The Goose Girl

He was of a patient mold, but this was the final straw. He would have his revenge if it upset the whole continent. They wo

to put everythi

e clearly like truth. It had been left with one of the sentries, who decl

ung the thing violently to the floor. But he realized that this burst of fury would not translate the muddle, so he stooped and recovered the missive. He laughed, but the laughter had a grim Homeric sound. War! Nothing less. He was prepared for it. Twenty thousand troops were now in the valley, and there were twenty thousand reserves. What Franz Josef of Austria or William of Prussia said d

, as some one kno

as calm, as imper

hness sen

ve left well enough alone? Read this!

n he had read to the final word, his hand, even as t

query tingle

de came in. She blew a kiss at her father, who caught the han

s it, f

ck wa

said t

she slipped from her father's arms a

think of this

t is the very best thin

uke grew rigid. "You accept

thank you. I was about to make known to you this very evening tha

d you not refuse when the overtures were first made? The truth,

and without evasion, e

erests of the two countries, never dreamed that the king would rebel. All my heart and all my mind have been working toward this end, toward a greater peace and prosperi

him!" said the duke sarcas

hness?" cried the

edia

the

ive an or

surrender my portfolio to you." The chance

e, for the moment, had thrown reason to the winds. Reve

the room, when Hildegarde flew to the

, you a

in. Herbeck, you will have the ki

. See him in the morning. This is no time for haste. You will throw the army into Jugendheit, and there will follow a bloody war. For I have to inform you that the prince regent, recognizing th

my revenge!

you if you do these cruel things, dismiss his excellency and bring war and death to Ehrenstein, I will never forgive you, never,

His daughter! She was a princess, indeed, as she stood there, fearless, resolute, beautiful.

uch at the hands of Jugendheit. It was my daught

pardonable one. The king is without blame, for you appeal to his imagination as a man who deeply wronged his father. I harbor no ill-feeling against him or his uncle, because I

liance. We all have dreams, active or passive, futile or purposeful. My ambition was to bring about a real and lasting peace. Your Highness, I have failed sign

man. In his heart of hearts he understood. He offered his hand,

farewell, your Hig

ld I do without your solid common sense? No; remain; we are bot

t over to her highness and kissed her hand gratefully,

he fairest, finest princess in the wor

whe

ere is a penalty for being placed so hig

ot write it,"

of all the kinks and twists in this short life; not Heav

; for she was saying in her heart that now she would never marry. Herbeck's

the valet was

woman, a peasant, who desires t

she?" aske

tside, you

palace without any m

o gathered that this privileged visitor mus

aid the duke, appealing to Herbeck, w

rtant persons in the grand duchy. Outwardly she was composed. She made a curtsy to which th

se-girl!" he sa

rious and her eyes were mournful. She c

retchen," said

t is

ed undecidedly from

, and I found this let

t took the envelope. But

degarde's e

d?" demande

ception. She has been in Dreiberg for a month, dying, and I have

d. Wrong or right, that chapter is closed, my child, and I am glad you made her last m

of his vision. He ripped down the flap. It was only a simple note to her serene highness, begging her to giv

said the duke; "your ship has co

's spine, a shiver of wonder, delight,

aid the notes on the goose-girl's hand. "This is only a

er thousand," said Hildegard

he richest girl in the lower town. Dreams of kaleidoscopic variety flew through her head. Little there was, however, of jewels and gowns. This vast sum would be the buffer between her and hung

t to relieve the awkw

u that we stand in the presence o

goose-girl was not a whit the inferior of the princess. And the thing which struck him with most force

. The duke was alone. For a long period he stood before the portrait of his wife. The beauties of his courtship trooped

ed; "in this life and in the life to com

untied the string. One by one he ranged the articles; two little yellow shoes, a little