The San Francisco call., 1904-08-14

from this day 1 viii come to your
house and you shall answer me your
self. Do you forbid it?"
He leaned across the table so far
that Esther could almost feel his
breath upon her cheek. A true instinct
had told her from the first that destiny
intended the Prince to play some part
in her own life. What part II might
be, she did not dare to think. She
knew only that she was attracted by
him as she had never been by any
other living being. She felt that If he
commanded her. she would obey; 1t
might even be would follow where he
willed. And he. in his turn, 'sehooled
to read women truly, was not ignorant
Of his power. She was charming, he
thought, this little English girl; he
must know more Of her.
''Will you permit me-" he repeated.
will YOU permit me to come to the
chateau?'
How can forbid it, Prince? I am
Doctor Xavier's guest. and. Of course,
he would be glad to see you"
He laughed ironically at her sim
plieity
"Glad-when he is crossing Europe
to avoid mel Oh, no; your friend, the
Doctor, does not tell you the truth.
Miss Venn, if he says that he is glad
to see Arthur of CadiI Naturally, he
says nothing. He would not wish you
to think that he stands between me
and my people; he would not admit
that because of him. 1 must lose a
kingdom and home No, do not fear
him: it is not that. But as am cursed,
as my nation is cursed, with the fatal
ity of delay, I do not practice what 1
preach. An idle stream invites me to
drift upon 1t and 1 let my bark go
where It will. Some day 1t will be diff
ferent-ah! that splendid some day."
Esther had but the vaguest ideas OF
these momentous matters to which he
referred, nor would she speak Of them.
That some grave quarrel had driven
the two men apart was very evident.
but how it had come about, or of it's
nature, she could not form any i'm
preston. The strangers confidence in
vited her own. She did not fear to in
terrogate him in her tuIn.
Have you known Doctor Xavier
long, Prince? Was he once a friend Of
yours?"
i will not deny it. 1 could not fair
ly. The fault is neither his nor mine
1t is caprice and a woman, Miss Venn,
the fount and origin or every quarrel
that man takes part in. Have nothing
to do with either. Abjure the crimes
Of your sex. Let me find
mans heart and a woman's eyes
when l come to the chateau. II is
promises it agreed that 1 am to
come"
She was conscious Of a new note in
his address; and her heart beat a
little quickly when she said:
Shall promise for some day
them"
No" he said: for tonight, that
you will be my friendi"
He held out his hand to her. re-
peating the words. She did not know
what to say. Desiring his friendship
exceedingly, she could but stammer:
Il will tell you in Spain. Prince
some day-some day"
When he had left her she remem-
bered for the first time that she had
forgotten to call him "Highness."
Madame Julia arrived at the hotel
in time for dejeuner on the following
morning. Esther had thought much
of the Princes words during the
night, but she hesitated to speak of
their meeting until she discovered
that Julia was already aware both of
his arrival in Paris and of the en-
counter in the corridor. For the first
time since she had known her Esther
perceived that this tickle woman was
displeased with her and strangely
capricious. She did not complain, she
uttered no accusation, but sullenly re-
tired to her own room and forbade
any one to come to her. Not until
they were together in the train for
the south did she seem to repent her
outbreak; and then, bursting into
tears she kissed Esther passionately
and protested that she wished her
happiness.
You were right to see him. dear. Of
course. you know my brothers wish
You are to be his wife some day. Why
should YOU not have met himi
Esther could not answer her. She
trembled like one grown suddenly
cold. she did not know whether 1t
were with pleasure or fear