Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1923)
■ ■ ■' — *■ ■■ ■■■ II The Princ BY JOHN £ Copyright, 1908, by "Look, Elise!” she said, "look at those saddle cloths yonder." The archduke followed her motiou, arid understood. It was arnost infernally unfortunate contretemps, but it would have to be met, and at once. 3k "The regent is on the porch,” he said. "1 do not care for her to know of this meeting nor its purport, until after tonight. Madame, will you please be good enough tp conceal yourself; the door is the only exit, and it is impossible now—I will try to prevent her highness entering here, but 1 may fail; I likely shall. Come, Moore," and he hurried out. But Madeline Spencer only laughed, and, winding the veil into place, went and stood by the chimney—hero was a very God given opportunity, and assured ly she had no notion to let it pass unused. And the landlord, slumbering in the hall, had been tardily aroused by the cheering, and coming forth, still half asleep, he met the princess just at the/en trance. "Scartraan," she said sharply, "where are his highness and Colonel Moore?" The landlord awoke with a suddenness that was painful, and which left him staring at her in silly eyed speechlossness. wnai aits you, main »uo demanded—“tell the archdoke I’m here—we shall be in the large room.” This brought back a bit of h’s • senses, and he bowed to the ground, hoping to get back more of them before be need come up. “I will find bis royal highness at once,” be said; “I did not know he was here—I’ve beer, asleep—but if your majesty— your regency—your highness, t mean, will permit—the large room is occupied, I will-” At that moment, Arinand and Moore came out. “Ho it would seem,” the prin cess remarked dryly, “Don't blame the poor fellow, Dehra,” the archduke laughed; “he did the best he could, doubt less, and at my order. We are here on the business I spoke of this morning—it’s finished now, and we will ride back with you, if we may,” m Dehra held out her hand, and gave him the smile she knew he loved. “Of course you may,” she said, “and gladly; but first 1 want a cup of tea—Seartman, the ket tle instantly!”—and before Ar maud could detain her, she was past him and into the room. As she crossed the threshold, she caught the faint perfume that a woman always carries, and which often times is so individ ualized, as to betray her identity instantly. It. was a peculiar odor —the blended fragrance of many flowers—and she recognized that she had known if before; but what was it doing in this room, now!—it was too fresh to be many minutes old. “Armand,” she said, “what woman has been here!” glanc ing laughingly around.—“And is. here still!” and 'pointed with her crop to the veiled figure in the shadow near the chimney. The archduke ground back an oath, arid stepping forward bowed to Madeline Spencer. |> “Madame,” said he, “wfll you do the governor of Dornlitx the favor to excuse him, and to ac cept. his thanks for your servicet Colonel Moore, Ynadame's horse.” “ Je vous remercie, Mom.four le Prince,” sfcf murmured, taking Moore’s arm, and moving with sinuous grace toward the door, llut as she passed the princess recent, who had stcD»ed*aside to give her way, the veil slipped from her faee, ami the two wom en looked into each other's eyes -—the one with a smile of mock ing impertinence, the other with a calmly ignoring stare, and showing, by not so much as the quiver of a muscle, her anger and surprise. And when they had gone, the princess turned her gaze upon the archduke, the blue eyes ominous in their steadiness; and as he would have spoken, she repelled him with an imperious gesture, and gave him her back. “Come, Elise!” she said, and letf the room. In thfe courtyard. Colonel Moore had just swung Mrs. Sp?n cer to saddle, ami was fixing her skirt. Debra paused in the entry until the black horse had passed the gate; then she went leisurely down the steps, waved Moore to Ulli d’fissolde, and let the less Dehra EED SCOTT. John Rend Scott 2?- " groom put her up. Asknowledging Moore’s fare well salute, with her crop, hut no smile, and with never a glance to ward the window, behind whose curtain she must have known the archduke would surely be, she rode away—the lancers again cheerrbg her devotedly as she passed. CHAPTER XVI. A Too Convincing Argument. Colonel Moore went slowly up the steps and into the room, through the half open door of, which he saw the archduke •tending, with chin on breast and back to l'.he fireplace. He looked up, as tlS.e adjutant paused at the threshold, and podded for him to come te. “Ordinarily it would be prop er now for »s to h^ve a good, stiff drink, may be several of them,” he Remarked, “but the only kind tltet fits this situation, so far as I’m concerned, is straight whisky, and I don't be lieve this cursed phice can sup ply it.” “Quite right; it can’t,” said Moore; “I tried