6 The 1 Princess Elopes By HAROLD McGRATH 1 Author of fl "The Man on tho Box," "Hearts and Masks," Etc. 0 \S&bmK/su*mL (CupyriKbt, 10U5, Jiubb:,-Merrill CoJ SYNOPSIS. Arthur Warrington, American consul to Barscheit, tolls how reigning Grand Duke attempts to force Ills noire, Prin cess Hildegarde, to marry Prince Dopple kinn, an old widower. Warrington dors not know the prim-ess even by sight. While horseback riding in the country night overtakes him and he seeks accom modations in a dilapidated castle. Here he finds two women and an old man ftervant. One woman is Princess Hilde farde and the other a friend, lion. Betty loore. of England. They detain him to -witness a mock marriage between tlie princess and a disgraced army officer, Bteinbock, done for the purpose of foiling tin; grand duke. Steinboek attempts to Kiss the princess and she is rescued by Warrington. Steinboek disappears for good. Max Scharfenstein, an old Ameri can friend of Warrington's reaches Bar scheit. Warrington tells him of the prin cess. Scharfenstein shows Warrington H locket with a picture of a woman in nide. It was on his neck when he, as a boy, was picked up and adopted by his foster father, whose name lie was given, lie believes it to be a picture of his mother. The grand duke announces to the princess that she is to marry Dopple kinn the following week. CHAPTER VI. The princess rose at dawn the fol lowing day. She routed out Hans, the head groom, and told him to saddle Artemis, the slim-limbed, seal-brown .tilly which an English nobleman had Riven her. Ten minutes later she was in the saddle, and the heaviness on her heart seemed to rise and vanish like the opal mists on the bosom of the motionless lake. A pale star blinked at her, and the day, flushed like the cheek of a waking infant, be gan drowsily to creep over the rolling mountains. How silent all the city was! Only here and there above the chimneys rose a languid film of smoke. The gates of the park shut behind with a clang, and so for a time she was alone and free. She touched Artemis with a spur, and the filly broke into a canter toward the lake road. The girl's nos trils dilated. Every flower, the thou sand resinous saps of the forest, the earth itself, yielded up a cool sweet perfume that was to the mind what a glass of wine is to the blood, exhil aration. She would never marry Doppelkinn —never. That horrible Steinboek! She was glad, glad that she had struck him, again and again, across his lying eyes and evil mouth. She had believed that she knew the world; it was all yet a mystery; the older she grew the less she understood. Wasn't anybody good? Was everybody to' be distrust ed? Which way should she turn now? The world was beautiful enough; it fc'as the people in it. Poor Betty! She had her troubles, too; but somehow she refused to confide them. She acted very much as if she were in love. She would never marry Doppelkinn —never. But how should she escape—how? On Wednesday night she would be given her quarterly allowance of a thousand .Towns, and on Thursday she must act. . . . Yes, yes, that was it! How simple! She would slip over into Doppelkinn, where they never would think to search for her. She knew a place in which to hide. From Doppel kinn she would go straight to Dresden and seek the protection of her old gov erness, who would hide her till the duke came to his senses. If only she had an independent fortune, how she would snap her fingers at them all! She was distracted by the sound of jangling steel. Artemis had cast a shoe. How annoying! It would take ton minutes to reach old Bauer's smithy, and ten minutes more to put on a shoe. She brought the filly down to a walk. ,If only she were Betty, free to do what she pleased, togo and come at •will! She wasn't born to be a prin cess; she wasn't common-place enough; she enjoyed life too well. Ah, if only she might live and act like those English cousins of hers with whom she went to school! They could ride man-fashion, hunt man-fashion, shoot, play cards and bet at the races man-fa"fchion, and nobody threatened them with Doppelkinns. They might dance, too, till the sun came into the windows and the rouge on their faces cracked. But she! (I use the em phasis to illustrate the decided nods of her pretty head.) Why, every sweet had to be stolen! Presently the smithy came into view, emerging from a cluster of poplars. She rode up to the doors, dismounted and entered. Old Bauer himself was ac the bellows, and the weird blue light hissing up from the blown coals discovered another customer. She turned and met his frank