The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-02
A Sentimental Iourne Y.

February, and Hippesley was sitting on
/ the veranda Of the Cafe dc Paris at
Monte Carlo. He sat. deep in thought
his ears mechanically listening 10 the
strains of the little Hungarian band q
few yards away from him. He was
thinking Of the reason that had brought
him to the place. He had been abroad
Tor twelve years, yet, within q month
OF his return, he had left again ana hur-
ried 10 spend a few days on the Riviera
before taking steamer at Narsellles.
Ii was absurd. he knew it, but the
longing TO see her face again was ire
sistlole. lie would not seek an opportu-
nifty of speaking with her-the scheme
on which their lives had been worked
out made this impossible. He simply had
an overwhelming desire 10 see her Then
he could 20 back TO his lonely life, not
haDpy-he could never be that. but with
a fresh picture Of the one woman he had
ever loved.
He noticed a smart carriage draw up
before 1he broad steps Of the Casino,
and. almost simultaneously. a man and
a woman came cut of the building. The
man was middle-aged, a tribe heavy in
build and faultIessly dressed. He hand
cd the lady into the carriage. Hippesley,
as ne caught sight of her face, gave
start, and clutched hold Of the table.
She was q young Englshwoman, mag
uifcent1y beautiful.
The color left his face and he riveted
his eyes on her. He watched her su7il-
ingly say good by 10 the man on the
steps, then the carriage turned and drove
rapidly away. As it vanished from sight
he sank back in his chair, his mouth
twitching His throat seemed dry and
parched: he stretched forward and drank
some tea at a guID. Then the voices Of
TWO men talking just behind him reached
his ears.
THAT was the Princess Zandra-she is
living at the Villa Erondel, at Beau
1lieu'
Enormously rich?"
"She was till g day or 50 ago" The
man lowered his voice. Hippesley found
himself straining for the next words.
/ Il happen 20 know" came ~ almost a
whisper, that the late prince was suffi-
I GENTLY il-advised 10 invest nearly all
/ his money in an enterprise that has re-
Gently come to the ground with crash,
and the princess, who never had the
/ slightest suspicion Of her affairs not be-
I ing IN q satisfactory state, has suddenly
been told that another. year at her pres
ent rate of expenditure Will leave her
penniless."
What Will she do?"
GO on living as she has done-and
marry againi Women with such beauty
can pick and choose-there are no hard
places for them. Rumor says it viii be
the man who has Just left her. He is
not a good man, but ne is passionately in
love with her, and a millionaire twice
over"
HippesIev rose from his seat. and, max
ing his way round to the terrace, sank
into a seat He felt he could hear no
more. Tt was all so curious, so start
Hnglv strange. To think that the girl
he had left living with her father on the
outskirts of a quiet English country
town should have developed into this
wonderful Princess Zandra, whose beauty
was known throughout Europe. And
they had loved one another! He had
gone abroad with the hope Of making a
name for himself of being able to claim
her But i'll luck had logged him, and
the time had never come when he could
write to her. He had left her free and
as the years went by bringing nothing
but persistent failure, he knew that 1t
was not for him to possess the only
thing he counted worth having. Occa-
sionauy scraps Of Intelligence as to the
course her life had taken drifted to him.
Her father had died. and she had gone
10 live with a wealthy aunt in London
From stray papers that reached him he
learned that her beauty had caused quite
a sensation in society. Then at last
came the news that she had married
foreigner of great position, Prince Zan-
ORA.
He wondered if she ever thought of
him-remembered the night he had con
fessed his love to her Not a day mad
passed in those long years of failure but
her image had been before him. Now, at
length when he had achieved some slight
success, it was too late. All that was
left for him was TO take the absurd
little journey of sentiment.
l. -.
Beauheu He got out at the railway
station and following the path that led
round to St. Jean. passed the fishing
village, and gained the Point There he /
sank down on the ground, and gave 1
himself uD to his reflections. II was a {
perfect morning, a cloudless sky, the air I
pregnant with natures perfume
Presently he was aware of woman (
gazing curiously at him. The next mo- (
ment they had recognized each other. !
She went suddenly pale and her lips part /
ed ia wonder.
Ralph she gasped.
He looked at her mutely. He was face +
to face with her at last and the blood I
went throbbing through his veins.
''Yes-just RalDhr' ne said, mechanic /
ally.
She held out her hand and he took it
awkwardly.
And to think it g you. after al these
years." she said softly.
Hippesley did not speak. His thoughts
had dnown back a dozen years to the
night when be had let her. An indefna-
BILE idea came TO him that she, too. was
thinking Of the same thing.
Il won't lie" he said, abruptly. IT
am not here by chance. heard you
were on The RIVERA, and after al these
years wanted to see YOU again-just to
see you I had no notion Of speaking"
She gazed q him steadily, as if trying
To read his thoughts.
'You have loved re al this timer" she
asked slowly.
lie bowed his head. She turned away
with a little sob.
And you never wroter' she cried. ooh.
why didn't you wrts2
II was failure-such an utter failure
] could not write to claim you" h.
said. h1arselv You did well; I WASH
worth waiting for.
she looked al MS. the tears glisteniag (
.Tyhat 5umbie rate made Of our
livesl shs sighed
eft did nos matter you are the Prin-
cess OF Zandra-
ooh. an tired, trad 10 death of It
all" she cried in a tone K utter weari-
ness TO have 70 1--we IN an arti-
dcial world among people who are not
my people-there IS no one left q me
10 have 20 begin 81 all ever
again" She added - half-sorrowlu
-nusine tone.
lie understood lie remembered tha
words he has overheard a. the cafe Il
sli true then. SIZE looked 0p az him
uekly with smile.
But -0u. Ra3pa-what have ycl
lous she asked gently