Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-05

t,
but you were SO wrapped up in shadow that 1 failed
to see you, and was becoming quite anxious, be-
cause one OF the men assured me you were not in
your cabin
Dick caught a Hurried note in her utterance, a
strained desire to avoid the sembance of that anxiety
which she had just admitted. 1t puzzled him quite
much the curious of familiarity with his
surroundings, sense which the girls unexpected
appearance had by means dispeled. And he was
oddly conscious of breaking away of the social bar
rier, of whose existence she least must have been
convinced. The mere whispering together in this
lonely part of the ship might account for it to some
extent so he braced himself for the effort to restore
her self control
Il came here to have good look at the desert by
night" he said. You may be sure, Miss Fenshawe
that had little notion you were searching for 1t
was by the merest accident that was able to stow
myself out of sight in this particular locality
She laughed softly again, and her manner became
perceptibly less constrained "A big and a
small ships that it," she asked. Tell me, Mr.
Royson, why did that officer of the guards call you
dents" ~ ''ie ii'''s u '''e A(~'
Had the girl racked her brain for a day to frame
question intended to perplex Royson, she could not
have hit one of more penetrating effect. He was
astounded, not because she had heard Seymours
exclamation, but by of the food of light
which her recollection of it at that moment poured
on his own wandering thoughts.
1t is most amazing thing that you should ask
me that Miss Fenshawe, he cried.
Sh-s-s-h! l have always imagined you to be a
man who would smile in the midst of earthquakes
yet here you are quite dazzled by harmless bit OF
how you came by that nickname? l suppose it is
one?"
There is no other in whom 1 would confde so
willingly he said. Promise you will not laugh at
me if tell you than you bargain for
What? Is there hurnor in the stOry!
Let us see. am hardly a fair judge At present
plain why was called King Dick at school That
is mere preface to my romance. One of the cher
ished traditions of my family is that we are lneal
descendants of King Richard l. of England.
Good gracious!
The statement lends itself to disbelief admit,
Why do you think disbelieving:
Pray forgive me, Miss Fenshawe l am in doubt
ing mood myself tonight. At any rate, the lineage
of the Roysons has not been disputed during many
centuries. Our name is part OF our proof and there
has been a Richard Royson associated with West
moreland ever since Occur de Lion returned from
Palestine. That is the kind of family asset boy
will brag Of Joined to certain proficiency in
games, it supplies ready made nickname. But the
wonderful and wholly inexplicable thing is that
while have been standing here, watching Our head
light dancing the desert the fantastic conceit
has invaded my very soul that share with my kingy
ancestor his love of this land his ambition to accom-
psh great deeds in its secret places, his contempt
and scorn of all opposing influences: Do you re-
member how he defed rain of blood which scared
his courters One of his friends has placed record
the opinion that if angel from heaven babe
Richard abandon his work he would have answered
with curse. WE'LL l am poor, and of slight conse-
quence in the world to-day but at least it has been
vouchsafed to understand what strong
and King can feel when there are those who would
thwart his will At present am powerless, as little
able to give effect to my energies as Richard himself
when pent in Austrian prison; but do ask that
Bonde shall free me, matter what the
son. and that Fate shall set task worthy of the
man who fought and dreamed and planned empires
out there eight centuries ago.
Royson threw back his head, and stretched his
right hand toward the desert where lay Jaffa and
Jerusalem. He carried away by the magic
of the hour He had brushed aside the cobwebs of
society, and spoke Irene gallant and fearless
youth might address the maid at whose feet he hoped