Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-25

you they sent me-" he said "oh, yes, les very
like you; but you look 50 sad in IT,"
and I don't look sad now" she asked with
little smile.
"No," he said simply, but his eyes spoke more
than his tongue.
They reached the palace, and the Prince led
her up the marble steps, and into the great
room where luncheon was served This was the
moment she had dreaded above everything; how
could she know all whom she would be expected
as the Crown Princess to recognizeY
But the King had been prepared for this emer.
gency and laughingly desired that everybody
should sit down to luncheon informally and at
once. The Prince sat upon one side Of Sara, and
the count upon the other; she was safe for the
time being
Evening on the wide stone terrace Below. the
palace gardens, bright with fairy lamps of red
and green and purple. Beyond the town, bril-
llantly ilumined, against the soft dark sky,
every imaginable beautiful device that fireworks
can assume.
sara sat upon the stone baustrade of the ter
race, light wrap thrown careessly about her
uncovered neck and arms, her eyes upon the
magic world below. Beside her was the Prince
his handsome, bsysh face wearing new expires.
sion since the morning. 1t was he who spoke.
the girl listening with a curiousy strained loolr
in her beautiful eyes, which might have puzzled
him had there been light enough for him to
see it.
at is so strange to think that last night didn't
know you. You were just name to me, no
more. And now-now-well, it is difficult to
think of a world without you; it would be a
worthless world, for me at least"
His hand was laid hers; the touch thrilled
her. She drew herself sharply from his hold.
But you have to say that" she cried bitterly
"You know you are obliged to say it,
Believe me, it isn't that" he cried; and she
knew in her heart that he spoke the truth 'T
cara for Won with all M bear ri and eoul Jaor
quite wish--Pm romantic fool-that there could
be some test, like the old story of King Cop
hetua and the beggar maluen, something that
should make you know it is you-you whom
love and not the Crown Princess"
She trembled all over; the hand he caught in
his eager grasp cold.
"You do believe mel" he whispered.
"Yes"-the words were hardly audible-"I do
believe that it is l whom you love and not the
Crown Princess"
She broke into sudden hysterical sob
"Thank God for that! Thank God for that!"
And she turned and left him without another
word.
'"The princess is fatigued," the King explained
to all inquirers, and has gone to her room. It
has been trying day
But no one knew how trying it had been.
The formal betrothal of the Crown Princess
took place next day. and description of her we'd
ding festivities filed all the papers three months
later.
Photographs of the royal bride and bridegroom
were in all the illustrated MAGAZINES, and it was
with one of these that a little tired journalist,
working late one night in her tiny bed.sitting..
room, compared another photo which she had
brought back with her from Bellavia.
She looked long and earnestly at the two, the
Crown Princess and the young bride, side by
side, with ner handsome boyish, happy-looking
husband.
The face was the same as the face which she
had qazed at in the shop window at Hezfort; the
same, but with a difference. All the sadness
and rebellion had gone from it, and the dark
eyes looked out smingly upon world which
was very bright one. -,
Sara Fleming put away both photographs with
little sigh.
"Only one of us now. Happy Princess!" she
said