HIS ROYAL HICHNESS'S LOVE AFFAIR. (From Harper's Magazine)

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2107, 9 January 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

HIS ROYAL HICHNESS'S LOVE AFFAIR. (From Harper's Magazine)

(Continued.)

Much more awkward thaa the colonel fancied when he spoke these words ; for in the dead of that night, as he lay awake musing on all that happened, he waa startled by a loud knock, aud presently Mulehen, the cook, rapped at h» door to say that three gentlemen of the police were waiting to see him. Huddling on his dressing-gown and slippers, the Colonel went down, with no little trepidation depicted on his countenance. His visitors were Herr Starklaune, Chief of the Police in Altenatadt, and two subordinates. Herr Starklaune wan a man with a cold, keen eye and a stiff grey moustache. "I am very sorry to be the bearer of a disagreeable communication to you, Colonel," he said, dryly. "The orders of the Government are that you leave the kingdom immediately." " Who ?" stammered the Colonel, dumfounded. 11 Not only you, but all your family, and especially your daughter Fraulein Mabel." "Surely this is not owing to the Crown Prince ?" remonstrated the Colonel. •• 1 assure you, sir, my poor child has been unwell. I trust you will allow me time to explain this to their Majesties. We are really most grieved, Mrs. Chowery and I." " I can allow you no time," was Herr Starklaune's answer. " You must all dress at once. Your baggage will be sent after you. I can let you take away no papers. Nothing, in fact, except the clothes you wear. Those are my orders. Be quick, if you please, for two carriages are waiting for you." Expostulation was usless. The Colonel had to rouse his wife and children ; and as soon as they were dressed they were hurried, wondering and shivering, for it was a bitterly cold night, into the carriages, which drove them to a railway station ten miles outside of the capital. All the way Mabel cried, and the Colonel kept moaning, "Wretched girl, see what you have brought upon us by your folly." This summary expulsion of the Chowerys from Gothia was due to a very simple cause. The Crown Prince, after leaving Mabel, had gone to the royal palace and declared to his father and mother that he would not marry the Princess Carolina of Swabia. He was in love with the Fraulein Chowery, and nobody else would be his wife. The good Queen of Gothia wept, and the King of Gothia stormed. He had great cause for dissatisfaction in the conduct of h ; s heir, who had lately been remiss in his military duties, insomuch that the First Regiment of Hussar*, of which his Royal Highness was Colonel, were leading quite easy and pleasant lives — a thing never before known in the service. " I'll put you into another regiment, and send you to command the garrison of a fortress," cried his Majesty, shaking his fist. "Now go to your palace, and consider yourself under arrest until my good pleasure is known." Naturally the Crown Prince obeyed ; but there was that in his manner of obeying which showed that he was not to be shaken from the projects he had conceived toward Fraulein Chowery. He bad been accustomed to hare his own way in everything, generally without difficulty, and Mabel was the only girl who had ever withstood him. This made her the more worth winning. His Royal Highness was persuaded that there could be no more happiness for him in life unless Mabel became his left handed'eonsort, and having betaken himself to his palace, he wrote her a respectful ' and well-turned letter expressive of his honorable intentions. Meanwhile his royal papa and mamma had in dismay sent for Baron yon Stoiz, the Prime Minister, whose advice they besought in a matter which was of such sovereign importance to the dynasty and to the state of Gothia. The Prime Minister was quite as much scandalised as the King and Queen, but, being a statesman of prompt action, he at onced advised that the Chowerys should be expelled from the country, and that the Crown Prince should be dispatched to the court of Swabia without delay. Baran yon Stolz did not believe in the eternity of love affairs between princes and pretty damseh of inferior station, and, besides, he had his political reasons for wishing to see Prince Fritz marry the daughter of the King of Swabia. Gothia and Swabia had not of late been living on quite such friendly terms as was desirable, and it was to be feared that there was some project afoot for concluding an alliance between Swabia and Westphalia, in which case Goth'a would find itself in a minority in the German Diet. The Diet still flourished in those days, and Gothia, thanks to the able policy of Baron yon Stolz in managing alliances, had a paramount influence there, but this influence could only be maintained if Prince Fritz and the Princess Carolina, who did not care a pin for each other, became man and wife. Therefore, the Chowerys were expelled from Gothia, as we have seen, and Baron yon Stolz went to bed appeased. The Crown Prince had also retired to rest, well satisfied, after writing his letter to Mabel. The first thing he did next morning upon rising was to send that epistle to the Blumentrasse by one of his equerries. You may imagine His Royal Highness's feelings when the equerry returned in an hour saying that he had found the Chowery's house in the possession of the police, who were overlooking papers and packing trunks. Herr Starklaune was superintending these operations in person, and he had told the equerythat all the Chowerys, including the Fraulein, had been exiled by " superior order." Prince Fritz had a royal habit of swearing when little things put him out, but on this occasion his language was really so strong that it was a wonder where he could have learned the startling words he used. He was even more awful to behold, however, when he grew calmer, for his complexion remained livid with rage, and be took a terrible oath not to be dissuaded from his purpose by anything which the wrath of his parents or the craft of statesmen could devise against him. "This is a trick of Yon Stolz's," exclaimed His Royal Highness, shaking both his fists, " But I'll be even with him. I'll join the Opposition." And this significant threat, reaching Baron yon Stolz's ears the same evening, was, of course, destined to have a vital effect on Gothian politics, for till then Prince Fritz had belonged to the party which was in power, whereas if he now lent his countenance to Baron yon Zweifelwitz, who headed the Opposition, Baron yon Stolz was likely to have some difficult work cut out for him. But it was not enough to anathematue Yon Stolz ! the Crown Prince had to evince his spirit by action. He first dashed off a letter to the Swabian ambassador apprising His Excellency that it was not his intention to sue for the Princess Carolina's hand, as his affections were engaged elsewhere. No such indiscreet letter was ever penned by a Crown Prince, for, as every one will admit, a communication of such a nature as this ought to have been couched in the proper diplQipatw tor.au of wrourtQUi pori«

