The sea coast echo., 1898-01-08

!
cumstances brings two people into
closer relations than twelve years on
land. Therefore it was but natural
that by the time the battered grey
hound was finally locked and her
cargo of pale, but thankful, humanity
discharged. Jack and the Englishman
had become great friends, the latter
insisting on showing him about Lon
don and determined npon sharing his
chambers in quaint little street run
ming Off Piccadilly.
During those long days Jack had
told of his desire to see the prince,
and had also revealed to his bluff but
keen-witted companion why he was so
specially anxious to get peep at roy
ality.
'All the swells are out of town at
this season." was the disappointing
comment this confidence received.
The prince generally goes to Hon.
burg, but if you can't see him in the
flesh | can show his exact counterpart
at Nine, Tussaud'e," F." and the Briton
chuckled at what he considered was
great joke on his part. Arriving in
London, Jack went at once to his
bankers, and TO his delight found
awaiting him there letter from
Helen. In it was picture of herself,
taken on the lawn where Jack and she
had often played tennis together, and,
underlined with. the heaviest of black
lines, Don't dare to come back un-
less you see the Prince of Wales"
With this missive in his pocket and
sundry crisp Bank of England notes,
Jack went back to Piccadilly circus,
where he was to meet his friendly
guide, determined to edo" Nine. Tus-
saud's the first thing, for, argued he,
elf it is not the real thing, it is the
next to it, and when l write Helen /
can at any rate show her that I had
her admonition in mind
''This is good day to go" said
the Englishman; Eve are not likely
to meet a holiday crowd, as the ad-
mission is, / think, raised to eighteen
pence in order to keep the rabble out. F"
"Good gracious" gasped Jack, 'T
never saw anything so realistic. 1t
takes you people 10 give us Americans
cards and spades on some things and
then you beat us out, and this is one
of them, l admit Why, it is the
most natural piece of work / ever
saw" and Jack paused before life
sized figure of the Prince of Wales,
which evidently was the object that
had drawn the crowd to this spot
81 am glad you are pleased" came
from the waXen lips, and Jack, with
feeling rs though water had been
poured over him, realized as he
turned and saw the Englishman's rud-
dy countenance blanched to a deferen-
tial whiteness, that he had seen the
''real thing" and that it was his high
ness in very truth, and not his waxen
presentment that he was looking at
in Nine. Tussaud's.
For ono moment, as he said after
wards, his great desire was to fee,
but, noting the good humor of the
royal glance, and inspired by desire
to do something especially fine for
Helen, he stood rooted to the spot,
the nearest beholde1s regarding him
rs lunatic "A belief which his friend
as well as the rest seemed to share.
''rhe shock has turned his brain" :"
murmured the Englishman, MS he
stood, hat in hand, deferentially gap
ing at the prince, who apparently
took in tho situation nj glance, for,
turning to Jack, he said: 81 infer that
you are IN American, and l am fond
OF Americans. Can do anything for
you?"
Jacks heart gave great bound.
Suppose he could get the royal auto
graph; what trophy to carry home.
to Helenl
And before he knew what he was
doing he had told of the ASSEMBLY"
and Helen's admiration, and when,
five minutes later, he was being hus-
tied into the waiting hanson by his
friend he had in his possession the
princes own visiting card, with the
inscription on the back.
"Albert Edwards best wishes for
the Prince of Wales assembly"
Well, maybe he didn't feel like n
hero, and maybe he didn't lord it Just
tribe over the princes loyal subject,
who had no such precious pasteboartl
IN his possession.
"You are a ninny, young man, to
give that royal document to girl, !"
Growled the envious one. You ought
to keep it in the family as an heir
loom"
Perhaps it will be, enigmatically
replied Jack, New York Times.