The Argosy, October 1906 — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

’ . hes 4 = re = v. es 3 The very Prince I’ve ) coldly, surroundincs a since I first saw you-—— ‘since you first saw me—— his I Ged to discover in even so = beautiful a palace~as this,:I would try very hard to take away. ‘with me. You see, I couldn’t forget that she would have to marry a prince if she -stayed, and I, being only an ordinary - mortal, would. be jealous of that confounded prince.” But you’re the Prince, himself! 2? Then she stopped and blushed furi- ously. It sounded somehow immodest, for all it ran so .trippingly off her — _ tongue. “ You don't really mean,” he began excitedly, ° You don’t mean that Sos. : that I = _ “Of course not,” aad the Princess withdrawing her hand. “I don’t mean anything of the kind. It was only a fairy-story and I was just talking.” “Talk some more, Mary Murray,” he said softly. ‘““My name is Evelyn,” she snapped. “Ts it? That’s a beautiful name and _ just the kind that a Princess ought to - Wear. May I call you the ' Princess Evelyn’?” A sparkle of fun came into the Prin- cess’s eyes and she looked up at him de- murely. “If you will tell me what to call dying to- . crossly, ‘‘ have = Ever since that ‘ioment Y ve he hesitated. - “Well, why don’t you?” > Why don’t I what?” Billy was | holding himself steady with difficulty, his voice shook and he leaned perilously near the lips that tempted him. “You know, in the fairy- story,” bes gan the Princess musingly, ° prince loves the princess he “Yes! He does what?” “ Oh, he just tells her so—stupid ! ” The Princess was getting pettish. — “Goodness gracious, Billy,” she said I got to do it all?” In an instant Billy’s arms were around “when a 99 _her and he had kissed her full. on her | sweet, red mouth. - : “ Oh, dear!” she oanitad “Tet me go, let me go, I say! How dare you?” ‘Oh, I-dare, all right, and I won't let you go until you proms i velya “ Promise. what?” — “To marry me.’ The — Princess And then she said in a soft, little voice: “ Indeed, - Vl promise. I’ve been in love with you ever since I first saw your picture, and I meant to marry you, then.” He held her off at arm’s length.“ ~ “ What do you mean, darling? ‘picture? ” : ~ “ Nothing,” said the Princess. My = Some ze My name doesn’t fit in with royal /day I’ll tell: you, but you must let me go. bit. For _ instance, ; Prince Bill,’ now, that’s a hot ald name, isn’t it?” The servants will see you. And besides, havén’t you been a little hasty? How do you know who I am? I might be She laughed with him, and then said, ~ almost anybody, or nobody.” “But King William is all right!” ‘“T’d be satisfied to have you call me * Billy ’—that is, if you thought you could like me well enough.” The Princess pulled a red rose to pieces and blew the petals over him mis- chievously. “Be careful, sir,” she admonished him. “First thing you know, I'll be saying, ‘ Oh, this is so sudden !?” ~ “YT wish you would—TI just wish you would!” said Billy earnestly. “ Ever 7? ” ‘So long, long . go.” “Well, it seems as though I had known you forever.” “Yes? Well, please go on. 9 Ever “T don’t care who you are! You're the sweetest, dearest little girl in the whole world, Why, if you were Mr. Standard’s daughter hersedl, I'd ask you to marry me just the same.’ “Would. you really? Now, that’s what I call real moble of you.” The Princess fairly shook with laughter. | ‘““T don’t know why you're laughing.” ‘“No, but you will. If you want to marry me, you must ask my father— that’s proper, isn’t it?” : He nodded. 4 Well, come along. Let's say good- by to you car to take me home in.’ The sun was going down peliid the mountains across the river as they slow- — St on — —= been ee \ jaughed peovolangly Stes