "It

arge, in Ehrenstein, they came in pairs or fours. So then, there could be pending nothing vital to his libe

Grumbach's comment as the two pa

dinner to the diplom

ing to be

very precious hides are never anywhere near the wars t

lomats. Men like you and me do all the w

emarked the officer. "I sho

y long. Do you kno

can consul

ght in the sa

aw some pre

k off his ha

ust have been

er when I got it.

ably have to wait for his excellency. But y

palace with a brave h

but these astonishing linguists seldom if ever blundered into one of them. They were eternally vigilant. It was no trifling matter to swing the thought from German into French or Italian or Hungarian; but they were seasoned veterans in the game, all sav

ollect that I am not fa

me, Herr

e in the ducal eye and an ans

sion on his part. He wore no orders. An order of the third or fourth class held no allurement. Nothing less than the Golden Fleece would have interested him, and the grand duke himself could n

. So his place at the table was honorary rather than diplomatic. It was his

Above and beyond all this, she had suffered, she had felt the pangs of poverty, the smart of unrecognized merit; she had been one of the people, and her sympathies would always be with them, for she knew what those about her only vaguely knew, the patience, the unmurmuring bravery of the poor. Never would she become sated with power so long as it gave her the right to aid

s eyes, too; and in Carmichael's. And there was love in her eyes as she gazed back at the two old men. But who could r

excellency, Baron von Steinbock of Jugendheit. What is past is past; a new regime begins this night." He paused. All eyes were focused upon him in wonder. On

a glass. She had surrendered that morning. Not because she wished to be a queen, not because she cared to bring ab

d her neck had scarce more luster than her shoulders. How red her lips seemed against the whiteness of her skin! Beautiful to him beyond all dreams of beauty. God send another war and let him die in

o, was pale, but the fire of great things burned in his e

congratulated her, and complimented her. All agreed that it was a gre

had his voice and nerves under control. Without apparent voli

s you had forgott

had forgotten

bowed over her hand and brushed it with his lips, for she was almost royal

he gift of

ce. You will be

ough, all this seems like an enchantment out of a fairy-bo

ht. If only he might find her as the grim ol

do that?" she

ot unde

shrug

on!" flushing. "I was not

answering m

f your h

mands!" But her

d me to shrug. I assure your highness that it was a philosophical shrug, such as

; was there not

ere was onl

ion him in this manner; but neither her

est me. You have seen so many wond

But perhaps I am putting my foot where angels

ghed; there was a pain and a joy in the sound of it.

shed things," he said, ge

el?" forcing him upon dange

angel one has seen on

ll not

mad, and had not the chancellor and Baron von Steinbock came up, He

desires, in the name of his august master, to open the ball with you

?" said she, so low that on

of his head toward Carmichael; "will you do me the hon

Carmichael was uneasy. He was not cer

which I shall need your assista

e wanted to be alone. He made known his business to the chancellor's valet who admitted him. He stopped

t are you doing her

ency. We have been here

ouble?" Carmic

," said the officer, who was in fact n

k, also," said Grumb

erhaps the three of them waited twenty minutes; then the chancellor came in. He bowed cordially and drew chairs about his desk. He plac

ncellor in a mild tone, "I sh

rts, your

es

turbably. The chancellor struck the

, the head gar

e anteroom,

im to c

ance at Grumbach, but the latter

learn what it was all about. Breunner entere

many flowers to-morrow. See to it

be done, E

r turned to t

s here that you were a native of Bavaria before go

xcellency." Grumbach inspe

se, retained your

deeply interested. He saw that the chancellor was

t. The edges of Bank of England note

llency; a little ragge

or went over

do you know t

in his papers. I am rather astonished to see him here and not at

cellor repeated thoughtfully. "

ame cavalry, only in different troops. Grumbac

cellor read with an interest foreign to the affair under his hand

this unnecessary trouble simpl

g his papers. "I have seen the inside of a rea

l you be maki

Excellency. Then I sh

further orders?" said th

nothing more. Gentlemen, your pardon for having detained you s

e, no. I am tired. I shall return

lease. Go

The sub-chief bowed himself off at the gates, and C

t Bavarian passport?" as

end, but his excellency

bring in the head gardener and leave

ut it fell. The head garde

u know

s my elder