the other day —won’t anything pise do?” “No—nothing else; and it’s just as well I cjui’t get the whisky; I may need a clear head tonight." You are not going, sir! Arrnfind nodded. “Going? of course I’m going—why not? and I only hope I’ll get a chance at my sweet cousin, We promised only lo look—to raise no distur bance*—and on Spencer’s account it is right enough that we should do nothing to betray her; but if Lotzen get ir. the way, colonel, we are not obligated to avoid him.” “Why should your highness walk deliberately into the tiger's lair—when another ean go'quite as well, Mid without danger?” Moore protected. The ardidukc took a cigaret and tosse-d the case across to the adjutant. “fb*e»;jse I’m really hunting the tiger,” he laughed; “and t like excitement in good com pany—though I fear it will be a very tame affair.” The other shook his head dubi ously. “It’s not right, sir, for your to expose yourself so unnec essarily—let me go in com mand.'’ “Ncnsense, Ralph, you’re get tirg ir Bornheim’s clasu; quit it. What I wish you would tell me in whether Spencer dnjpped her veil Intentionally or by acci dent.” “It seemed so accidental it must have been intentional,” said Moore. “If I were sure of it, that would eaneel a trifl* more of my obligation.” “Her highness \rill know—” the colonel began, and stopped abafhed at his blunder. “And so will Mademoiselle d’Easolde,” said Armand. “I may have to <depnul on you for information.” » “Then your highness will like ly have to ge£ it, yourself,” MoOre laughed, “We’re not spooking either, it seems; she let me put her up, because the regent rent me to he*, but—I’m chilly yet. Did you ever notice, sir, how disconcerting it is to think you’re talking to a woman, and then find it’s a mistake and that really you’re talking only to yourself?” The archduke smiled. “Yes,” said he, “I’ve noticed it; and we may have a rather, frigid atmos phere for a few moments this evening until I ean explain—we are to dine with her highness and mademoiselle.” II you don t mufti, sir, 1 11 violate propriety and let you ar rive first; your explanation will do for both—and besides, I fancy such things are best done a deux. “You fancy!—you innocent lrishman-afraid-o^ - a - woman!” He drew on his gloves. “Come along—put on a brave front and I'll take you home. Five minutes talk will set matters right.” “If you’re not talking to your self,” Moore observed. The landlord was awaiting them in distress and trepidation almost pitiful. Such ill luck had not befallen the inn in all its years of busy life. The regent and the governor! It was the end of "his favor—the end of the Twisted Pines. Tomorrow—may be today—would come the police, and the nails would go into the doors, and boards across the win dow's, and the big gates, that had always swung open, at daybreak, would swing no more, and in dis-' grace and shame he and his would be turned out, with the curt admonition to seek a harbor in another land. He almost dropped as the arch duke ’s hand fell on his shoulder. “Scartman," said he kindly, yet incisively, “doubtless your mind is much too occupied to re member everything that happens here—but let me suggest that it would be well even to make a special effort to forget what has occurred this afternoon. I have known such forgetfulness to merit special reward." The landlord looked up in be wildered joy: “But her highness, sir—she will not-” “Tush, man," Armand inter rupted, “I’ll answer for the re gent.” i he old man began to cry, and through his tears he groped for the archduke’s hand and kissed the gauntlet.fervently. “God bless your highness!” he said—and was still repeating it when the latter passed the gate. The archduke rode slowly along the line of lancers, scruti nizing every man as he went; then motioned the officers to him. “Messieurs,” he said, “my compliments on your troop.— Captain Hertz, you may return to barracks.” Hertz saluted, faced his men and.raised his SAvord. And Ar mand, galloping down the road, turned in saddle and Avith his cap answered the wild cheer they sent after him. “Purkitz,” said the captain, before giving the order to break into column, “noAV is your oppor tunity to prove you can actually knoAv something and not tell it.” “And your also, O wiser than serpents,” the lieutenant laughed, “to prove you actually do knoAv something that you tell.” But the archduke had not deemed it necessary to caution either of them; here, even the dullest witted soldier in the army would have the sense to hold his tongue. Where the road for the sum mer palace took off at the old forge, the colonel left him, and Armand Avent on to the capital. He ro<fe these last feAV miles at a sIoav jog, and thoughtfully. It was well enough to treat the mat ter lightly to Moore, but, none the less, it troubled him. Dehra’s conduct had been so extraordi nary for her—Avho had refused to credit, for an instant, Madeline Spencer’s claim to be his Avife, though actually supported by a marriage certificate—.