phrasis, and it ought to have been for* warded through Yon Stolz. The Prince must have known that in telling the ambassador that he did not mean to marry the daughter of his Excellency's matter he was inflicting a slight upon the whole nation of Swabia, from the king on hit throne to the lowest coster-monger on hia donkey-cart, and that, under such circumstances, the ambassador would feel bound instantly to demand his passports. But the Crown Prince was not in the least concerned about the ambassador's demanding bis passports, for the only person on earth of whom he was thinking just then was Mabel. Having sent off hi* letter, his Royal Highness ordered his confidential ralet to pack him a portmanteau, cash him a cheque, and be ready to start with him on a journey in an hour. At the time appointed the Crown Prince committed the unpardonable offence of breaking his arrest ; he and his valet left Altenstadt together privately, and before it was known that they had decamped, the express that carried them wai over the frontier. That name night His Royal Highness crossed the Channel by the Ostend packet, and was very sick ; so was bin valet. Toward six in the morning they reached London, and alisrhted at Claridge's Hotel, where, as His Highness was travelling incognita, he gave his name as Count yon Altenstadt. The Prince had not the least idea as to where he could find theChowerya; but he recollected having heard that the Colonel was a member of the Army and Navy Club, so when he had dressed and breakfasted he ordered a brougham round and drove to Pall Mall. Fortune was kind to him, for the very first person he saw in descending from his carriage was Colonel Chowery coming down the steps of the club, opening some letters. The little Colonel, who was looking very miserable, started at the sight of Princo Fritz as if be had doubted bid own senses. "How do you do, Colonel?" said the Crown Prince, politely lifting his hat. " I heard yesterday of the indignity that had been put upon you, and I have hastened to England to express my utmost concern, and to offer you my sincerest apologies for what has happened.' How sweet are the words of princes ! Colonel Chowery, who had been cursing Prince Fritz all the way from Gothia, was almost moved to tears. " It is very good of you, sir," he whimpered. "Will you do me the honour of walking in? It was a great trouble to us all to think that their Majesties were offended." 1 1 hope at least you acquitted me of all share in your expulsion.' 'Of course, sir, I knew that your Royal Highness would not put any unfavourable construction on my poor child's actions.' ' Colonel Chowery, let me speak out the truth frankly : I love your daughter.' ♦ Oh, sir, you do her a great honour, but—' ' There is no ' but ' about it If you will consent, I want Miss Mabel to become my wife.' 'Is your Royal Highness speaking serionsly !' Colonel Chowery pronounced the words "your Royal Highness" rather louder than he need have done, for his friend General Brown, a great respecter of persons, was within ear-shot just then. The Prince and the Colonel were passing through the hall of the club. "I am so far serious," said bis Ruyal Highness, as they walked into a private room, " that I will call on Miss Chowery this very day to make my offer. You* are staying in London?" The Colonel was too much flurried to have any clear perception of what was said to him. He was asking himself whether it could be possible that his Mabel was going to be a queen. So the Prince had to repeat his question. •Yes, sir ; we arrived in London yesterday,' 1 answered the Colonel. ' At what hotel are you staying V 'At the— at the Clarendon. 1 This, of course, was a figment. The Chowerys had put up at a small family hotel in Craven-street, close to Charing Cross, but the Colonel saw that if his Royal Highness was going to call with a matrimonial object in view he must be received in state, and so he resolved to remove to the Clarendon without loss of time. He and the Prince remained talking anxiously together for nearly an hour, and then his Royal Highness left, promising to call and lunch at the Clarendon punctually at one. The little Colonel thereupon hurried back to Craven-street as fast as a hansom could carry him. He was in a more excited state than if he had been on active service again and about to fight a battle. This was all very well ; but, as may be imagined, the Crown Prince's escapade had produced a sensation something like the explosion of a bomb at the Gothinn court, and wild telegrams were being wired about him in all directions. Poor little innocent Mabel was causing ever so many distinguished personages in different parts of Europe to put their wits and legs in violent motion. < First oame a telegram from the Gotbian court to the Queen of England, at Windsor, explaining the grevious thing that had happened, and praying her Majesty to exert her authority that Prince Fritz might be packed home (the Queen being in Scotland, this message was forwarded to Balmoral) ; second, came a telegram from Baron Yon Stolz to Count yon Sohinkenapeiee, the Gothian Minibter iv London, expl lining facts, and ordering that his Excellency should exert bin iufluence, etc. ; third, message from Balmoral to Altenstrdt, conveying sympathy, and promising prompt action ; fourth, a message from Balmoral to one of the royal princes in London, commanding him to ascertain where Prince Fritz was, to call upon him, exert influence, &c. ; fifth, ditto from Balmoral to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, explaining facts, and commanding him to use influence, etc. ; sixth a message from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs' to Sir Passmoro Stoley, the British Minister at Altenstadt, requesting a full report of all that had occurred ; seventh, eighth, and ninth, notes from the Gothian Minister, the Secretary of Foreign Office, and the Royal Prince to the Chief Commissioner of Police, demanding that the address of Prince Fritz should instantly be found ; tenth, a note from Secretary of Foreign Office to the War-Office, asking for information about Colonel Chowery ; eleventh, an identical note from the War-office to the Indian Office propounding the same question ; twelfth, a note from the Indian Office giving a list of Colonel Chowery's servicei. Then there were runnings to and fro, as follow; Six detectives started from Scotland Yard to scour the principal hotels. The Chief Commissioner called at Marlbrough House, in Downing Street, and at the Gothian Legation. The Roj al Prince and the Gothian Minister called at Scotland Yard. The Secretary of Foreign Office, the Royal Prince and the Gothian Minister all called at Claridge's Hotel, and missed the Crown Prince, who was out. These three exalted person* subsequently called on one another, and missed one another. The Chief Commissioner had an interview with the manager of Claridge's. The Secretary of Foreign Office had an interviews with everybody. In the upshot it was ascertained that the Crown Prince had gone to tht Clarendon, but his Royal Highness had been there some hours before this discovery was made. He had lunched with the Cbower/t, he had spent the aften>r>or with them, and he intended to stay ie ftiauor wri iw4 tilt wining, foot

