The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-15
HE MEDICATION
 OF THE PRINCE
BY EDGAR WHITE.

BY EDGAR WHITE. Copyright. 1905, by Daily Story Pub
 fishing Company) "He bowed his head and bent his knee
 Upon the monarch's silken stool; His pleading voice arose: Q, Lord,
 Be merciful to me. fool"
 Behind the painted mask none cared to look, the jester himself least of all. With 1t on he dared to approach the princess. Unmasked and dressed as humankind. he consorted only with the serfs of the show. That is why he liked the mask best. Yaco-companion of mock lords and dukes-was better than Barney Fairleigh. derelict on the tide of life. She smiled at Yaco, but looked not toward Barney. It made all the difference in the world. Of course the play demanded the smiles. but nev- ertheless they came quite natural, and increased her beauty.
 At one place he bowed so low before her that she placed tiny foot upon his impossible hair, and this Is the nearest he ever came to touching her. The thrill of that contact made him her slave While he played the footstool, the testers eyes modestly sought the floor. His dismissal came when the princess said:
 "Yaco, away! Here comes his high ness"
 The HSlT dppdTcIls dll SOlu anu WI vet, was tall and black-eyed and young Yaco hated him with right good will. The princess loved him-in the play. In reality, she did not know. The prince loved her in the play and imagined he did in reality. Before the footlights he had a rival, whom the au- dience saw was unworthy Of her. Tn natural life the coast was clear. on the stage the prince made love furious Ixy of h hidnd his time. Just before the curtain fell on the last act the fool sang a quaint love song over the happy ending of the romance be- tween the prince and the princess Then he slouched over to a saloon and took the taste of the song from his mouth He mistrusted the prince or the stage, but was his loyal servant while on it.
 To an outsider the situation would have seemed complex. To the fool 1t was crystal clear. The lady could not love him; she ought not love the prince; the prince did not know how to love her. All these between the drop ping of the last curtain on one night and its ascent the next night.
 stand back. thou fool" the gallant prince said when he sought to kiss the lady's hand.
 And the fool stood back.
 But that was in the play, and as the heroine smiled indulgently he did not mind.
 When the court of tinsel and painted castles had moved far to the westward there came a dreary day. The people who were expected to pay the customs that the throne might stand became sadly remiss in their obligations, ana mercenary landlords and shopkeepers' unawed by royalty, clamorcd for theli shekels. The prince went to the lady's room and proposed that they should flee ere morning dawned.
 But our friends; how will they get back home?" she asked.
 "Walkings good; let 'em root IT,
 The lady recoiled.
 And you, who brought them away out here. would desert them?
 He laughed after the style or the villain, which he was-off the stage.
 Why, my dear," he said, the snow busted. and it's every man for himself To save you from discomfort thouB"' I'd take you with me"
 "rll not go a stepl" she said, prompt ly and decidedly.
 She saw he wasn't hero after the curtain fell.
 He advanced toward her, his sinister dark eyes telling of darker purpose Before he grasped her the fool entered unpromPted The lady sprang to ms side, and this time he did not benc his head for her tiny foot, but looked squarely into the bitter eyes of tho prince who sought to destroy ms ms tress.
 The fool!" sneered the prince "Ay! And yet a man. Now, on you knees, my lord. and beg this la1y pardon!'