The Post. (Buffalo, Okla. Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, November 15, 1907 Page: 4 of 10
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STORY
•m,’ II
The
Princess
Elopes
By HAROLD McGRATH
Author o_f
“The Man on the Box,"
“Hearts and Masks,” Etc.
. ^r"' * .*• • rr-^-.T-- ■
(Copyright, 1903, liobbs-MerriiA Co.)
SYNOPSIS.
The American consul to Barscheit, a
principality of Europe, tells how the
reigning- grand duke had tried to find
a husband for his rebellious niece, the
Princess Hildegarde, finally decreeing
that she wed the Prince of Doppelkinu,
an ugly old widower, ruler of the neigh-
boring principality. Though he had been
in the country for six months the Amer-
ican consul had never seen the princess.
While horseback ridifig in the country
night overtakes him. and he seeks accom-
modation in a dilapidated old castle.
While seeking admission he is startled
by a beautiful voice breaking into song.
CHAPTER II.—Continued.
Had I stumbled upon one of my
dreams at last? Had Romance sud-
denly relented, as a coquette some-
times relents? For a space I knew
not what to do. Then, with a shrug—
I have never been accused of lacking
courage —I tried once more, by the
aid of a match, to locate a bell. There
was absolutely nothing; aud the beat-
ing of my riding crop on the panels of
that huge door would have been as
noisy as a feather. I grasped the
knob and turned it impatiently. Be-
hold! the door opened without sound*
and I stepped into the hallway, which
was velvet black.
Silence!
The song died. All over that great
rambling structure not even the reas-
suring chirp of a cricket! I stood per-
fectly still. What the deuce should I
do? Turn back? As I formed this
question in my mind a draft of wind
slammed the door shut. I was in for
it, sure enough; I was positive that I
could never find that door again.
Heaven knows how long I waited.
Soon I heard a laugh, light, infec-
tious, fearless! Then 1 heard a voice,
soft and pleading:
“Don’t go; in mercy’s name, don’t
go, Gretchen! You may be killed!”
English! I had actually heard a
voice speak my native tongue.
“Nonsense, Betty! 1 am not afraid
of any ghost that ever walked, rode
or floated.”
“Ghost? It may be a burglar!”
“Or Steinbo’ck! We shall iind noth-
ing.”
Indeed!
“Nothing but a rat, bugling about in
the armor.” The laughter came again.
“You are not afraid, Betty?”
“Ouly cautious. But how can you
laugh? A rat?” cried a voice rather
anxiously. “WThy, they are as big as
dogs!”
“But arrant cowards.”
So! one of these voices spoke Eng-
lish as its birthright; the other spoke
with an accent, that is to say, by adop-
tion. Into what had I fallen? Whither
had my hunger brought me? I was
soon to learn.
There came a faint thread of light
on one side of the hall, such as may be
likened to that which filters under a
door-sill. Presently this was followed
by the sound of jangling brass rings.
A heavy velvet portiere—which I, be-
ing in darkness, had n®t discovered—
slipped back. My glance, rather blind-
ed, was first directed toward the flame
of the candle. Then I lowered It—
and surrendered for ever and for ever!
I beheld two faces in profile, as it
were, one side in darkness, the other
tinted and glowing like ancient ivory.
1 honestly confess to you that in all
my wanderings—and they have been
frequent and many—I never saw such
an enchanting picture or two more ex-
quisite faces. One peered forth with
hesitant bravery'; the other—she who
held the candle—with cold, tranquil
inquiry.
All my fears, such as they were, left
me instantly. Besides, I was not with-
out a certain amount of gallantry and
humor. I stepped squarely into the
light and bowed.
“Ladies, I am indeed not a ghost,
but I promise you that I shall be if I
am not offered something to eat at
once!”
Tableau!
“What are you doing here?” asked
she with the candle, her midnight
eyes drawing down her brows into a
frown of displeasure.
I bowed. “To begin with, I find a
gate unlocked, and being curious, I
open it; then I find a door unlatched,
and I enter. Under these unusual cir-
cumstances I am forced to ask the
same question of you: what are you
doing here in this ruined castle? If
it isn’t ruined, it is deserted, which
anfounts to the same thing.” This was
impertinent, especially on the part of
a self-invited guest.
“That is my affair, sir. I have a
right here, lfow and at all times.”
Her voice was cold and authoritative.
