Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-12

Monsieur Poluski We shall meet across the
Danube. If your principles permit come and
see at court"
MY principles carry me into strange COM
pany, Monseigneur, said Felix gravefy.
CHAPTER VII.
Joan Becomes the Victim of Circumstances
I'm arriving at Delgratz, Joan still avoided
" her distinguished travelling companions.
Indeed, no one paid any heed to her, since
Prince MichaeTs vanity could not resist the
| temptation of making himself known, and
| when the word went round that the King
| father was in the station there was such press
around him and the Princess that ordinary
passengers were of little account.
Monseigneur was f1attered by the excitement
caused by his unexpected appearance. and he
momentarily regretted the lack of display that
resulted from his decision to travel incognto.
1t would have been much more effective if
he had been greeted by the King and gilt
tering staff the moment he descended from the
| train. 1t was undignifed, too. to pass through
the streets of the capital in dIsheveled hired
vehicle, when royal carriage, surrounded by
cavalry escort, might have brought him to the
palace in style. 1t was somewhat late IN the
day, however, to rectifv the mistake now. He
| could not hang round the station while mes
senger went to his son. and if he meant to effect
| a surprise he succeeded admirably.
Leaving valet and maid to bring the lug
gage. which obsequious customs officer
cleared at once he ushered his wife into a ram
shackle victoria and told the man to drive to
the Schwarzburg
Every Serb is born gossip; but policeman
had whispered the names of the eminent pair,
and awe kept the drivers tongue from wagging,
else Prince Michael would have received
greater shock than the welcoming bump OF
singularly bad pavement. Luckily the Black
Castle lay no great distance from the railway.
since DelgratZ was but small place when the
palace was built and the town had long ago
closed around it on every hand.
During the short drive Michael tried to be
- CHEEKY, though he had slept little during
two nights These old streets have really
changed very little" he said. When | was
boy remember thinking how magnificent they
were What an eye opener 1t must have been
| for Alec when he realized that he had given up
| Paris-for this" and he waved a deprecating
hand toward the unkempt houses, yellow
washed and dingy; for the White City, though
white when seen from distance turns out to
be unhealthy looking saffron at close quar-
tiers. The Princess cared nothing for the
| squalor of the town She thinking of her son.
Il wish we had told Alec we were coming,
Michael" she said "Now that we are here.
the reasons you urged for secrecy seem to be
| less convincing than ever"
ALEC would have telegraphed his prompt adj
| vice to remain where we were
| "Perhaps-
perhaps you will allow me to decide what is
| best to be done, Maria. So long there
chance of my becoming King, | was able to
finance myself Now that Alec IS firmly estab-
| lished and filling empty heads with all this
nonsense as to retrenchment and economical
administration. every creditor l had in the
| world is Fostering me- You cannot realize the
| annoyance to which have been subjected dur
| ing the last fortnight. Life becoming in
| tolerable Just because Alec talking gall
| matias to a number of irresponsible Journal
lists"
| why not write and tell him troublese
| He would have helped us. | am sure And that
| which YOU call rubbish seems to have caught
the ear of all Europe. Even The Journal des
| Debats' published most eulogistic article
| about him last week"
| "Poof," snorted Monseigneur. "Those
| Paris rags pander to republicanism. Every
word every act, of an impetuouS youngSter
| like Alec is twisted into an argument against
| the older monarchies. Give eve to the mean
| looking building the right, That is the
Chamber of Deputies. Alec made the speech
! there that won him throne. Who would have
believed it? Just few words. and he became
King,''
Something in Prince Mchael's tone caused
| his wife to look at him sharply You are not
growing envious, Michael" she said
mo; but was fool
Because shall keep YOU to compact,
she said, with frmness of manner that sur
prised the pompous little man by her side. He
had been answered in that way so seldom dur
ing their married life that the novelty was dis
pleasing.
l. I.1~t L, q