-that he was puzzled and all sorts of doubts midyears harassed him. It sug gested some untoward influence; Avhat he could not imagine, nor when it had come; but, even then, everything would be very easy to explain, if she would give him the opportunity, and not, in the natural perversity of a wom an, refuse to see him, and so make herself miserable, altogether needlessly. He had yet to learn that sometimes it is Avell to let a woman inadvertently discipline herself; it is more effective than if the man does it; and usually saves him a vast amount of re crimination. Then, too, he did not want Dehra to knoAv of this intended night visit to the Perida, where the natural prospect Avas duplicity and murder, and only Madeline Spencer’s Avorthless Avord to guarantee its safety. As* it Avas not, if he explained at all, it would have to be doAvn to the minutest detail, and he could foresee Avhat the "regent would have to say about any such adven ture on his part. Yet if the Perida party went he must lead it—and the Ferida party was going. So when he reached the Epsau, he was almost hoping to find a inessage from the princess that he was not expected for dinner. Hut it was not there, nor had it come when he started for the pal ace, though he waited until the very last moment. He found Moore pacing the corridor, on watch for him, but with nothing to clear up the sit uation. “And I’ve spent most of the time since I got back,’’ he ended, “in prancing up and down here, trying to get a glimpse of made moiselle, or some one, who might give me an ingling of the tem perature inside—all on your ac count, sir, of course; I’m getting used to this freezing and thaw ing process.’’ “Very good, colonel, then we will go right in, and you can be thawing while I am explaining— come along, man, come along,” and taking him by the arm they went on down the corridor, and entered the princess' small re ception room nextiher boudoir. Announce us,” said the" arch duke to the footman, ‘ ‘ but say to her highness that 1 would like * few minutes private speech with here—and to Mademoiselle d’Es solde say that Colonel Moore has a message from me and awaits here here.I leave that message to your Irish wit,” he remarked when the servant had gone. But the man was very slow in returning! and presently Moore laughed. “It’s getting chilly,” he ob served—“notice it?” The boudoir room swung open and Mile. d’Essolde came in. “Can’t say I do,” said the archduge aside, as he acknowl edged her curtsy; “looks very charming to me.” She gave the archduke a smile, Moore a look of indifferent greet ing, and then Armand another smile. “My mistress receives, your highness,” she said, holding back the door; and quite ignoring Moore’s effort, as he sprang for ward to relieve her. Under the chandelier, where 60 candles fluttered their mel low light about her, the regent of Valeria was standing; but her eyes were on the red rose she w’as slowly pulling apart, nor did she lift them when Armand entered. Having come in a little way, siowly and with purposeful de liberation, he stopped, and lean ing on his sword tarried to her to speak; and willing that she should not, for a while, that so, he might have this picture long enough to see it ever after—this white-robed, fair headed daugh ter of t^e Dalbergs, waiting to pass judgment on her betrothed. The last petal fell; she plucked another rose—a white one—from her corsage, and looked up. “You may speak, sir,” she said, in voice an impersonal monotone. The archduke bowed. “I have nothing to say,” he replied. She raised her ^ye-brows in polite surprise. “I thought you had requested 10 minutes private speech with me.’ ’ ' “I did,” said Armand, “but I withdraw the request; explana tions are vain, when one has been already judged, and judged unheard.” “One who is taken red-handed can have no explanation that ex plains,” said she. Then, of a sudden, out flashed | the adorable smile, and sha laughed, and flung him the white rose. “There, dear, ^ she said, “there, is your pardon—now, come,’ and she held out both hands; “come and forgive me for this afternoon.” And when he had forgiven her, she put him in a chair and perched herself on the arm be side him. “Tell me, Armand,” she said, “are we never to be free of that awful woman?—where did she come from?