Mabel has been much agitated by this visit, for, after having been scolded over several hundred* of miles of railway trrvelling about "her foolish conduct" toward the Crown Prince, she was disposed to look with terror upon His Royal Highness. Yesterday her parents were abating the Prince and her together ; to-day they were for throwing her into his arms. H«r father and mother had told her that th* Prince meant to propose marriage, and they had loaded her with caresses on tha strength of her brilliant new prospeoto. But Mabel felt giddy at the mere idea of marrying a crown prince. She conld not realise it, and trembled all the afternoon in his presence. At last, toward dusk, her parents left her alone with the Prince, and she sat by the fire, whose fitful light flickered on her face, too nervous to speak or move. She would have given anything for an excuse to fly, bat this time there was no running away. 'Listen to me, dear Mabel,' said tha Prince, taking both her hands and gazing ardently into her face. ' I have come to England to ask you to be my wife.' 'I am not fitted to be a queen, sir/ she answered, with a weak attempt at • smile. ' You would make an adorable queen,' cried the Prince, who did not see fit as yet to explain that she was only to be a morganatic spouse. ' I do cot frightem you, do I ?' >•-.' Yes, sir, you do,' she replied with rueful frankness. 'Why, am I so very terrible P and he smiled. She laughed slightly too, to giro herself a countenance. 'What I mean is that you are so much above me, sir.' 'But if I raised you to my side, and loved you with my whole heart, all my life long ?' ' You could not ; your parents would not allow it." ' Must I ask their permission to love P My dear child, I am my own master, and I prove it by my demand. Will you marry me t ' ' Oh, sir, will you not gire me a little time to consider !' prayed Mabel, in her distress. ' Of course I will, my darling little one,' answered the generous Prince. 'You shall have any amount of time. How much do you want? Half an hour ; aa hour ?' ' Oh, sir, I was thinking of months and months— or at least weeks.' ' Months ! weeks !" echoed the Prince. •' Why, Mabel, feel my heart ;" and so saying he drew her little hand to hia waistcoat. " See how it thumps. Do you think I could wait for weeks ? To do 10 would kill me. No, my precious one ; say ' Yes' to me at once. Breathe it ia my ears aa I kiss you tenderly. Eh ?— eh ?" and encircling her waist with his arm, the Prince drew Mabel's head on to hia phouldcr and kissed her fervently a good many times, leaving her no .power of resistance, He hnd reached this interesting crUis in his lovo affair when the door opened, and Colonel Chowery walked in quickly to say that the Gothian Minister hid called and craved an audience of his Royal Highness. The Prince had sprung apart, and Mabel was blushing a good deal. « I — I wish Count Ton Schinkenspeisa would have better manners than to deff me to the houses of my private friends, oried the Prince, anjrrily. •Perhaps your Royal Highness had better see his Excellency,' suggested the Colonel. He says that he has an important dispatch from Altenstadt to communicate.' -• * Very well, I will see him. Excuse me for a moment, dear Mabel. I will not be - away long ;' and gracefully lifting the girl's hand to his lip*, he kissed it whilst her father stood by, and then left the room. But he wan scarcely gone when the Colonel, who was in a very fidpety state, and looked quite upset, said : ' Now, Mabel dear, go off quickly to your room. I'll send for you when I want you.' ' Hns anything happened, papa?' inquired Mabel, astonished. ' Yes— at least no. If anything happens I will tell you. Bun off now, there'n a good child.' 1 But papa, if the Prince returns ?' ' Never mind the Priuco ;' and the little Colonel wis in such haste to see his daughter go that he almost pushed her out of the room. • I wonder what's up now ?' mused Mabel, as she retreated to her chamber. 'At one moment I am fculded because the Prince makes love to me, then I am told that he is to be my husband, and now papa nays I am not to mind him.' ' And M^bel concluded that this war* funny world. Mabel never knew for certain what passed on thitt eveutful evening ; at nil events, sho did not see the Prince. Nor did she see him on the next day, nor for the six days following. Durinsr this time Colonel Chowery was contiunally on the raove. He wore hU best clothes ; he was mysterious ; broughams called for him at the Clarendon at all borts of odd hours Rnd fetched him away. When heehaw Mabel he patted her hend and kissed \er t but vouchsafed no explanation a" to what he won doing. Mrs Chowerj of course knew what was going on, but bhe was as reticent as her husband.

