Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-04-18

to his slightest bidding.
 The court and the ministry have, for some time, abandoned the quest of suitable marriage for the young prince, as he most resolutely proclaimed his in tention of devoting himself to the peo- pie and the navy, leaving matrimony to the duke of Spanta, his elder brother Constantine, the heir to the Grecian throne. So the court and the minis try, we'll pleased, smiled contentedly and Prince George went travelling, hav- ing been chosen as companion de voy- age by his cousin and intimate chum, the czarowitch of Russia, now the czar, whose life he saved from the hands of a Japanese assassin in the far east.
 When he returned to his family he made good his determination of com manding the navy, and such was his singIe-hearted devotion to his duties that again the court and ministry smiled with content, and congratulated themselves upon possessing a model prince and younger son.
 Still water, however, runs deep, and the prince, after all, is only human being. He is, moreover, something of a romanticist, and somewhere deep in his heart lay hidden the desire to be loved by some woman for his own sake, big, strong, handsome athlete that he is, and for the time being to forget that he is the son of the king of Greece and pos sible heir to the throne.
 Whether it was because the time and his mood were propitious, whether it was the effect of dinner or destiny, will never be known, but certain it is that the prince fell in love with the beauty of this sea maiden, and for a year and a half has behaved much like other lovers, im- patient at every moment spent away from her, reckless of the hours when with her, enraptured at trifes, dejected for causes equally trifing, and jealous with ordinary mannish jealousy of every ehurl that crossed her path; while the court, ineredulous, dismayed, aghast have looked on with increasing doubt and apprehension, and wondered what plan could be evolved from the deep recesses of statecraft to get rid of her, yet hesitating to speak or act, for the prince is strong and violent and has strong hold upon the people.
 And the peasant ''sou1-child?" Until short time before the Cretan war, the identity of her lover was quite un- known to her. He was loved like other men; he knew, perhaps, for the first time in his life, what is meant to possess affection for himself alone, and not for his title; and he also learned what it was to suffer for his loves sake, the ex- postulations of his family and those high in the government being severe and bitter
 There had been long strolls and talks, and discussion about housekeeping, and a dover of linen and the pearls which belonged to Larissa's foster mother; there had even been practical l talks about a COW and mules and an in- come, all of which were untried novel ties to this sated young scion of royal house. His presents, indeed, were of such magnifcence as to cause stupefac- tion; but although he visited openly at the girls home, like any of the rustic swains thereabouts, and took Larissa 1 on frequent excursions upon the great waste of waters so beloved by them, he wore always the national costume and masked his identity by calling himself Il sailors son from Piraeps.
 Larissa gradually grew to be a scholar, with the books her lover l brought, and the pains he took to add to the good fundamental educa ton which she already had. and many a golden afternoon of summer, when 1 Athenian society wondered where 1 Prince George might be-for the idyl had not then become public property the royal lover was reading and in- terpreting old Homer to the beautiful | girl at his side, while around them stretched a landscape long sung in his tory and not far distant rolled the classic waters of the straits of Salamis.
 But such state of things could not go on forever unintcrruptedly. The cause of true love runs no smoother for a kings son than for sailors; and one day mounted messenger rode up l to the farmhouse while Larissa and 1 her lover were within, and demanded hastily and authoritatiyely for Prince 1 George. When the presence of this royal parsonage and any acquaintance with him, even by sight, was denied, the tactless messenger lost patience and, pointing inside to where, uncon- scious of what was transpiring, tine royal head was bent close to that of the plebeian maiden, exclaimed;
 q see the prince here, my good wom- an. Make haste and tell him l bear the kings orders"
 The secret was out. Red and angry, the prince rode away in obedience to the paterpal command; and 1t was the last visit in which the freedom of n |, accepted suitor to the woman whom he loved was accorded him. Greek women hold their virtue as their highest prize; and the next time he found few mo- 1 InentS before eTnbarlxinor on the hastily