“There is an inn six miles farther
down the road; this is a private resi-
dence. Certainly you can not remain
here over night.”
“Six miles?” I echoed dismally.
“Madam, if I have seemed impertinent,
pardon me. I have been in the saddle
six hours. I have ridden nearly 30
miles since noon. I am dead with
fatigue. At least give me time to rest
a bit before taking up the way again,
I admit that the manner of my en-
trance was informal; but how was I
to know? There was not even a
knocker on the door by which to make
known my presence to you.” The
truth is, I did not want to go at once.
No one likes to stumble into an adven-
ture—enchanting as this promised to
be—and immediately pop out of it. An
idea came to me, serviceable rather
than brilliant. “I am an American.
My German is poor. J speak no
seem; I am hungry and tired. To ride
six miles farther now is a physical im-
possibility; and I am very fond of my
horse.”
“He says he is hungry, Gretchen,”
said the English girl, dropping easily
into the French language as a vehicle
of speech. (I was a wretch, I know,
but I simply could not help telling
that lie; I didn’t want to go; and they
might be conspirators.) • “Besides,”
\^nt on the girl, “he looks like a gen-
tleman.”
“We can not always tell a gentle-
man in the candle-light," replied
Gretchen, eyeing me critically and
shrewdly and suspiciously.
As for me, I gazed from one to the
other, Inquiringly, after the manner of
one who hears a tongue not under-
standable.
“He’s rather nice,” Was the English
girl’s comment; “and his eyes strike
me as being too steady to be dishon-
est.”
I had the decency io burn In the
ears. I had taken the step, so now I
could not draw back. I sincerely hoped
that they would not exchange any em-
barrassing confidences. When alone
women converse upon many peculiar
topics; and conversing in a tongue
which they supposed to be unknown
to me, these two were virtually alone.
“But, my dear child,” the other re-
turned argumentatively, “we can not
offer hospitality to a strange man this
night of all nights. Think of what is
to be accomplished.*'
(So something was to be accom-
plished? I was right, then, in deceiv-
ing them. To accomplish something
on a night like this, far from habita-
tion, had all the air of a conspiracy.)
“Feed him and his horse, and I’ll
detestable Steinbock comes. Besides,
he might prove a valuable witness in
drawing up the papers.”
(Papers?)
“I never thought of that. It will not
do to trust Steinbock wholly.” Gretch-
en turned her searching eyes once
more upon me. I confess that I had
some difficulty in steadying my own.
There are some persons to whom one
can not lie successfully; one of them
stood before me. But I rather fancy I
passed through the ordeal with at least
half a victory. “Will you go your way
after an hour’s rest?” she asked, speak-
ing in the familiar tongue.
“I promise.” It was easy to make
this promise. I wasn’t a diplomat for
nothing. I knew how to hang on, to
dodge under, to go about.
“Follow me,” Gretchen commanded
briefly.
Wo passed through the gloomy
salon. A damp, musty odor struck my
sense of smell. I was positive that the
castle was uninhabited, save for this
night. Three candles burned on the
mantel, giving to the gloom a myste-
rious, palpitating effect. The room
beyond was the dining-room, richly
paneled in wine-colored mahogany.
This was better; it was cheerful. A
log crackled in the fireplace. , There
were plenty of candles. There was a
piano, too. This belonged to the cas-
t
undeHake to get rid of him before that
.“I Beheld Two Faces in Profile, as It
Were.”
tie; a heavy tarpaulin covering lay
heaped at one side. There was a ma-
hogany sideboard that would have
sea-food salad, asparagus, white bread
and unsalted butter, an alcohol-burner
over which hung a tea-pot, and besides
all this there was a pint of La Rose
which was but half-emptied. Have
you ever been in the saddle half a
day? If you have, you will readily
sent a collector of antiques into rap-
tures, and a table upon which lay the
remains of a fine supper. My mouth
watered. I counted over the good
things: roast pheasant, pink ham, a
appreciate the appetite that was war-
ring with my curiosity.
“Eat,” bade she who was called
Gretchen, shortly.
“And my horse?”
“Where is it?”
“Tied to a tree by the gate.”
She struck a Chinese gong. From
the kitchen appeared an elderly servi
tor who looked to me more fitted to
handle a saber than a carving knife;
at least, the scar on his cheek im-
pressed me with this idea. (I found
out later that he was an old soldier,
who lived alone in the castle as care-
taker. )
“Take this gentleman’s horse to the
stables and feed him,” said Gretchen.