—how did she happen to be at the inn?” “And how did I happen to be with her there, you want to know,” he laughed. She nodded. “That more than all—yet I didn’t ask it.” He took out the anonymous letter, which he had remembered to get from Courtney; and when she had read it, he tore it into bits. “Will you have the explana tion that explains now or during dinner?” he asked. She sprang up. “I forgot I was hungry*! Come we will get Elise and Moore—that girl is a rare co quette; she makes my poor adju tant’s life very miserable.” it. looks like it! Siiid Ar j maud opening the door just as Moore caught Mile. d’Essolde ,and kissed her, despite her struggles. “1 warned you, my lady,” he was saying, “you would tempt me too far some day . . . will you iforgive me now, or shall I do it all over again?” The princess laughed. Moore’s arms dropped and he sprang back, while Mile. d’Essolde, flaming with embarrassment and [anger, buried her face in her hands. “Forgive him until after din ner Elise,” said Dehra; “you can retract then, and resume the situation, if you wish.” j x“0 wise and beneficent ruler!” said Moore, bowing to the ground, “I agree to the com promise.” <To be Continued Next Week.) ---- | Gold coins are again being minted In I Hussta. many from sacred articles of the I church confiscated by the soviet govern ! ment. St. Petersburg. Fla., is entertaining more tourists this winter than at the l»eak of any previous season. There are 80.000 visitors. "Cat feed for two. $90.50” was an ex emption claimed by a fish market owner at Terre Haute. Ind., In his In come tax report. CHriio PlANiTY IVIULM rifeS YELLOW PERIL. VASTLY encouraging to those who have contributed to the support of foreign missions in China is the report brought from that field by Dr. J. F. Peat, district sup erintendent ef the Chunk King dis trict for the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Peat is in Sioux City In the interest or a memorial church and school near Chung King for the late Bishop Lewis. "Christianity is making rapid gains in China now,” says Dr. Peat. “The seven missions of the Chung King district In 1921 reported a gain of 9,151. When one considers that the work of all the Christian mis sionaries in China for the first 63 years after they were admitted showed only 9,000 converts, the pro gress is easily realized.” According to the best available figures about one-eighth of 1 per cent, of the present Chinese popular tlon is Christian, Dr. Peat says. Then he calls attention to two startling facts. First, in a recent nation wide vot ing contest to determine the 12 Chinese who, in the popular mind, rank highest in the republic, six of the 12 selected in a voluminous and representative balloting came from the one-eighth of 1 per cent, at Christians. Second, with a national average of literacy of about 2 per cent, a care ful survey of the Christian Chinese In the Chung King district showed that fully 85 per cenL of them are able to read any part of the Chinese new testament, taught almost en tirely by native Christian mission workers. “I never greatly feared the Yellow Peril,” says Dr. Peat. “But any menace there might be there cannot be met so easily in any other way as by extension of the work the Christ ian churches are doing.” Which more than ever makes Christianity and civilization seem synonymous terms. In Case an Auto Bumps You. From the Omaha Bee. An old engineer lay dying in the switch shanty, where he had been car ried after being struck by the locomo tive. "What hit me?” he gasped. “It was the big 94S,” answered one of the attendants. “Thank God,” replied the dying man, “I didn't want to be killed by a dinky switch engine," and he went out happy. None of us care to be knocked down by a 10-ton truck, or by a $10,000 im ported motor, but if we had to make a choice, it would be one of those rather than a flivver. Alaska Not “Wild and Woolly.” Sherman Rogers, in the Outlook. So far as social conditions are con cerned throughout Alaska, they are not different from those in any other part of the country where the stars and stripes float. The homes I visited were furnished as well as t*-ose in the states; in fact, on an average, I think ^better. Probably it might be well to explain why: There is no poverty in Alaska; begging is un heard of and unnecessary. While it is true that there is no ostentatious dis play of wealth, neither do you meet with the pitiable cases of poverty that we so Often meet with in metropolitan cities fn the states. The citizens of the territory are well dressed, well mannered, extremely well read, and so far as hospitality is con cerned they have few equals. In fact, to make a long story short, from a standpoint of schools, social con ditions, stores, hotels and modern eco nomic life, any part of Alaska, from Ketchikan to Fairbanks will come up to par with any like distance in the states. I don’t want to overlook another very Interesting feature of Alaskan life: In ratio to population I make the careruiiy studied statement that there is no part of the world where as many magazines are read. There are large news stores in every Alaskan town and city. Maga zines are piled high on all news stands as soon as the boat arrives, and boats arrived twice a week while I was in the territory. Everyone reads these publications from cover to cover, and I have never spent