The Princess Elopes

lish nobleman had given to 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 bos

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 nostrils dilated. Every flower,

orth and fell with a sounding splash, and the circles would widen and gradually vanish. A blackbird dipped among the silent rushes; a young fox barked importantly; a hawk flashed by. The mists

pheric change of the morning turned her mind into sentimental channels. How she envied the peasant woman, who might come and go at will, sleep in the open or in the hut, loving

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 distrusted? Which way should she turn now?

Even the fox was freer than she; the forests were his, and he might go whither he listed. And the f

er marry Dopp

ple! She would slip over into Doppelkinn, where they never would think to search for her. She knew a place in which to hide. From Doppelkinn she would go straight to Dresden and

e. How annoying! It would take ten minutes to reach old Bauer's smithy, a

talian duchess ridden through the streets of Rome, and in knickerbockers, too? Nobody seemed to mind it there. But in Barscheit it had been little short of a crime. She recalled the flaming fagots and the red-hot wire of her unfortunate wheel. A smile rippled ov

e 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-fashion, and nobody threatened them with Doppelkinns. T

d nose grow purple at the table. She would run away. And since Princ

up from the blown coals discovered another customer. She turned and met his frank glance of admiration. (If she hadn't turned! If his admiration hadn't been entirely frank!) Instantly she sent B

of the girl fluttered. Wherever

courteously. "I see that you have

n't want a single break in the going." She uttered th

leather nor engraved upon the silver ornaments, and there was no blanket under the English saddle. There might be an adventure; one could not always te

k to his heels; he wasn't that kind. Princess or peasant, it would ha

oad. The stranger followed, as she knew he would. It will be seen

nger ventured, waving his hand toward the

cheit?"-politely. He was young and certainly the best-looking man she had se

rip to Barscheit." He ha

e from

N

I was not quite su

have always spoken the language as if

uinely aroused. "That is the country w

utiful teeth she had,

are

ly al

hat women there

here, always you

thing in his bow that was courtly. "And do t

ey des

f the president have just as

there are no sub

What do they c

ter

the wome

the women

at it was too subtle, rather that

a big c

r so

ou li

h of it. I have e

ish War?"-vi

es

a major or

; only a

ier there was either

e became suspicious. She might be simple, and then

rders and, when ordered, fight. I am visiting the

t I recognize

w him?"-

e consul on his morning rides. He rides like a ce

laughed. She

idden part of my life on the great plains of the West, and have mounted everything from a wild Indian pony to an English thoroughbred. My

ing-crop. There was no sense in her giving any na

ff," giving her mother's name. H

was a pity she was dark. What a figure, and how proudly the head rested upon the slender but firm white throat! After all, black eyes, such as

e right idea. Everything begins to wake, life, the air, the day. There is somet

dence in your wares, you must no

octor of phil

ents, you will accept their loss without a murmur? Ver

rve

-with a smile as

He tried again to catch her eye, but failed. Then both looked out over the lake,

d abruptly in that tongue, with

ited States," he answered gravely. He did n

he humorous papers

scribe for t

s a very good sign that things w

smith had to come out and announce

t the shoe,"

ime," said Max, his reg

es seemed to possess a fund of the dry sort. All this was very wrong, she knew, but she wasn't going

this shoe cost

e how she would accept so exorbitant a sum. The princess frowne

r," the girl laughed. "Take heed tha

your-mm--Fr?ulei

ing a coin which was neatly caug

ich?" asked the

nter-quest

ne in Barscheit that you overpay for things, and from no

r a pretty woman laugh. What

ng you this way again, Herr!" Bauer c

n. "But he means only to thank your generosity. Now,"-with a severe frown,-"h

n debt to you for this very crown." Which prove

g to her aid. How light her foot was in his palm! (She could easily

she said, reading the half-v

he asked, swinging

all, there could be no harm; in two or thr

ly,-"I am going

the road. He returned to his forge, shaking his head as if c

not waste any pity on him. The pity

ave been i

nd? She had received part of her education there. Did she know the Princess Hildegarde? Slightly. What was she like? She was a madcap, irresponsible,

idding Max go in and ask for a drink of milk. Max obeyed wit

her was the thought that Betty might take it into her head to follow, and then everything would be spoil

e cried suddenl

the least idea that the horse under him was a hunter, so I might very well say that he took his life in his hands as he followed her. But Dandy knew his business. He took the wall without effort. A warm glow went over Max whe

toward home, talking about an

l ride," suggested Max,

he, looking out upon the water, which was ruffl

nd that he would take the same road, provided h

tty, as her Highness came in to breakfast. There

to keep Betty in the house for the next few mornings. She sat down and si

ha

ted for me to speak. Betty, I am a fool. But I

iting me to return to Eng

r the p

as asked me to ride with him afternoons. His ankle prevents him from takin

capital horseman." She smiled mysteriously. Happily her c

ten, went to tub, and came

ood ride?

l country!" He w

ls eat!" I thought as I

ith you," I said,

of the land quick

g. If only I had known! But Fate knows her business better than I do, and she was handlin

d something on the table. On inspection I f

you get that?" I as

dventure; such as you read out of a book. I'm inclined t

If there was a girl around,

dropp

e? Why, you old tow-head, have you bee

e as a p

ast,"-ironically. "

like Diana." His enthusiasm was

ng," said I; "always saw h

! You know very

cture to prove my case. You've had an

ee feet high the other morning, just to see if I dared fo

n a thought flashed through my head

f these thr

ou get as f

ine. Who is Hildeg

evaporated. "I can't say that I know any

ishment, "that there is a petticoat on hor

me of Hildegarde von Heideloff; o

the blacksmi

ions returned. "Desc

lack eyes that are full of good fun, a delicate

ou kissed her

Only, I'd

ing some one near-by. There is an old castle three

"-exc

of his guests." In my heart I knew that her Highness was up to some of her tricks again, but there was no need of her shattering

me peeping into a woman's purse, would you? Suppose

e lik

powder

more l

O

o

love l

y doubts,

know who she is, I'll

he was a persistent

boy," I warned. "You could not

y n

ss you can answer these simplest of questions and prove them, you could not ge

ant to know is, who is Hildegarde von Heideloff, and ho

aking up m

se into his breast-