The Princess Elopes

iding-crop slipped from my nerveless fingers to the f

duchy by the ears, every now and then, and tweaked them! The princess herself, here in this lonely old castle into which I had so carelessly stumbled! Romance, enchantment! Oddly enough, the pic

ildegarde!" I m

shall I put the question in French?"-iron

er infinite pleasure to run a sword through my black and villainous heart. Pre

me to meddle with your private affairs. You are the last person in the world I thought to meet this night. I represent the U

smayed face beyond. There must have been a question i

onorable Be

s' schoolmat

o what path of action to enter, to reach a satisfactory end. My very

this particular road?"-st

I answered quietly. I moved deliberately toward the door, but with

tive arm (lovely too!). "Since you are here,

repeated,

witness that which shall take place here to-night, you will underst

ide my gloves and crop again. "I can easily give you my word of honor as a gentleman

rrected, the old

be a party to anything which may reflect upon the consulate. For my

de-eyed into the fire. Several minutes passed. I waited patiently; but, to tel

m to marry the Prince of

odd

ard of my determination not

I no

not going to

h, but dared not. What had all this

ing imploringly to her companion

norable Bet

ped old Doppelki

Betty. It is now absolutely necessary that he should know everything; it is absolutely

she fled from the room. (Decidedly this was growing interesting. What had they done?) Thus, the Honorable Betty Mo

rd of honor?" She who had recently been

independent individual,"-smiling to put her more at ease. (I haven't the least

orable. On the other hand, you will confer a great favor upon her H

e," said I

any length to make this marriage an impossibility. For my part, I have tried to convince her of the futility of resisting her royal uncl

hat I haven't given you that impression," I added eagerly.

(What is more charming than an English woman with a clear sense

enial warmth of this knowledge. It was quit

ock marriage here to-night, and you are

row

ock marriage, but the fillin

understa

Hermann Steinbock,

hat he is the rascal

filled out completely. To outwi

orge

to withdraw now. She is to become the wife of Hermann St

have not been

oes not

wing restless. It was all foll

ntleman. I have said that Steinbock is a rascal. As I review the events, I beg

n to pe

owns for his part in the ceremony

's seal, the iron-clad formalities whic

e refused anything in Barscheit." She went to a small secretary and produced a

blackmail all of you. He may convince the pu

ame of the minister of finance. We hold this sword above his head. And if he should spe

hat I am genuinely sorry to have bl

lack courage

not afraid of t

ome, Mr.-by the way, I belie

n-Arthur W

e two women in a predicament like this. You will understand that we dare not tru

cal like S

"-a bit

that I believe her Highne

is too late to retreat, as I have told you. Steinboc

t does a consul

fully. Apparently she had expected the old-fashioned handshake familiar to our common race, for I observed that she started as

hness!" s

o be a sort of hobbledehoy; instead, she was one of those rare creatures who possess all the varying moods of the sex. I could readily im

her Highness, her ch

ryth

her Highness' tone which dared me to express

ss an opinion upon your Highness' acti

ave grown weary of sycophants. Y

ightest degree

y pleasant for you in Barscheit-or very unpleasant." But this th

advice of rathe

el

omes bid him go a

dded approvingly, but

bowed. "Now, what time does thi

ou these directions. I do not wish Steinbock to know of your presence here. You will hide in the salon, close to the portières, within call. Moreover, I shall have to impose u

are your me

ere is no one h

s to meet Ste

r of him; he k

." I secretly hoped I might have the

ng; it is impossible to talk." She perched herself on the broad arm of the Honor

yed. My two accomplishments are horseback riding and music, and I candidly tell you that I am as reckless at one as at the other. I had a good memory. I pl

ar

A single horseman was galloping along the highway toward the castle.

elf, for doubtless th

hile her companion nervously pluck

e former; "an

e; but how to stumble out again? If the duke got wind of it, it would mean my recall,

e fellow, of Hungarian gipsy type. There was a devil-may-care air about him that fitted him well. It was Steinbock. He was dressed with scrupulous care, in spite of the fact that he wore riding clothes.

ees that I am pr

d at once to conclude the

at your

pudence! How dared he

uke believe that she had married Steinbock, her uncle would probe the matter to the bottom, and in the end cover her with ridicule. But you can not tell a young woman anything, when she is a princess and in the habit of having her own way. It is remarkable how stupid clever women can be at times. The Honorable Betty un

ice did not lack a certain trium

e will be no duplicate." The frigidity of her tones would have conge

comes to me for veri

side of the frontier. Here

netrated even his thick epi

d not always accept money for

her Highness. "I shall give you twenty-four hours to cross the frontier in any direction you ch

said the rascal, with a l

was certainly handsome, much sought after by women of a low class. The princess stood at Steinbock's lef

To wed a princess, when that princess

ice rising a key. "Remember, you have only twenty-four

Why, this is the bridal night. One does

retaker, made a

must have my jest,

y. "It is high time you were off. You are foolhardy to matc

you bel

ive fact," add

h!" Steinbock remonstrated, "What! shall I b

ed on all sides; you ha

contempt with which you have always looked upon me, even in the old days that were fair and prosperous? Scarcely! Opportunity is a thing that c

ld fellow, his hands

prang toward her Highness, but

movement. I stood like stone. With an evil laugh Steinbock sprang toward her Highness again. Quick as light she snatched up my crop, which lay on the table, and struck the rascal full across the eyes, again and again and again, following hi

s lips from touching her cheek. I flung him to the floor, and knelt upon his chest. I am

l!" I cried,

ood of her marauding ancestors swept over her cheeks, and i

the princess in her arms and drew her back. "Don

to Steinbock, a

nd there were livid welts on his face. He shook himsel

of those thousand cr

," he sneered. "It would seem that th

" I balled my fists. Nothing would have pleased me be

gold and bank-notes. Before I was aware of his intention, he swung one end of it in so deft a manner that it struck me squarely between the eyes. With a

you!" she crie

crawled back, brushing my sleeves. S

cut!" exclaim

let me follow. It will be all

ake for the nearest frontier. He knows now that I shall not he

st of what h

and knelt at the side of Leopold, dashing some water into his face

he rubbed the back of his head griml

," he said contritely. "Shall

e played the part of a silly fool. I would have my own way in the matter. Well, I h

the other girl said. There was deep discouragement in her t

matter entirely,"

d weep abandonedly! Leopold eyed her mournfully, while the English

wn. I wish I were a peasant!-Thank you, thank you! But for you that wretch would have kissed me." She held out her hand to me, and I bent to one knee as I k

ou to forget my we

y forgotten,

e of Barscheit; and I never betrayed her confidence u

emarked, doubtless to your weariness, this is not my story at all; but in parenthesis I may add that between the Ho

ax Scharfenstein poked his handsome blond head over the front