The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-05-21

the envy it aroused in others. Yet al
the while the Princess Barnabas was moi
devoting single serious thought to on
of her admirers. Every idea in that vair
and foolish head was centred upon tn,
.one query: Shall commit suicide mex
week, and If so, how?''
1t was while in this frame of mind
talking to twenty people and thinking o
none of them, that her bright eyes wan
dering lightly over the crowded room
CHANGED to fall upon young man who
was standing, somewhat removed from
the press of the throng, in a window re
cess, which was at least comparatively
quiet-a tall, grave, self-possessed young
man, sufficiently good-looking to be
called handsome by an enthusiastic friend
When the Princess Barnabas looked at
him, his eyes, which were bright, clever
eyes, were fixed on her with look ol
half-humorous contemplation. The mo
ment, however, their eyes met he turned
his head slightly, and resumed conver-
satlon with gray-headed old man with
a red ribbon at his buttOnhole whom she
knew to be foreign diplomatist. The
young mans gaze had expressed an in
terest In the Princess. hat he seemed to
be Just as interested in the pale, wrinkled
face OF his companion. The Princess
Barnabas seemed piqued. Who is that
young man?" she asked, half fretfully,
of the Secretary of State.
Which young man?" The Secretary
OF States solid face gazed vaguely into
the dense crowd of dress coats and white
shoulders, of orders and stars and dia-
monds.
"The young man in the window talk
ing to the gray-haired man."
The Secretary put up his eye-glass and
considered the young man in question
thoughtfnlly. He was never known to
hurry in his judgments or his replies in
Parliament, and he did not hurry now,
though it was Princess Barnabas who
was interrogatiny him, and not member
of the Opposition. Then he answered
her, weighing his words with more than
judicial deliberation: He is a young
fellow named Sinclair. lie is going out
to the East, or something. Why do you
ask 90
His face interests me-" replied the
Princess. I" l should like to know him.
Bring him to me; or stay, give me your
arm, we will go to him"
She rose and dispersed her little knot
OF disconsolate courtiers. Taking the
Secretary's arm, she moved slowly toward
the window where Sinclair was still stand
ing. The Secretary touched him on the
arm. Mr.. Sinclair, the Princess Barna-
bas has expressed desire to make your
acquaintance. Allow me, Princess, to in
troduce you to Mr. Julian Sinclair"
The young man bowed. He seemed
little surprised, but not in the least en-
barrassed. The Princess smiled brightly
at him, and her eyes were brighter than
her smile. Thank you," she said to
the Secretary Of State with pleasant lit
tie smile, which was meant to convey, and
which did convey, that she had enough
of him. He promptly disappeared into
the crowd with resigned good-humor,
bearing away with him in his wake the
elderly red-ribboned diplomatist.
Princess Barnabas and Julian Sinclair
were left alone She sat down on the
couch in the recess of the window, and
slightly motioned to him with her
hand to take his place by her side. He
obeyed silently. The recess of the win
dow was deep. For the moment they
were almost entirely isolated from the
shifting, glittering throng that seethed
and drifted around them. Sinclair kept
quite silent, looking into the face Of the
Princess with an air of half amused
inquiry. There were a few seconds of
silence, and then the woman spoke, be-
ginning, womanlike, with question.
Have you forgotten me, Mr.. Sin
clair ?''
The young man shook his head gravely.
mo, have not forgotten you, Princess"
Her eyes were fixed on his face, but he
returned her gaze quite steadily.
"Yet it must be two years since we
met" she replied; "and two years is
long time"
"Yes, two years is very long time,"
he said, half sadly, half scornfully.
He was decidedly not communicative,
this young man, for even the pleasure of
meeting friend, unseen for two years,
did not appear to arouse in him any de-
sire for conversation.
There was another little pause. Nei-
ther seemed embarrassed, and yet the
interval was long enough to be embar-
RAISING. Then she spoke again.
why did you leave st. Petersburg
Where have you been all this time ?"
lie answered the second part of her
question; 81 have been in CONSTANT
nople most of the time. | only returned
to London a few days ago, and | am
going away almost Immediately to the
East again, to Persia this time"
For how long?''
There was faint tone of WEAKNESS in
his reply, though he strove to make his
voice purposely steady. "Oh! forever,
suppose; or at least, until | am an old
man, and Of no further use. Then per-
haps may come back on pension, and
write dreary letters to the Times about
the errors of my successors" And he
laughed to prevent himself from sigh
ing.
"You have not answered all nv ques-
tion," said the princes. "Why did you
leave St. Petersburg so suddenly? We
were such very good friends, and l assure
you quite missed you."
Sinclair got up and looked down into
her laughing eyes. 81 left St. Peters
burg" he said, "because l was afraid to
| stay"
Her eyes were laughing still, but there
was an unwonted softness in her voice as
she asked him: "Why were you afrai i
To stay: Surely you were not . Nj
hilist -
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