The Princess Elopes

country, and sometimes I did not return till the following day. My clerk w

tudying the stolid German peasant, of drinking from steins uncracked these hundred years, of inspecting ancient armor and gathering trifling romances attached thereto. And of

ains. I had a bit of poetry in my system that had never been completely worked out, and I was always imagining that at the ve

d never a hat or cap till the snow blew. I used to laugh when the peasants aske

which I was always seeking came my wa

opals set in amethyst. I was easily twenty-five miles from the city; that is to say, I had been in the saddle some six hours. Nobody but a king's messenger will ride a horse more than five miles an hour. I cast about for a place to spend the night. There was no tavern in sight, and the hovels I had passed

the gate. The lock hung loose, like a paralytic hand. Evidently those inside had nothing to fear from those outside. I grasped an iron bar and pushed in the gate, Chloe following knowingly at

ve by a ladder. There was a great central door, however, which had a modern appearance. The approach was a broad graveled walk. I tied Lady Ch

I wasn't looking for an adventure; I didn't want any adventure; I wanted nothing in the world but a meal and a bed. But for the chill of the n

the lock on the gate. And never a bell could I find. I swore softly and became impatient. Pe

every fiber in my bod

of this gloomy ruin of stone and iron. The jewel song from Faust, too! How the voice rose, fell, soared again with intoxicating waves of sound!

accused of lacking courage-I tried once more, by the aid of a match, to locate a bell. There was absolutely nothing; and the beating of my riding-crop on the panels of that huge do

all was vacancy, I took another step, this time in the direction of the voice-and started back with a smothered curse. Bang-ang! I had run into a suit of old armor, the shield o

le

? 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 aga

ws how lon

nfectious, fearless! Then I he

name, don't go, Gretch

lly heard a voice sp

afraid of any ghost that ev

t may be

k! We shall

de

in the armor." The laughter came

h? A rat?" cried a voice rather anxi

rant co

r spoke with an accent, that is to say, by adoption. Into what ha

is was followed by the sound of jangling brass rings. A heavy velvet portière-which I, being in darkness, had not discovered-slipped bac

confess to you that in all my wanderings-and they have been frequent and many-I never saw such an enchanting picture or two

sides, I was not without a certain amount of gallantry

I promise you that I shall be if I am

bl

the candle, her midnight eyes drawing do

hese unusual circumstances I am forced to ask the same question of you: what are you doing here in this ruined castle? If it isn'

e was cold and authoritative. "There is an inn six miles farther down the roa

ner of my entrance 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 adventure-enchanting as this promised to be-and immediately

a vehicle of speech. (I was a wretch, I know, but I simply could not help telling that lie; I didn't

candle-light," replied Gretchen, eying me

r, inquiringly, after the manner of one

irl's comment; "and his eyes strike m

ed that they would not exchange any embarrassing confidences. When alone women converse upon many peculiar

, "we can not offer hospitality to a strange man this ni

n deceiving them. To accomplish something on a night like

him before that detestable Steinbock comes. Besides, he

per

ome 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

se. I wasn't a diplomat for nothing. I knew

Gretchen comm

e? What was

log crackled in the fireplace. There were plenty of candles. There was a piano, too. This belonged to the castle; a heavy tarpaulin covering lay heaped at one side. There was a mahogany sideboard that would have sent a collector of antiques into raptures, and a table upon which lay the remains of a fine supper. My mouth watered. I counted over the go

who was called G

my ho

re i

a tree by

ted to handle a saber than a carving-knife; at least, the scar on his cheek impressed me with this

tables and feed him," said Gretchen.

nce at me the old fell

d placed them within reach. Their beautiful hands flashed b

"I will eat first, and

She laughed. It was the same laughter I

you prefer to finish this Bo

ours in the wind will produce sleepiness. And it would be frightfully dis

ead politely. Then I resolutely proceeded to attack the pheasant and ham. I must prove to these women that at l

formality. They declined to sit in the presence of an unwelcome stranger, thus denying his equality from a social point of view. I readily acc

by thick, black-arching brows, reminded me of woodland pools in the dusk of evening,-depths unknown, cool, refreshing in repose. The chin was resolute, the mouth was large but shapely and brilliant, the nose possessed the delicate nostrils characteristic of all sensitive beings-that is to sa

ng, exquisite, one of those delicate creatures who always appear in enchantments; a Bouguereau child grown into womanhood, made to fit the protecting frame o

of night. (Did I not say that I had some poetry in my system?) The shape of her mouth-Never mind; I can recall only the mad desire to kiss it. A graceful figure, a proud head, a slender hand, a foo

inventory of myself? Presently my appetite became singularly submissive. Hunger often is satisfied by the fe

is innocent intrusion." I looked at my watch. "I believe that you gave

r smiled; it was the English girl who laughed this time.

think that I am the hero of this comedy. Let it be furt

ur hunger is appeased," sa

n my coat pockets, then guiltily dropped

that fine of her? And wasn't it rather observant, too? I learned later that she

" said I gratefully. I hadn

know something about human nature, even the feminine side of it. A presentable young man with a roll of aromatic tobacc

icular destinatio

d took my fancy, and

ures of riding-to go wherever

etting on

long journeys

m and engage your interest: the mountains, the waterways, the old ruins. Have you ever whistled to the horses afield and watch

colors her cheeks and makes her e

voice as I approached

en shr

equal outside Berlin

e trap for me into which my conceit was soo

meet again, will you not do me the honor to repeat that jewel

sing for him, besides," said Gretchen, a chill again stealing into h

few chords and found the instrument to be in remarkably good order.

y for my suppe

and when I had finished th

for my horse's

good humo

r repellent, "you are amusing. Pray, tell

est idea who my hos

f the question. Yo

Intruder, t

novel adventure. I was beg

se this fellow is

and I believe he is. What

ll. What shall we do

, I could take no exception to a conversation in a language I had stated I did not understand. If they were rude, I ha

I said ruefully. "It is much pl

ll find the inn a very comfortable place

lips I recognized that my smartness had caused me to commit an unpardonable blunder for a man who wishe

and metallic. She turned to her companion,

not tell a gentleman in the

know nothing of the French language. You claimed to be a

is even less satisfactorily explained than mine. If I denied the knowledge of French it was because I wasn't sure of my surroundings. It was done in self-defense rather than in the desire to play a trick. And in this

ll gainsay me? If I leave the latches down, that is due to the fact that I have no one to fear. Now, sir, you have eaten the bread of my

sed. This was more th

ot be blamed for surrendering so tamely. I didn't k

rican consul

wn calamity. What the deuce was it all about? All at once Gretchen thrust aside her friend and ap

you here?" she de

getting deeper tha

he Princess