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"Highness," he said softly, "you are the fairest, finest princess in the world, and you shall marry when you will"

"And where?"

"I would that I could h We can not change this unwritten law"

"Heaven did not write it," she replied

"No, hter," said the duke "Man is at the bottom of all the kinks and twists in this short life; not Heaven But Herbeck is right; you shallinto his arms and kissed hi in her heart that now she would never marry Herbeck's eyes wandered to the portrait over the fireplace It was the girl's hness, there is a young wohness"

"Where is she?" asked the duke

"She is outside, your Highness"

"What! She enters the palace without any arde, who gathered that this privileged visitor"Ad socialists," said the duke, appealing to Herbeck, who replied with his usual grim smile

Gretchen was ushered in Her throat was a little full as she recognized the three rand duchy Outwardly she was composed She made a curtsy to which the duke replied with his most formal bow of state The sparkle of airl!" he said half-audibly

"Yes, Highness" Gretchen's face was serious and her eyes were htly

"Come to me, Gretchen," said the princess

"What is it?"

Gretchen's eyes roahness, and I found this letter under her pillow"

It was Herbeck's hand that took the envelope But he did not open it at once

"Dead?" Hildegarde's eyes filled

"Who is dead?" demanded the duke

"Eivefor a , and I have often stolen out to see her" She let her tears fall unrestrained

The duke stared at the rug Presently he said: "Let her be buried in consecrated ground Wrong or right, that chapter is closed, lad you made her last moments happy It was like you It was like your mother What is in the letter, Herbeck?"

Herbeck was a strong man; he was always far removed from tears; but there was a mist over the usual clarity of his vision He ripped down the flap It was only a siive the enclosed banknotes to one Gretchen who lived in the Kru The notes represented a thousand crowns