“You will find the animal by the gate.”
With a questioning glance at me the
old fellow bowed and made off.
I sat down, and the two women
brought the various plates and placed
them within reach. Their beautiful
hands flashed before my eyes and now
and then a sleeve brushed my shoul-
der.
“Thank you,” I murmured. "I will
eat first, aud then make my apologies.”
This remark caught the fancy of
PROLIFIC GARDEN
ENGLISHMAN’S FIRST AND SU<
CESSFUL ATTEMPTS IN MANI-
TOBA—SOIL PRODUCES
STRIKING RESULTS.
The Winnipeg (Canada) Free Prest
of a few days since contains account
of the success that followed the el
forts of William Knowles, an English
man who located near Winnipeg, Mac
itoba. This is but one of many let
ters giving experiences of settlers, |
and should be encouraging to those|
who are looking about for a new ,
home in which they may better theii f
conditions. The following is a copy :
of the article referred to:
William Knowles, who cultivates
some twelve acres of land just beloi
Middlechurch ferry on east side of tht
Red River has probably as fine a dis-J
play of horticultural products as anyj
in Manitoba. The whole of his hold-*j
ing is in a high state of cultivation!
and literally crowded with splendid!
vegetable specimens, which have for-I
tunately escaped damage by hail, al-f
though heavy storms have more than ■
once occurred within a few miles. The ;
potatoes are a wonderful crop, and he f
expects to raise 1,500 bushels from j
his patch of 4y2 acres. A half dozen |
of tubers selected yesterday average 1
more than a pound each. Adjoining i
the potatoes may be seen a marvelous I
collection of tomatoes. There are 600 I
plants, all growing under an enor-
mous weight of fruit. One single
stock picked yesterday contained
eighteen tomatoes and weighed four
pounds. This extraordinary example
of marvelous growth, together with
some of the potatoes were sent to the
Free Press office.
The proprietor was the first in
town with several specimens, includ-
ing green corn. The season has been .
favorable for onions, and one square j
patch of nearly an acre is looking re-
markably healthy. In addition there
are good crops of cabbages, cauliflow-
er, turnips, parsnips, carrots, pump-
kins, marrows, cucumbers, celery, peas,
lettuce, rhubarb, etc. The floral de-
partment has not been neglected and
a charming display of all the well
known blooms were shown, including
a specially choice lot of asters.
Mr. Knowles, who gained most of
his gardening experience in England,
is loud in his praise of Manitoba soil
for vegetable raising, and is gratified
with the result of his first attempt at
extensive horticulture.
It’s an ill wind that blows contrary
to the predictions of the weather
prophet
GOOD HOUSEKEEPERS.
Use the best. That’s wbv they buy Red
Cross Ball Blue. At leading grocers, 5 cents.
Who has no money must have no
wishes.—Italian.
New and Liberal Homestead
Regulations in
WESTERN
CANADA
New Districts Now Opened for Settlement
;m
Some of the choicest
lands in the grain grow-
ing belts of Saskatche-
wan and Alberta have
recently been opened
for settlement under
the Revised Homestead
Regulations of Canada.
Thousands of home-
steads of 160 acres each
are now available. The new regulations make it
possible for entry to be made by proxy, the oppor-
tunity that many in the United States have been
waiting for. Any member of a family may make
entry for any other member of the family, who may
be entitled to make entry for himself or herself.
Entry may now be made before the Agent or Sub-
Agent of the District by proxy, (on certain condi-
tions) by the father, mother, son. daughter, brother
or sister of intending homesteader.
“Any e^en numbered section of Dominion
Lands In Manitoba or the North-West Provinces,
excepting 8 and 26, not reserved, may be home-
steaded by any person the sole head of a family,
or male over lSyears of age, to the extent of one-
quarter section, of 160 acres, more or less.”
The fee in each case will be $10.00. Churches,
schools and markets convenient. Healthy climate,
splendid crops and good laws. Gram-growing and
cattle raising principal industries.
For further particulars as to rates, routes, be®
time to go and where to locate, apply to
J. S. CRAVFOKD.
■fettS V. math Street. Kansas CUy. Mlssswt
*_.
*_
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Forster, William. The Post. (Buffalo, Okla. Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, November 15, 1907, newspaper, November 15, 1907; Buffalo, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc941367/m1/4/: accessed April 25, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.