four months among better In formed people than I did this summer jn Alaska. I could engage In conversa tion with anyone fro mthe mayor of a town to a prospector 40 miles from a railway, and they could put up an Intel ligent argument on any question con cerning the public welfare that was re ceiving attention in American publica tions. The territory has excellent news papers, every town of more than 500 population navlng a dally newspaper ■with Associated Press service. My general impression of the people of Alaska i3 that they are delightfully big hearted, extremely frank, and en gagingly courteous. They have their petty quarrels artiong themselves, quite true; but let an outsider mix in. and they Immediately stand shoulder to shoulder. All in all, they are that same wonderfully hospitable type that were «o numerous in the west, 20 years ago. Sacred relics, with a document which declares them to be fragments of the true cross, signed and sealed by Sigis mundus. Cardinal of Vienna, in 1750, have been discovered by the Anderson Galleries, in New York, in a silver cross Included In a collection of antiques re cenely consigned to them from Austria by Gregory Mycander, a Swedish col lector in Austria. Mr. Mycander has been notified of the discovery and the cross has been withdrawn from the sale. The silver cross is 93 inches high, ana in taking it apart it was discovered that the base is hollow. In the space was found a Latin manuscript with the Cardinal’s seal and signature. ♦ 4- TWO BETTER THAN Of*«. ♦ ♦ - ♦ 4- "Two are better than one; be- 4 4 cause thev have a good reward 4 4 for their labor. FFor if they fall, 4 4- the one will lift up his fellow: 4 4 but woe to him that is alone 4 4 when he faileth; for he hath not 4 4 another to lift him up. And if ;► 4 one prevail against him, two 4 4 shall withstand him, and a 4 •4 threefold chord is not quickly 4 4 broken.”—Ecclesiastes. + 4 ♦ 4 + 444444 + + * 444-f + + * + Sure Relief FOR INDIGESTION I Bell-ans Hot water Sure Relief ELLANS 254 AND 754 PACKAGES EVERYWHERE VICTIMS RESCUED Kidney, liver, bladder and uric acid troubles are most dangerous because of their insidious attacks. Heed the first warning they give that they need attention by taking LATHROP’S ^jM^RXEgToj^ j The world’s standard remedy for these disorders, will often ward off these dis eases and strengthen the body ngninat furtherattacks. Three sizes,alldruggists. Look for the name Gold Medal on every * box and accept no imitation Shave With Guticura Soap The New Way Without! Mug Hair Thin?Si .. i*lr—It vltallia* uae roots aud stops bair falling out—Alls bald spots rapidly. Try It! At ali good druggists, «lc, x»r direct from HE5SIC - ELLIS. Chmida, Mnaslu. Tim. S. C. WHITE LEGHORNS Guaranteed eggs and chicks prepaid. Circular free. E. PODHASKI, MONTICELLO. IOWA. — ■ -■ -. rrs. Truth in Ejaculation. The lumberjack was directed to pro ceed from camp to the nearest town and arrange for certain supplies. This entailed a long tramp through a for est composed of hemlock. For miles and miles lie trudged through a never ending growth of hemlock. At night he Camped. The hemlock was hard to cut, and when it was cut it made a poor fire. Hemlock roots tripped him and boughs of lieihlock scratched his face. So when lie finally emerged it was not inappropriate that he remarked: “Gosh all hemlock!” FOR OVER 40 YEARS HALL’S CATARRH MEDICINE has been used successfully In the treatment of Catarrh. HALL’S CATARRH MEDICINE con sists of an Ointment which Quickly Relieves by local application, and the Internal Medicine, a Tonic, which acts through the Blood on the Mucous Sur faces. thus reducing the Inflammation. Sold by all druggists. F. J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, Ohio. Wolves Revered by Indians. Wolves, up to recent times, were never killed by Indians, ns, accord ing to their belief, the spirits of the Jeparted inhabited the bodies of the Solves. When they came too close to the camp the Indians would throw a firebrand or rock at them, and would use a rifle only if the dogs were at tacked or a child was in danger. If the wolf was killed, the rifle was con sidered useless afterward and throw* away. HAIR STAYS COMBED, GLOSSY “Hair Groom” Keeps Hair Combed—WeU-Groomed. HAIR GROOM tummamru Keeps Hair , Combed Millions Use It—Fine for Hair!—Nat Sticky, Greasy or Smelly. A few cents beys a jar of “Hair Groom" at any drug store. Even stub born, unruly or shampooed hair stays combed all day in any style you like. “Hair-Groom” is a dignified combing cream which gives that natural gloss and well-groonied effect to you* hair—. that final touch to good dress both la business and on social occasions. Greaseless, stainless “Hair-Groom” does not show on the hair because It is absorbed by the scalp, therefore your hair remains so soft and pliable and so natural that no one can pos sibly tell yo« t vkI It.