Arms and the Woman

The second letter was from headquarters in New York.

"DEAR WINTHROP--We want a good Sunday special. Her Serene Highness the

Princess Hildegarde of Hohenphalia has taken it into her head to

disappear again. Go over and see Rockwell in B----; he will give you a

good yarn. It has never been in type yet, and I daresay that it will

make good reading. London seems particularly dull just now, and you

can easily turn over your affairs to the assistant. This woman's life

is more full of romance than that of any other woman of the courts of

Europe. The most interesting part of it is her reputation is said to

be like that of Caesar's wife--above reproach. Get a full history of

her life and of the Prince whom she is to marry. If you can get any

photographs do so. I know how you dislike this sort of work, prying

into private affairs, as you call it, but with all these sensational

sheets springing up around us, we must keep in line now and then. Do

you know anything about Hillars; is he dead or alive? Take all the

time you want for the story and send it by mail."

"The Princess Hildegarde!" I cried aloud. "The deuce take the woman!"

"What's that?" asked my assistant, who had overheard my outburst.

"Oh, I am to go across on a special story," I said with a snarl, "just

as I was fixing for a week's fishing. I've got to concern myself with

the Princess Hildegarde of Hohenphalia."

"Ah, the Princess Hildegarde?" said the young fellow, pushing back his

hat and elevating his feet, a trick he had acquired while being reared

in his native land, which was the State of Illinois, in America. "You

want to be careful. Every one burns his fingers or singes his wings

around that candle."

"What do you know about her?" I asked.

"A little. You see, about six months ago I discovered all regarding

Hillars and his fall from grace. It was through the Reuter agency.

Hillars got badly singed. An elopement of some sort between him and

the Princess was nipped in the bud. He was ordered to leave the

country and warned never to return, at the peril of his liberty. A

description of him is with every post on the frontier. As for the

Princess she is an interesting character. She was educated in this

country and France. She speaks several languages. She is headstrong

and wilful, and her royal guardian is only too anxious to see her

married and settled down. She masquerades in men's clothes when it

pleases her, she can ride a horse like a trooper, she fences and

shoots, she has fought two duels, and heaven alone knows what she has

not done to disturb the tranquility of the Court. For a man she loved

she would be a merry comrade. I saw her once in Paris. She is an

extraordinarily beautiful woman. A man takes no end of risk when he

concerns himself with her affairs, I can tell you. Hillars--Well, I

suppose it's none of my business. He must have had an exciting time of

it," concluded the young man.