glance of ad miration. (If she hadn't turned! If his a imiration hadn't been entirely frank!) Instantly she sent Bauer a warning glance which that old worthy immediately to understand. "i ;• was tall, well-made. handsome, with yellow hair, and eyes as blue as the sky is when the west wind blows. He raised his cap, and the heart of the girl fluttered. Wherever had this seemly fellow come from? "Good morning," said the stranger courteously. "I see that you have had the same misfortune as myself." "You have lost a shoe? Rather an noying, when one doesn't want a sin gle break in the going." She uttered the words carelessly, as if she wasn't at all interested. The stranger stuffed his cap into a pocket. She was glad that she had chosen the new saddle. The crest and coat of arms had not yet been burned upon the leather nor engraved upon the sil ver ornaments, and there was 110 blanket under the English saddle. There might be an adventure; one could not always tell. She must hide her identity. If the stranger knew that she belonged to the House of Barscheit, possibly he would be frightened and take to his heels. But the Princess Hildegarde did not know that this stranger never took to his heels; he wasn't that kind. Prin cess or peasant, it would have been all the same to him. Only his tone might have lost half a key. Bauer called to his assistant, and the girl stepped out into the road. The stranger followed, as she knew he would. It will b'e seen that she knew something of men, if only that they possess curiosity. "What a beautiful place this is!" the stranger ventured, waving his hand to ward the still lake and the silent, misty mountains. "There is no place quite like it," she admitted. "You are a stranger in Bar scheit?" —politely. 11a was young and A; . v —c.'S"' cftCtet/ — ■— oy "I'm Hildegarde von—von Heideloff." seen in a month of moons. If Doppel kinnn, now, were only more after this pattern! "Yes, this is my first trip to Bar scheit." He had a very engaging smile. "You are from Vienna?" "No." "Ah, from Berlin. I was not quite sure of tho accent." "I am a German-American," —frank- ly. "I have also spoken the language as if it were my own, which doubtless it is." "America!" she cried, her interest genuinely aroused. "That is the coun try where every one does just as he pleases." "Sometimes." (Whatbeautiful teeth she had, white as skimmed milk!) "They are free?" "Nearly always." "They tell me that women there are all queens." "We are there, or here, always your humble servants." He was evidently a gentleman; there was something in his bow that was courtly. "And do the women attend the theaters alone at night?" "If they desire to." "Tell me, does the daughter of the president have just as much liberty as her subjects?" "Even more. Only, there are no sub jects in America." "No subjects? What do they call them, then?" "Voters." "And do the women vote?" "Only at the women's clubs." She did not quite get this; not that it was; too subtle, rather that it was not within her comprehension. "It is a big country?" "Ever so big." "Do you like it?" "I love every inch of it. I have even fought for it." "In the Spanish war?" —visibly ex cited. "Yes." "Were you a major or a colonel?" "Neither; only a private." "I thought every soldier there was either ti colonel or a major." He looked at her sharply, but her CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1907. certainly the best-looking man she hat eye was roving. He became suspic ious. She might be simple, and then again she miKhtn't. She vu worth studying, anyhow. "I was a cavalryman, with nothing to do but obey orders and, when ordered, light. I am visiting the American con sul here; he was a school-mate of mine." "Ah! I thought I recognized the horse." "You know him?" —quickly. "Oh," —casually,—"every one here about has seen the consul on his morn ing rides. Ho rides like a centaur, they say; but 1 have never seen a cen taur." Tho stranger laughed. Sha was charming. "He ought to ride well; I taught him." But the gay smile which fol lowed this statement robbed it of its air of conceit. "You see, I have ridden part of my life on the great plains of the west, and have mounted every thing from a wild Indian pony to an English thoroughbred. My name is Wax Scharfenstein, and I am here as a medical student, though in my own country I have the right to hang out a physician's shingle." She drew aimless figures in the dust with her riding-crop. There was no sense in her giving any name. Prob ably they would never meet again. And yet— "l am Hildegardo von—von Heid