(To be con tinned. )

"My dpar," said a frightened husband in the middle of the night shaking his wife, "where did yon put that bottla of Btrychnine ?" 4i Ou the ahelf next to the peppermint." "Oh, Lord," he groaned, " I've swollowed it." " Well, for goodness' sake," whispered his wife, " koep quiet, or you'll wake tht baby." A Paradise foe Sportsmen. — "Any quails about this neighborhood?' inquired a tourist, as he was about to register a hotel. " Quails !" said the proprietor, with an indulgent smile, " they have got to be a nuisance. The cook complains that he can't throw a piece of refuse toast out of the back window but what four or five fat quails fight to see which one shall lie down on it. Here, Tom, show this gentleman to parlor A." A Poetical Stort of a Poet. — A new Uhland anecdote is sure of a wide welcome. Although the poet delighted to take his subjects from the knightly and romantic Middle Ages, when feudalism was every where in force, ha was essentially a poet of the people. The Prussian King, Frederick IV., offered him the Order Pour de Merite, with flattering expressions of the Royal regard. Uhland, however, declined to accept it. While he was explaining to his wife the reason which moved him to the distinction, there was a knock at the door. A working-class girl from the neighbourhood entered, and presenting Uhland with a bunch of violets, said, " This is an offering from my mother." " Your mother, child ! " replied the poet ; " I thought the <Hed last autumn." " That is true, Herr Uhland," said the girl, " and I begged you at the time to make a little verse for her grave, and you sent me a beautiful poem. These are the first violets which have bloomed on mother's grave ; I have plucked them, and I like to think that she sends them to you with her greeting, The poet's eyes moistened as he took the posy, and putting it in his button-hole he said to his wife : «• There, dear woman, Is not •!'-: f x order more valaabl* than any