The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-19

| from it to the short, stout. elderly gentle
| man who awaited her.
You wished To speak with me, Baron
| Haufcnstcnt"
The Baron smiled deprecatingly. The
small, waXed tips of his black m,Istache
| pointed straight upward when he smiled
They looked like inverted quarter notes.
A matter concerning his Highness,
Prince Florenz. | have the honor TO be
his Highness's guardian, SO to speak, on
his present tour
Winona,s eyebrows rose ever SO slightly
Yes? Then why don't you speak to his
Highness?7
"Ah, Miss Devereux, Haufenstein's
plump hands famed the air despairingly:
his Highness is out Of the question. He
Is an infant. He has no comprehension
of the-(he necessity-of the consideration
OF the responsibility Of his position"
he drew large creamy yard Of white
silk from his wastcoat and wiped his brow
exhaustedly, Miss Devereux smiled en-
couragingv.
How interesting" she murmured, and
the Baron sank 10 deep water.
" He is to make the extensive tour of the
world before his-ah, marriage. We can
get no farther. His Highnesis will not go"
Why not?"
His tone sank solemnly as he bent toward
her.
He loves"
There was a pause. Wnonas hazel
eyes sparked with mischief.
And won't you let him fall i'll love If
he wants to ?"
Haufenstein rose to the surface and took
deep breath.
He must not fall in love, theoretically
speaking. He wished Strobach had il to
o. himself; Her eyes were glorious.
parent Of Eidelburg. he has already fallen
IN love, because lie is betrothed to his
cousin the Archduchess Elfrida.'
oh. YES. The Archduchess is an in
FAINT too?'
She is 20"
"Ses?" Her tone was sympathetic. How
long has tie Prince been in love with her
theOretically?"
The Baron moved uneasiy.
They were betrothed before the Prince
left for England. six years ago"
We'll, don't you think, if this is SO well
settled, perhaps there is no cause for w0rrv.
Couldn't Prince have even Irritation,
or is that against the laws of idelburg?"
Haufenstein glanced up hastily. No,
she was not laughing. Her face was OK
pressive OF the deepest gravity and earnest
ness and he answered confidentially.
1t is not Irritation. He is but boy.
and he stands tip-toe on the brink of a
chas'n. One step, and either he can never
be Prince again, or else, she whom he loved
cannot be Princess. Only those Of the blood
royal can be Princesses
But if he loved her, he could"
The Baron bowed stiffly and finished il
for her.
He could give up his claim and rights
TO the throne and become an American
citizen"
Miss Devereux rose from her chair
She was much taller than the Baron. The
Baron looked up at her half regretfully
In her dinner gown of white chiffon and
In,
her throat, she would have made u fairer
Princess than the one which Eideburg
had in view.
II don't believe would worry if we're
you, she said, smiling down on him Only
ono may carry on a Irritation, YOU know.
but after all II takes two to make n mar
riage.'
The Baron forgot himself in an ecstasy
of relief and alteration. He saIuted the
hand extended to him after the fashion of
the court al Eidelburg toward those of the
blood royal.
Miss Devcreux. you hold the fate Of a
dynasty IL your hand, " he said ferycntly
"Or The fate of ElfrdaE' laughed Winona.
When she had gone the Baron knew
that the Colonel was right, u was the
question OF the other woman that would
weigh with her, not the fate OF dynasty.
Florenz met her in the palm corridor.
Az he came eagerly toward her she thought
how delightfully."- handsome and hcyish
he was
~ have been waiting since dinner" he
said, laying her white cloak over her
shoulders.
They walked down the broad stairs TO
tho peristyle. and on slowly to the casino.
There was n faint orange glow between the
hills east ward Before they reached the
casino tho moon had risen like a great
tropical blossom.
The sea caught the light hungrily and
each curving wavo mirrored n trembling
miniature of the gorgeous, flame -colored
disk. The Pacific lay before them, dark
and mystical. and Winona looked OUT over
II half wistfully
Somewhere, far out yonder, the sun was
rising on Eidelburg and on Elfrida. She
turned her head Florenz was watching
her silently. his blue eyes dreamy and