eloff," giving her mother's name. He was too nice to frighten away. The hesitance over tho "von" did not strike his usually keen ear. He was too intent on noting the variant expressions on her exquisite face. It was a pity she was dark. What a fig ure, and how proudly the head rested upon the slender but firm white throat! After all, black eyes, such as these were, might easily rival any blue eyes he had ever seen. (Which goes to prove that a man's ideals are not built as solidly as might be.) "Do you speak English?" she asked abruptly in that tongue, with a full glance to note the effect. "English is spoken to some extent in the United States," he answered gravely. He did not evince the least surprise at her fluency. "Do you write to the humorous pa pers in your country?" "Only to subscribe for them," said he. And again they laughed; which was a very good sign that things were go ing forward tolerably well. And then the miserable fellow of a smith had to come out and announce that the stranger's horse was ready. "I'll warrant the shoe." said Bauer. "You haven't lost any time," said Max, his regret evident to every one. The girl smiled approvingly. She loved humor in a man, and this one with the yellow hair and blue eyes seemed to possess a fund of the dry sort. All this was very wrong, she knew, but she wasn't going to be the princess this mbrning; she was going to cast off tho shell of artificiality, of etiquette. "How much will this shoe cost me?" Max asked. "Half a crown." said Bauer, with a sly glance at the girl to see how she would accept so exorbitant a sum. The princess frowned. "But some times," added Bauer hurriedly, "I do It for nothing." "Bauer, your grandfather was a rob ber," the girl laughed. "Take heed that you do not follow in his foot steps." "I am a poor man, your—mm—Frau lein," ho stammered. "Here's a crown," said Max, tossing a coin which was neatly caught by the grimy hand of the smith. "Are you very rich?" asked the girl curiously. "Why?" counter-questioned Max. <TO BiS CONTINUED.) BEST EVER WRITTEN PRESCRIPTION WHICH ANYONE CAN EASILY MIX. Said to Promptly Overcome Kidnev and Bladder Afflictions—Shake Simple Ingredients Well In Bottle. Mix the following by shaking well In a bottle, and take in teaspoonful doses after meals and at bedtime: Fluid Extract Dandelion, one-half ounce; Compound Kargon, one ounce; Compound Syrup Sarsaparilla, three ounces. A prominent physician is the authority that these simple, harmless ingredients can be obtained at nom inal cost from any druggist even in the smaller towns. The mixture is said to cleanse and strengthen the clogged and inactive Kidneys, overcoming Backache, Blad der weakness and Urinary trouble of all kinds, if taken before the stage of Bright's disease. Those who have tried this say It pos itively overcomes pain in the back, clears the urine of sediment and regu lates urination, especially at night, curing even the worst forms of blad der weakness. Every man or woman here who feels that the kidneys are not strong or act ing in a healthy manner should mix this prescription at home and give it a trial, as it is said to do wonders for many persons. The Scranton (Pa.) Times was first to print this remarkable prescription, in October, of 1906, since when all the leading newspapers of New York, Bos ton, Philadelphia, Pittsburg and other cities have made many announcements of it to their renders. Signs of Long Life. "Bacon took a deep interest in lon gevity and its earmarks," said a physi cian, "and Bacon's signs of long life and of short life are as true to-day as they ever were. "You won't live long, Bacon point ed out, if you have soft, fine hair, a fine skin, quick growth, huge head, early corpulence, short neck, small mouth, brittle and separated teeth and fat oars. "Your life, barring accidents, will be very lengthy if you have slow growth, coarse hair, a rough skin, deep wrin kles in the forehead, firm liesh, a large mouth, wide nostrils, strong teeth set close together, and a hard, gristly ear." —Minneapolis Journal. She Did Not Fear Death. An old lady on her seventy-third birthday once said, "I do not mind getting old, and I do not fear death, but I live in constant fear of par alysis." "For some time I have been wanting to tell you of the great good your wonderful Sloan's Liniment is doing here," writes Mr. James F. Abernethy, of Rutherford College, N. C. "In fact, all your remedies are doing noble work, but your Liniment beats all. In my eight years' experience with med icine I find none togo ahead of it, having tried it in very many cases. I