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fly the lrcular n. ma- Linnea: ’k that . do this old kl up and ma 01m»; i can’t keep it. Rig wiféguilwn; to hum 58â€"4th 1 due notâ€"I would prefer not to «not! it.” , ‘ ~ n I went to claim my audience, the Prince m 110! visibie, nor Dumergue either, and I was at once received by the Princess alone. She was looking math: and more simple and hdflfess than CHAPTER I I 1. tin MISSION or we nun. B COULD not imagine why the Princess desired to see me. It would have been much more nat- nni tq punish the impertinence of which I had no doubt been guiltyâ€"J mean, of which it Wu agreed on all hands that I had been unityâ€"by merely 'de. eflninctoteceivemeoreeemewiin. Eventhede- lire for a written mica would have been treating meuof too much account. But themed t6 see the. What I had hard of the Prineeu’,chencter new forbade my idee which cabinet to have Minn would lave been, pleasant to entertain. No‘:'_$e clearly wanted me, but whet for, I could m‘m uh! adnflnistmfl {0' m I' humbly caved nation, and had no dificnlty in obtaining it. Indeed; she bum: very gnu‘ous. .‘ v " ”You must come to Glbttcnbcrg," she said, “ in -flw_---â€". ....v, a...“ ;, Wynn.- She rose and stood by the fire. “toying" (as the nonliats say) with her fan. " “You seem to be an obligina tman, Mr. Ja'son,” she s'aid. "YOu-‘Were ready to oblige Madame Vooght ” I made a gesture of half-serious protest. ‘I wonder,” she continued, ‘if you would doi me a little service.” ' » “I glut]! be most honored if I may hope to be ‘uble to," Said I. What did sh‘eyant? She blushed slightly, and,- with a net ous laugh, said: W3 only a snort story. When I was a young mrl,1 was foolish‘ enough, Mr. Jason, to ffll in lowâ€"or, at least to think I did. The was a young English attachéâ€"I know I can rely/.3!) your perfect discretion‘u-at my father’s court, and he forgot the difference between us. He was a man of rank, thaugb. Well, I was foolish enough to accept from him a very valuable ringâ€"a fine rubyâ€"«quilt a fam- ily hell-100m Of course, I- never were it, but I molt it? And when I married; I~‘--â€"â€"” . She paused " Your Royal Highness had no Opportunity of returning it?" “Exactly gig had left ll}: m '1'Wt'know ‘I‘_ ‘- “mummy time.“ ' W." W? ‘ “To obey, your Royal Highness' commands will by {delightful duty.” said ‘1, bowing. HIGHLAND "PA’RK . {NEWS LETTERE when be m tadâ€"41nd an you via not quite tmatmmhy” ‘ "I undemmd perfectly" “_I saw _in the pupers the othér dly that he was he Volume 16. SPOR HIGHLAIyD PARQILL‘INOIS, NOVEMBER 26 By ANTHONY HOPE Illuat‘raled by "Lord Daynesborougb. You will be able to find him ?” . , _ . “Oh“, yes.” . t “ And you will-~you will be careful, MI}. Jason ?" .“He shall have it sately in-thrce dye, Any t'm‘vith it. madame? fi . ‘ ~~flMYMmt by best with ‘ {armban- would have phmc ' had no difficult spite» of the times welcome guest in he um! I were sit -â€"- 7.-- -v --,u Lady Daynesborough had better, as the Princess would have phrued it, not be troubled with the ‘A‘Al‘... he and I. were fining side by side It Mrs. Clos- madene’s “Me. The ladies had withdrawn, and we were thou: to follow them upstnirl. Dayna- bormh was a funk, pleasant fellow, md scorned I boived and prepared to withdnw. “ And yow‘ mose- come and tell «meâ€"â€"â€"" “I will come and make my report." ‘“ I‘ do not know how to thank you." , I kissed 116’ band and bowed myself out, might- ily amused, and, maybe, rather touched at the revelation of this youthful romance. Somehow such things' are always touching, stupid as- they are for the most part. It pleased me to find that; the little