Arms and the Woman

I shall tell Hillars's story as he told it. He said: Last August I went to B----.

My mission was important and took me to

the British Legation, where I am well known. I was most cordially

invited to attend a ball to be given the next evening. The notables of

the court were there. For a few moments the King let his sun shine on

the assemblage. It was a brilliant spectacle. At midnight I saw for

the first time a remarkably beautiful woman. I was looking well myself

that night. All women like to see broad shoulders in a man. It

suggests strength--something they have not. Several times this young

woman's eyes met mine. Somehow, mine were always first to fall. There

was a magnetism in hers mine could not withstand. Later, an attache

came to me and said that he wished to present me to her Serene Highness

the Princess Hildegarde of--let us call it Hohenphalia. He whispered

that she had commanded the introduction. I expected to see some

red-faced dowager who wanted to ask me about my country and bore me

with her guttural accents. To my intense pleasure, I found myself at

the side of the beauty whom I had been admiring. There was a humorous

light in her eyes as she put some questions to me.

"Do you speak German?" she asked in that language.

"Poorly, your Highness," I answered.

"Perhaps, then, you speak French?"

"As I do my mother tongue," said I.

"I am interested in Americans," she said.

"Collectively or individually?" I tried to say this with perfect

innocence, but the smile on her lips told me that I had failed.

"Yes, I was sure that you would interest me."

She tapped the palm of her hand with the fan she held. "Shall I tell

you why I desired to meet you?"

I nodded.

"I have heard it said that the American bows down before a title; and I

am a woman, and curious."

Said I, laughing: "Your Highness has been misinformed. We never bow

down to a title; it is to the wearers that we bow."

This time her eyes fell.

"This sort of conversation is altogether new to me," she said, opening

the fan.

"I hope that I have not offended your Highness," I said.

"Indeed, no. But it seems so strange to have any one talk to me with

such frankness and deliberation. Have you no fear?"

"There is seldom fear where there is admiration. If you had used the

word awe, now----"