Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-14

stepped from her place and came to where
l stood. And herald cried:
Her royal highness the Princess FIaviap'
She courtesied low, and put her hand I'M
der mine and raised my hand and kissed it.
And for an instant l thought what I had
best do. Then I drew her to me and kissed
her twice on the cheek andd she blushed
red, and-why, then his emineuce the car
dinal archbishop slipped in front of Black
Michael, and kissed my hand and presented
me with a letter from the pope-the first and
last winch have ever received from that
exalted quarteri
And then came the Duke of Strelsa. His
step trembled. 1 swear. and he looked to
the right and to the left as a man looks
na,o, thinks na,s on fight; and his face was
shook so that 1t jumped under mine and I
felt his lips dry and parched And I
glanced at Sapt, who was smiling again into
ms ms beard; and. resoluteiy doing my duty in
marvelously called, took my dear Michael
by both hands and kissed him on the cheek.
over! va"
But neither in the face of the princess nor
in that of any other did 1 see the least
doubt or questioning. Yet had 1 and the
king stood side by side they could have told
US In an instant, or. at least. on little
consideration. But neither they nor any one
else dreamed or imagined that l could be
other than the king. So the likeness served.
and for an hour l stood there, feeling as
weary and biase as though had been
king all my life; and everybody kissed nv
hand, and the ambassadors paid me their
respects. among them old Lord Topham,
at whose house in Grosvenor Square l had
danced a score Of times. Thank heaven the
old man was as blind as a bat, and did NOT
claim my acquaintance.
Then back we went through the streets to
the palace. and heard them cheering Black
Michael; but he, Fritz told me, sat biting
his nails like man in reverie, and even
his own friends said that he should have
made drawer show. I was in carriage
now, side by side with the princess Flavia,
and a rough fellow cried out:
And when's the wedding?" and as he
spoke another struck him in the face, cry
ing, Long live Duke Michael!" and the
princess colored-it was an admirable tint
and looked straight In front Of her.
Now felt in a difficulty, because had
forgotten to ask Sapt the state of my az
fections, or how far matters had gone be-
tween the princess and myself Frankly
had I been the king the further they had
gone the better should have been pleased.
For I am not a slow-blooded man, and
! had not kissed Princess Flavia's cheek
through my head. but. not being sure of
my ground. said nothing; and in a mo-
ment or two the princess, recovering her
eccaniInity. turned to me.
DO you know. Rudolf" said she, you
look somehow different today%
The fact was not surprising, but the
remark was disquieting.
Ou LOOK, Sn0 went on, more sober.
more sedate; you're almost careworn, and
declare you're thinner. Surely it's not
possible that you've begun to take any
thing seriously?"
The princess seemed to hold Of the
king much the same opinion that Lady
HurlesG1on held of me.
braced myself up to the conversation.
Would that please your" I asked
softly
.'Oh. you know my views" said she,
turning her eyes away.
"Whntever pleases you try to do"
said. and as saw her smile and blush
I thought that was playing the kings
hand very well for him. So continued
and what I said was perfectly true:
Il assure you. my dear cousin, that
nothing in my life has affected me more
than the reception I've been greeted with
today
SHE smiled brightly. but in an instant
grew grave again. and whispered:
did you notice MichaeI?"
joying himself"
.Do be CAREFUL" she went on .sYou
.dnn't--indeed you don't-keep enough
watch on him. You know--
IT know" said I. that he wants what
I've got"
"Yes. Hpsh!"
Then-and can't justify It, for COM