The Washington herald., 1908-03-01

settle down." he always declared. Be
sides. both the houses were too big and
too gloomy 10 suit his rather simple bach
elor tastes His Aunt Emily. an old lady
of seventy, still continued 10 live at
| Water Newton Hall, not far from that
quaint old World, and mlny-spired town.
Stamford; but Kilmaronock Castle was
upoccupied save for six weeks or so when
he went up with friends for the shooting
! season.
Agents were frequently making tempt
/ ing offers to him to let the place to GER
/ tain wealthy Americans. hut he refused
all inducements. The fine old place be-
tween Grief and Perth had never been
let during his fathers lifetime. and he
cid not intend that any stranger, .except
his own friends should enjoy the splendid
shooting now.
my dear Petrovitch. he was saying
between whirs of his cigarette. "it is
indeed reassuring what you tell me re-
garding the settled state OF the country
You have surely had sufficient internal
troubles OF late"
'Ah. yes!" sighed the elder man.
deep, thoughtful expression upon his
pleasant. if somewhat sallow. counte-
nance. 'Servia has passed through her
great crisis-the crisis through which
every young nation must pass sooner or
later: and now. heaven be thanked.
| brighter day has dawned for US Under
our new regime prosperity is assured
But and pausing. he looked Max
straight in the face, and in a changed
voice, n voice Of increased earnestness
| and confidence. he added with only a
slight accent. for he spoke English very
Welt did not ask you here 20 discuss
politics. We Servians are. I fear sad
] ff.tFr 4
TO speak 10 you upon subject Of great
est Importance 10 myself personally, and
OF some one very dear 10 me. Now we
nave been friends. my dear Max, you and
l. through some years. and I feel-nay
l know, that you viii regard what / say
! in entire confidence"
Most certainly" was the young Eng
hshman's reply, though somewhat sur
prised at his friends sudden change OF
manner.
II was true that he had known DR..
Michael Petroyitch for quite a number Of
years.
Long ago. when he had first visited Bel
grade, the SeTvian capital the man be-
fore him. well known throughout the Bal
kans as a patriot was occupying the
position of minister OF finance under King
Milan. Both his excellency and his wife
had been extremely kind TO him. had in
troduced him 10 the smart social set. had
obtained for him the entree 20 the pal
ace festivities, and had presented him TO
/ Queen Natalie. Thus firm friendship
had been established between the two
men.
But affairs in Servia had considerably
/ changed since then. Nine Petrovitch.
charming English lady had died. and
his eXcelleney. after becoming minister
.sar
minister In several succeeding cabinets
had gone abroad TO represent his country
at foreign courts. first St Petersburg
then Berlin. and then Constantinople
fnally returning and coming to live in
England.
Even now he was not more than fifty.
and it had 'Ong ago been whispered that
/ his majesty was constantly urging him
TO return and accept the portfolio OF
! finance or of commerce. But he steadily
/ declined As statesman. his abilities
! had lonS ago been recognized by Europe,
and none knew his value or appreciated
him more than his own sovereign; vet for
! private reasons he preferred TO live quiet
ly in the Cromwell road 10 returning 70
all the worries OF state and those eternal
chickering's in the Servian Skuptschina.
He was a man OF even temper. Of
charming manner. and Of scrupulous hon
esty Had he been dishonest in his deal
! lngs he might have amassed "A great for
tune while occupying those posts in the
various ministries. But he had preferred
10 remain as he was. upright. even
though comparatively poor.
"Well?' asked Max. after a long silence
u am waiting"
1T is a matter to which I refer not
without some hesitation" declared his
friend. 1 want to speak to you about
Maud"
About Maud. well?"
4 am worried about the ehiId-a good
deal"
For what reason?' asked Max. consfd-
erably surprised.
Maud was Petrovltchs only daughter
a very beautiful girl. now nineteen years
/ OF age, who had been brought up I'm Eng
land, and 10 whom he was entirely de-
voted
Well, she has fallen in love"
All girls do sooner or later replied
Max. philosophically
But she's too young yet-far too young
Twenty-Five is quite early enough for a
girl to marry"
And who's the man?"
Your friend-Charlie Rolfe."
Charlie" he exclaimed. in great sur
prise. And he's in love with Maud. Are
you quite sure of this?"
! Quite. She meets him in secret: and.
though Rclfe is your friend Max. I tell
you ! don't like it, he declared
Il am not surprised. Secret affections
never meet with a parents appreciation
| If Charlie is in love with her. and the
affection is mutual, why doesn't he come
straight and tell you?''
Exactly my argument" declared Pc
trovitch. lighting a fresh cigarette with
the end OF one half consumed. Bet tell
me. Rolfe is an intimate friend of yours,
Is he not?"
Very" was Maxs reply, though he did
not inform his friend Of his love for
Marion.
What is his exact position?"
AS far as / know. he is private secre-
tary to old Samuel Statham, the great
tnancier. His position is quite a good
one-as far as confidential secretaryships
/ go"
"StathamI I've heard of him. There's
some extraordinary story about his house
in Park Lane, isn't there? Nobody has
ever been inside. or something"
There is, 1 believe. some cock-and-bull
story" responded Max ''The old fellow
is bit eccentric, and doesn't care for
people prying all over his house. He
llVeS alone, and has no friends Do you
know, one can be very lonely in London
It Is perfect Sahara to those who are
| friendlesS''
Yes, said Petrovitch, huskiIy 'T
know it by experience myself. When
was youth I lived here 1 was for
eign clerk in an insurance Office in the
city. and l lived perfectly alone-among
/ all these millions. | remember il all as
1 though it were only yesterday, / was in
deed glad to get back to Servia"
But why are you worried about Maud
old fellow2" Max asked. Don't you like
Roife-or what2n