The San Francisco call., 1904-08-14
CHAPTER XII.

The marriage of the reigning Prince
of Cadi TO one whom Paris had already
learned to call La Belle Inconnue,"
was the brief sensation of a winter
month. People discussed little else for
many days. A beautiful woman had
come to the city; she had been seen,
she had conquered. The pretty ro-
nance made gossip for the cafes while
it entertained the salons with eloquent
mendacities From the chroniques
scandaleuses you gOt a hundred YER
sions. every one Of them a lie. Some
said that the bride was an American of
fabulous wealth; others declared that
her English was acquired, and that she
came from Spain. There were twenty
apologies for the hasty marriage, and
each of them more false than the other.
In the end. Paris came to the con-
clusiun that it really was a young
mans story. 1t remained for the
Princes friends to declare that he had
sold himself for good bank notes, and
that his repentance would be speedy.
Esther knew nothing of this, nor did
any unkind word reach her ears. She
had promised to marry Prince Arthur,
because she believed that by marriage
until this moment of decision, had she
dared to consider the question, that
even until the end she could not wholly
understand how greatly she loved and
was beloved in her turn. The morning
brought his roses; together they break
tasted at Durand's or one of the great
er cafes. The afternoon found them
driving in the Bois; there were dinners
and theaters at night, What time had
she for that preparation so necessary
If ii had not been for the Princes
friend, the untiring laughing. scheming
Pauline. Baronne d'Arbois. Esther de-
clared that she would never have been
married at all.
Pauline, Baronne d'Arbois, has been a
leading figure in the later-day world of
Paris. The church. the state, the
salon. the theater. have, in turn, been
ruled by her. Prince Arthur had no
friend more enthusiastic, perhaps none
so frequently embarrassing. When
Pauline heard of his approaching mar
riage, when she learned that his bride
was alone and friendless in the city. no
carriage was fast enough to carry her
to Esther's side.
"Ah. my childl" she exclaimed in
rapture. what a splendid secret-and
all Paris knows of it, have come here
at dear Arthur's request. You must
let me be a sister to you. You must
positively leave everything in my
hands"
Esther was overawed by this we'll
schooled woman of the world. and
cheerfully gave up her Independence.
She had exacted from Arthur a prom
ise that their marriage should be in
some part a secret, and he had acqui-
esced willingly enough.
Secret or public. what does it mat
ter if it gives me Esther!" he an
swered. II will be married in a cellar,
if it please you. OF course, we must
not forget your English birth. There
will be a ceremony at the embassy and
afterward at St. Eustache. The Bar
onne Will be there-no gate in Paris
could shut her out. We shall have to
tolerate her because we are going to
her house to breakfast afterward. l
have thought about all the rest and II
is quite settled. We shall take the Sud
express to my chateau at ST. Girons.
GuadareZ, the captain of my civil
guard and my oldest friend, will go on
to Cadi with the news. If, as 1 expect,
the people receive it with reclamation,
we shall spend a fortnight at the cha
teau and then visit our capital. You
need not ask If look forward to that
day. All, to take you to them, Esther,
to take the most beautiful thing In all
the world."
She had nothing to urge against il,
although the doubt he had expressed
remained in her thoughts. He, how
ever, was full Of his scheme, and
chiefly of that part OF it which con-
cerned his kingdom
"Old Xavier believes that he has out
witted me, but we shall sect" he said.
like one anxious to be convinced. You
owe him much, Esther, and we must
be kind to him. 1 have always been
willing to honor him II he would con-
sent to serve. But he desires to be the
master. He believes that he can
rule in Cadi and that the people will
Danish me. 1 imagine he is greatly
mistaken. You see that am doing