Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20

most of his gravity was apparently for the Count
Ellenburg:
His question met with silence the air of all three
intimated that the matter was purely one for His
Majesty. The King sat a moment with frown
on his brow-the frown which just supplants
smile when thing, generally amusing and not
unnatural, happens by chance to occur incon-
Across this silence came a loud voice from the
next room-Lepage's voice. Take care, take
care! You will upset the flowers, Prince"
The King started he looked round at his
panions. Then he struck hand-bel on the table
before him Lepagse: appeared
"Lepage whom did you address as Prince just
Count Alexis, sir"
The Count insisted
Don't do it again It's absurd Go away"
dull red patched Countess Ellenburg's cheeks.
Lids brooded low the eyes of Stafnitz and of
Stenovcs. 1t was awkward little scene-the
Kings irritation had got the better of him for
the moment What would the kindred of the
exalted Princess have said could they have heard
it? The King turned to Countess Ellenburg and
forced a smile.
The question of reproof is one for YOU Countess,
he said frigidly. And now about the Baroness
No, | mean | wanted to ask if my wishes to the
tour abroad have been communicated to the Prince
of Savna
The Prince has received them, sir. He read
them in the presence of my messenger and requested
leave to send his in writing, unless he might
wait on Your Majesty"
There are reasons why 1 had better not see
him Just now. Ask him to write-but very soon.
The matter isn't for delay" The King rose
from his seat
Your Majesty still wishes to send for Baron
ess Dobrava?
The King reflected for a moment, and answered
simply: No"
His brief word broke up the conference-it had
already lasted longer than and reassurng
Dr. Natcheff would have advised. The men went
away with smile all of them-the King Stenovics,
Stanitz, round-faced Markart-each smiling accord
ing to the quality of each, their smiles answering to
Max Hollbrandt's shrug of the shoulders.
There things which bring to what painful
youth taught to call the least common denom-
inator hOrse-race does it, prize-hght, cricket
match, battle too in some sort. Equally effica-
Cious often, though 1t is to be recorded with
reluctance, is a strong Irritation with proper
issue obvious.
The matter grave yet all the men laughed
The matter was grave, and Countess Ellenburg did
laugh. Was that what Stafnitz called her
views and her temperament In part, doubt
Besides will laugh at the Side-issueS of the
gravest affairs it is not generally the case with
Added again to this, perhaps Countess
Ellenburg knew OWNED more. In glaring
diversity there perhaps something-an atom
of similarity between her and Sophy-not the
something which refuses, but the something which
couples high conditions with assent. The thou
sandth chance is to most negligible to most
it IS than the tenth; their sense of
mathematical odds is sorely and sometimes mag
ntCenty imperfect
1t had flashed across Countess Ellenburg's mind
that maybe Sophy too played for big stake-or
rather lived for it and would die The men had
not thought of that; to them the violent Irritation
had its obvious end and its passing inconvenience
1t might delay the Princes departure for awhile
it might make his marriage entirely an affair
of dutv nd of State With this idea +hev c,o;Iad