Princess was “flesh and' blood. She followed me to ‘thek door, ,and wh‘ispéred, as I opened it? , “I fiove not ‘ troubled 'the Prince with the 0n arriving in England. I made inquiries about Lord Dayuesbomuxh. I found that it was seven years since he had abruptly thrown up his pqst of attaché without cause assigned. After this event, he liVed in retirement for game time, and then re- turned into society. Three months ago he had mar- ried Miss Dorothy Codringt‘on, a noted beauty with whom he appeared much in love, and had just re- turned from his wedding‘tour anii settled dorm- for the season at his house in Curzon Street. Hearing all. this. I thought the little Princess might have let well alone, and kept her. ring; but her conduct was no business of mine, and Iâ€"éet‘abqut fulfiliinâ€"g my commission. I nudggi no one to, tell me that Of course I assented. She went into.“ adjoin- ing room, and returned with a little momeo cue. Opening it, she showed me a ntignifieent ruby. set in an old gold ring of great beauty. “ Will you give it him?" she said. “.Your Royal Highness has not told me his name ?" - ' “Wives are so considerate,” thought went downstairs. ma ttcr.” no M in m the young lord. In You would wish mewâ€"1' m we live in, a Juonwis ruin : in most houses, and befme Iona sitting side by side It Mrs Clos- C. Williams H: Jookqd at me' with i bitter smile. “My dear Jason,” he aid. “I have been flatter- ing your acumen at the expense of your morality. I thought you knew what thig' meant.” ' "No more than what the Pfimus told me.” “ No, of course not, or you would not have brought it. Winn we parted, I gav'e her the ring, When she left us, he returned to the tame, and, with a weary sigh, said: .. ' ' “Now, Mr. Jastm, I am’rady.” . . _“ My task is a very short one,”’said I. “ I have no message except tq convey to you the Princess‘ best wishes for your happiness on your marriage, of which she has recentIy heard, and to give you the ring. Here it is." ~ ' “Ha"ve women” nonercy P” moaned he. “I beg your pardon ?" said 1, rather startled. “ She waits seven 31:3er years without a word or a sign-eatidl‘thm Vanda it! And why?” "amuse you're“ m _ . - “Emm- I , . 1- ' “ Not at all; self that your . - the fin; now.” “I shall be most glad to come," I Vlamwtnd, “ more especially as I want to talk with you." “Do you? About what?” “I have a message fot you." .“ You have a message for me, Mr. Jason? For- give me, but from whom ?” I leaned over toward him and whisp'ued, “The films Ferdinand of GIottenberg.” ' The man turned :5 whicc'u a sheet, and, rip- ping hi1 hind, acid under his breath: “Hui! Smely youâ€"you haven'tâ€"4h: hasn’t ‘ ‘ZGood'GOdi Mm uyenfyurs!” - ,, “ ‘ General Clam rose fr'om his chair. Dayna- botough drank 01! a very large “whitewash," and added: ' éhildlikc as she. seemed. Lady Daynesborough dined with us. She was a. tall, slendgr girl. very handsome; and, $0 judge from herappcarance, not wantingjn resolution and char- acter. She was obviously devoted to her husband, and he treated her with an affectionate deference that seemed to me almost overdone. It was like the manner of a man who is remoxscfnl for mfing wounded some one he loves. ' . “Com; to dinner tomorrowâ€"eight o’clock. We shall be alone; and, for Heaven’s sake, say nothing.” I said nothing, and ~I went to dinner, carrying the ruby ring in my breastpockct. But I began to wonder whetheg the link: Princess was quite as fol ll’l . , 1 904. methatltewonldlikemetocone "ad lee him at home. he “54, “you will ease to «Yuma: the afiecmion of conceding his ham Inns in unmarried mm. In fact, he nematonkcahucytom.ndmld Number 26.