know of one young man, a brick-ma son, who suffered from a partial, yes, almost complete, paralysis of one arm. I got him to use your Liniment, and now he can do as much work as ever, and he sings your praise every day. I get all to use it I possibly can and know there is great virtue in it. I have helped the sale of your noble remedies about here greatly, and ex pect to cause many more to buy them, as I know they can't be beat." No Decoration Required. It was Mr. Hobart's first experience with waffles, and he liked the taste of them. When he had been served twice, he called the waiter to him and spoke confidentially. "I'm from Pokeville," he said, "and we're plain folks there; don't care much for style, but we know good food when we get it. I want another plateful o' those cakes, but you tell the cook she needn't stop to put that fancy printing on 'em; just send 'em along plain."—Youth's Companion. A Prayer for Rain. The minister was having Sunday dinner with one of his brother par ishoners. Suddenly the 8-year-old daughter of the house spoke up. "O, Dr. Still, will you please say the prayer for rain tonight, so it will pour tomorrow?" she urged. "Why, dear?" asked the clergyman. "Cause I have a dandy new um brella and mackintosh," replied the eternal womanly.—Judge. How's This? Wo ofTer One Hundred Dollars Reward for any r.ahc of Catarrh that cannot be cared by 11*11*8 Catarrh Cure. F. J. CHENEY & CO., Tolfiiio, O. Wo. the undersigned, have knowu F. J. Cheney for the lust 13 yoHrs. and believe him perfectly hon orable in all business trait'-art loan and financially able to carry out any obligations made by his firm. WALDIKQ, RINNAN &. MARVIN, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo. O. nail's Catarrh Cure Is taken Internally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Testimonials sent free. I'rlco 75 cents pef bottle. Bold by all Druggists. Take llall's Family Pills for constipation. Her New Hat. "I believe Maude is weakening in h%r championship of the Audubon movement against bird plumage hat trimming." "What makes you think so?" "I notice in public, especially at the theater, she is showing the white feather." Slightly Mixed. "How did Henry get along when he had to testify in court, Mrs. Mixer?" "He got along good enough till the ' wyer tangled him all tip with one of •em air long hyperdemic questions." As conscience becomes atrophied the critical faculties often become ac tive. THE FINISHING TOUCH. The Puritan fathers were stead fast. Infirmity of purpose they knew not, nor the meaning thereof. "Since it is appointed to us," they remarked with grim determination, "to forge a Now England conscience, we'll do the business right. We'll forge a New England conscience that will cause the world to sit up and take notice, saecula saeculorum, world without end." The difficulty, as it presently devel oped, lay in making the affair elastic enough, without being too flabby. "We don't propose to have it punc ture the first time it goes up against high finance, or polite society, or mu nicipal politics,' quoth they,*ind they were as good as their word. They went out and stole the Indian's land, and when he showed his spunk, they didn't do a thing to him, and behold, as soon as they had wrought these works, the New England conscience was complete.—Life. THE SH-EARMARKS OF ABILITY. Don —Is he a good editor? Art —I should say so! Look at the long scissors he uses. The Quick Lunch Fiend. Heboltsasandwichandsomebcans, Apleeeortwoofpie; Andgulpsaoupofcoffeedown Whileyoucanbatyoureye. Then, later on, there comes to him, A very common question: He wonders how it was that he CONTRACTED INDIGESTION! —Milwaukee Sentinel. He Didn't Care. A boy was slouching along the street with his father's breakfast in a tin can, when another boy came up to him and gave the can a vigorous kick. "Do you care about me kicking that can?" said the newcomer. "No, I don't," replied the other boy. "Do you now?" giving the can an other kick. "No, I don't," answered the latter. "Do you now?" cried the infuriated young lad, giving the can such a kick that it knocked the bottom out. "No I don't,' again replied he with the can. "My mother borrowed it from yours this morning!' Was a Chestnut. They sat at the edge of the wood, gazing dreamily at the reapers toil ing in the sunny fields, at the scar let poppies that glowed among the golden grain, and at each other. "Darling," he cried, "I swear by this great tree whose spreading branches shade us from th» heat —by this noble tree I swear that I have never loved before." The girl smiled faintly. "You always say such appropriate things, Dick," she murmured. "This is a chestnut tree." Evidence to the Contrary. Mrs. Haymow (home from church) ■ —Half-past one! Goodness gracious! I thought that new minister would never finish his sermon. He stam mered an' stuttered an' coughed an' sneezed an' li'med an'liawed an' re peated himself till I thought I'd have a connipition fit! Mr. Haymow (who is somewhat un orthodox) —An' yet they say them fel lers practice what they preach!