Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-14

she gasped, each word marking crescendo of Won
der.
"Yes-Joan."
50 But what am l to do What am to sayl Must
drop on one knee and kiss your hand'",
da IN e nep V we gdG Sse bss WAS
me if had kept it hidden from you. Oh dash it all,
Joan, don't laugh That is irritating"
My poor Alec! Why did they make you a
Prince?'
Il was born that way. Ny father is one Do you
mean to say you have lived in Paris year and have
seen our names in the newspapers? My people
CAD about everywhere, the Prince and Princess
Michael belgrade, you know
Il do not know said Joan deliberately.
HER alert brain was slowly assimilating this truly
IA astonishing discovery. She did not attempt to
Shrk its significance. and her first thought to
frame excuse to abandon work for the day:
since matter what the cost to herself this friend
ship must go no farther The decision caused a
twinge; but she did not finch, for loan would al
ways visit the dentist rather than endure toothache
She could not dismiss Serene Highness merely be-
cause he declared his identity, she minded
to forget his rank because she had begun to call him
Alec; but it hurt. She was conscious of a longing
to be alone. If not in love, she it. and hard
working artists must not love Serene Highnesses.
belgrade was watching her with a ,gowering anxi-
1 6sd that tell bs
fuss about these empty honors-"
Joan caught at straw. She hoped that display
of sarcastic humor might rescue her. Honors!"
she broke in and she laughed almost shrlly for her
voice naturally sweet and harmonious. is it
honor then, to be born PrinCe?"
IF man is worth his salt, the fact that he is
garded Prince should make him princely.'
That is well said. Try and live up to it. You
will find it task, though to regulate your life by
copybook maxims.
1.-THE princedom is worth nothing otherwise In
its way it is handicap. Most young fellows of my
age have some sort of career before them while II
am really what you said was an idler. l didn't
like the taunt from your lips; but it was true. WE'LL
am going to change all that. / am tired of postum
ing as one of Daudet's Kings in Exile We
PEELED potentates all live in Paris; that is the irony
of it. / want to be candid with you, oan. / have
seen you every day since we met at Rudin's; but
did not dare to meet you too often lest you should
send me away. You have given me purpose in life
You have created sort of hunger in me- and refuse
to be satisfied any longer with the easygoing exis
tence of the last few years. No, you must hear me
out. No matter what you say now, the new order of
things is irrevocable. l almost quarreled with my
father last night; but told him plainly that meant
to make place for myself in the world At any rate
refuse to live the life he lives and here to-day
because the awakening is due to you, JOAN"
A tremor ran through the girls limbs; but she
faced him bravely. Though her lips quivered she
forced herself to utter words that sounded like be
Il to play Pallas Athene to your Perseus," she
said, and it seemed to him for moment that she
was in a mood to jest at heroics.
IF you mean that regard you as my goddess, l
am well content" he answered quickly
"Ah, but wait Pallas Athene came to Perseus in
a dream and let make believe that dream
ing now. She had great gray eyes, clear and pierre
ing and she knew all thoughts of mems hearts and
the secrets Of their souls My eyes are not gray,
Alec nor can they pierce as hers; but l can borrow
her beautiful words and tell you that she turns her
face from the creatures of clay. They may fatten
at like sheep in the pasture, and eat what they
did not SOW, like in the stall. They grow and
spread, like the gourd along the ground but, like
the gourd, they give shade to the traveller, and
when they ripe death gathers them, and they
go down unloved into hell and their name vanshes
out of the land But to the souls of fire she gives
fire, and to those who manful she gives
power more than mans. These are her heroes, the
Sons of the Immortals. They are best but not
the men who live at ease She drives them forth by