than those of artificial folly the islands are but tv hours sail from this port � little of land set in tl sea where the coral dwell they are beautiful their natural of foliage and flower � i g there to read � to dream � to think of life as a purer thing than what you call society would make for me you cannot blame me for this the king was silent if it is your wish � went on the prince � that should stay in the palace more i will obey you if yo desire me to be seen oftener in the capital i will et to fulfil your command though the streets me but for god s sake do not make me a o show before my time � or marry me to a woman i hate merely for the sake of to a wretched throne the king rose from his chair and walking toward the garden threw the rest of his cigar out among tiie age where the burning morsel shone like a stray glow worm in the green then he turned towards his son his face was grave almost stem you can go he said � i have no to say to you at present you talk wildly and at as if you were by some means or other voluntarily upon yourself for the position you are to occupy you will do well i think to remain evidence at court you will also do well to be i if i loved you some of the different great social functions of the day but i shall not you only � consider well what i have said � and if you have a secret � he paused and then repeated with emphasis � i say if you have a secret of any kind be advised and confide in me before it is too late otherwise you may find yourself betrayed unawares good night he walked away without throwing so much as a backward glance at the prince who stood amazed at the suddenness and decision with which he had brought the conversation to a close and it was not till his tall figure had disappeared that the young man began to realize the doubtful awkwardness of the attitude he had assumed towards one who both as parent and king had the most urgent claim in the world upon his respect and obedience impatient and angry with himself he crossed the and went out into the garden beyond a young moon slender as a bent willow gleamed in the clear heavens among hosts of stars more brilliantly visible than itself and the soft air laden with the perfume of thousands of flowers cooled his brain and his nerves the musical low murmur of the sea against the shore below the palace walls suggested a whole train of pleasing and poetical fancies and he strolled along the grass paths under of scented shrubs and boughs of pine giving himself up to such dreams of life and life s fairest possibilities as only youthful and imaginative souls can indulge in he was troubled and vexed by his father s warning but not to pay serious heed to it his secret was safe so far � and all he had to do so he considered was to exercise a little extra precaution there is only von � he thought and he would never betray me besides it is a mere question of another year � and then i can make all the truth known the lovely long drawn of a broke the stillness around him with a divine of passion he listened standing motionless his eyes lifted towards the dark boughs above him from whence the golden notes dropped and his heart beat quickly as he thought of a voice sweeter than that of any gifted bird a face fairer than that of the god i o power who on such a night as this descended from her silver moon car to � and he murmured half aloud who would not risk a kingdom � ay i a thousand � for such happiness as i possess it is a foolish blind world nowadays that forgets the glory of its youth � the glow the breath the tenderness of love � all for gold and power i will not be of such a world nor with it � i will not be like my father the slave of pomp and circumstance � i will live an life � yes � even if i have to resign the throne for the sake of freedom still i will be free he strolled on absorbed in romantic reverie and the s song followed him through the winding woods down to the shore where the waves made other music of their own which with the dreamy fancies of his mind meanwhile the king had sought his her own apartments walking down the great corridor which led to these the most beautiful rooms in the palace he became aware of the silvery sound of instruments mingling with harmonious voices � though he scarcely the soft rush of melody which came thus to his ears he was full of thoughts and schemes � his son s refusal to confide in him had not troubled him because he knew he should with patience find out in good time all that the young prince had declined to explain � and his immediate interest was in his own immediate plans on reaching the room leading to the queen s presence chamber he was informed that her majesty was listening to a concert in the thither he went � and passing through a long of splendid rooms each one more adorned than the last he presently stepped out on the velvet of one of the most perfect rose gardens in the world a walled entirely round with tall hedges of the flowers which gave it its name and which were up 