— Puck, Good Offices. Woman was fallen between the devil and the deep sea, so to say. On the one hand, she strongly de sired to look round at somebody she had passed, while on the other, con vention forbade her. Just here evolu tion stepped in, with its good offices. "I will give you eyes in the back of your head," said evolution. Was not that a happy outcome? —Puck. Ever Hear It? Mrs. Bacon —The Burmese hare a curious idea regarding coins. They prefer those which have female heads on them, believing that coins with male heads on them are not so lucky. Mr. Bacon —It is perfectly natural to suppose that money with a female head on it is the money which talks. —Yonkers Statesman. Family Recipes. Mrs. Hayseed (reading from the medical almanac) —Portland cement and skimmed milk make an excellent paint. Mr. Hayseed Un the dairy business) —Paint? Git out. It makes cream.—-N, Y. Weekly. A TALENTED WRITER Praises Peruna MRS. E. M. TINNEY Mrs. E. M. Tinnriy, ntory writer, 835 E. Nueva St., San Autouio, Tex., writes: "During 1901 I suffered form nasal catarrh, which various oilier remedies failed to reJiuvo. "Six bottles of Peruna, which I toot, entirely cured me, the catarrh disappearing and never returning. "I therefore cheerfully recommend Peruna to all similarly afflicted." Mrs. Ellen Nagle, 414 4th street, Green Bay, Wis., writes: "I have often heard Peruna praised and it is more widely known here than any other medicine, but I never knew what a splendid medicine it really was until a few weeks ago when I caught a bad cold which settled all over me. "The doctor wanted to prescribe, but I told him I was going- to try Peruna and sent for a bottle and tried it. "I felt much better the next morning and within live days 1 had not a trace of any lameness or any cough. •' I consider it the finest cough rem~ edy." PERIXHA TABLETS: —Some people pre fer to take tablets, rather than to take medicine in a fluid form. Such people can obtain Peruna tablets, which repre sent, the solid medicinal ingredients of Peruna. To Err Is Human. Robert Browning once found him self at a dinner, at a great English house, sitting next to a lady who was connected with the highest aristoc racy. She was very graciously in clined, and did her utmost to make conversation. "Are you not a poet?" she finally asked. "Well," said Browning, "people are sometimes kind enough to say that I am." "Oh, please don't mind my having mentioned it,"the duchess hastened to say, with the kindest of smiles. "You know Byron and Tennyson and others were poets." A Value. "Nonsense," said the high financier, "we did not sell a worthless fran chise." "But such is current report," ven tured the interviewer. The high financier made a gesture of impatience. "Young man,"he re turned, severely, "if you got hold of any old franchise that you could un load for two millions, would you re gard it as worthless?" No reply being possible to this, none was made. Time Sometimes Flies So. "Mabel," asked the dear gill's moth er, "what time did that young man leave last night?" "Why," replied Mabel, "I believe it was nearly 11 o'clock." "W T hat? I am sure it was later than that," said the mother. "How strange!" remarked Mabel, dreamily. "We both thought it could n't possibly be that late." —The Catho lic Standard and Times. A man has no right to kick about the hats his wife wears. All he has to do is to pay for them —he doesn't have to wear them. ~ - Positively cured by CARTERS lhese Lm,e 1>ills " ip'Cvji Thoy also relieve I>ls | jj 'B If tress from Dyspepsia, In •ffftf ■ * J f-r* and Too Hearty IsfyS IVEL H Bating. A perfect rem- P* I I »(Z* edy for Dizziness, Nau• E3| * I LLW. tea, Dronniness, Bad TatU In the Aloutb, Coat 'it e4 Toupue. Pain iu Ilia y.WWWin— Iswie, TORPID LIVER. Thoy regulate the Bowels. Purely Vegetable. SMALL PILL. SMALL BOSE. SMALL PRICE. PABTCDCI Genuine Must Bear luAAltha Fac-Simile Signature PILLS. a REFUSE SUBSTITUTES. THas chemi cal properties that dssiroy rU3t, dissolv ing it as water Nothing else is Anything like tU
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers