Arizona republican., 1899-01-23

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 is the murder of prejudice. And Pm so fond of my prejudices! They're my cherished children. l spend half my time in training them to live thrifty, reputable lives. Besides. we're not to
 begin our bachelor days together by even the scnblance of a quarrel"
 Alonzo started. Are we to live here together you and f?" he asked
 Not unless you desire it."
 'Oh, Eric"' And Alonzo's eyes filled with tears. Tn this lovely castle."
 "A castle pour cice, my friend
 "But-but Erie! It's too internally sweet of you"
 "Inferrally sweet is just what want to be called. It reminds me of the fin de stecte art. It makes me think of Le- cOnte de Lilies poetry. Bandolaire (as that wonderful sayer of happy things, Oscar Wilde, not, long ago declared, when he dropped into Saltravia and spent a few days in the palace with Clarimondl is chiefly great as poet for having discovered the beauty in ugli- ness. Nothing except that is left us now, in this unacade:1ic age. The mo- mcpt that one is classical nowadays he is denounced as commonplace"
 But Alonzo was not listening. If his wounded life needed any balsa1nic touch it was just these tidings that here in this lovely valley, in this choice abode, he should secure a lasting home with the fr.ead Of his heart
 1t IS too i.ind, too generous of you, Eric.'' he at length found voice to say:
 And when I make my trips here and there about the continent you have decided that 1 am always to return to-yourself?"
 Unless you are very bored. Then you will be frank and tell me, and then we shall certainly quarrel. For the in stant l become conscious tkat I have bored anybody ny egotisn will leap forth like tiger. It's criI.1e cf which no enc has yet had the audacity to accuse me. l keep q jeweled eastern dirk ready to plunge into any such of fender; for when he commits his Offense wish my crime as an assassin to pos sess a: least the saving grace of pie tGrcsqueless.'
 "Oh, Eric, how good you are, how good you are."
 Crime continued Erie, pouring him self another glass of Burgundy, was nev- CT so Gisreputabiy prosaic as now. That reminds me. dear Lonz. shaIi speak to the king tomorrow on ti2is particular subject. ] shall asil hin if he will not kindly punish any new act ot assass:na- ton at which the weapons used have beer of an inferior and vulgar sort, with something prettily si-itecnth cen tury i1 the way e. torture previous to the actual ;-3fiction Of death"
 ''I an back with you again in Paris smiled Alonzo, while listening like this to all your serious absrlrt.;;ties But are you sure that if 1 don't take the place of any Saltravian bride 1 shall not stand in the way of one with diff fercnt nationality. You tell me that the hotels off yondcr by the springs are often peopied by American residents.
 ''Oh yes. They come here in summer, though they have not yet fully found out the marvellous quality of the springs. You sec. before the unexpected accession of Clarimoad to thc throne Saitravia had been for years in desue- tude. The old king, his lzinsman, i'll and half blind for nearly twenty years, had . loathing of foreigners, and resisted even the request of so august an au- thority as the emperor himself that the hotels should be redecoratel and made | attractive to q wholly new order of | guests
 And Clarimond has changed all that. He opens his arms to Americans. And | you? Don't you open yours to anyone, feminine. American in particular?'
 Eric answered at first with . shrug. My dear boy, I've been so horribly | busy. Besides
 ''Ah, there's q besidcs?"
 ''Oh, Q very commonplace one If you recall, l staid on in Paris for good | while after you left His voice fell, and for an instant there were tears in it. some day I'll tell you just what happened. Only, don't ask me until I offer to tell you, Long; and that may be never" He suddenly tossed his large, virile head, and gave his yellow beard quick, nervous pull. In another mo- ment he was the old radiant tri1ler, with not hint of that hidden sorrow which it occurred to his nearer that he might possibly never learn. Frankly, as I've now made up my mind, I could never marry an American woman unless she were q mute
 Erie, what do you mean?"
 ''The voice of the American woman, my dear Long, is a horror.''
 Alonzo laughed. ''Why except the American Inan?'
 T don't. But one doesn't marry the American man."
 True. One doesn't. But I've known not few American girls whose voices''-
 Of course you have. So have l. Oh, yes, those exceptions are vocally en- chanting. But the ordinary girl of my own country always reminds me, when she is charming, of q splendid full blown There are few lovclier flowers than the thistle when seen in pcrfec- ton. It has unique perfume, and a symmetry that repays the closest ob- 5ervance. But try to pluck it and you are sure to rccOn."
 Bah" replied Alonzo, laughing; ''it's the same affair with moss-rose.''
 Erie drowned with great gloom s'Lorz, you have done the most scandal ous injury. I can pardon the man who