New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
CHAPTER VII.
Joan Becomes the Victim OF Circumstances

~ arriving al Delgratz Joan still avoided
~ her distinguished travelling companions.
Indeed no one paid any heed % her. since
Prince MIchaels 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 tiattered by the excitement
caused by his unexpected appearance. and he
mOmentaTilv regretted the lack OF display that
resulted from his decision o. travel iucOgnito.
IL would have been So much more effective If
he had been greeted by the King and a gilt
terIng staff the moment he descended from the
tram II was undlgnihed, too o. pass through
the streets OF the capital N a disheveled hired
vehicle. when a roval carriage surrounded by a
cavalry escort, might have brought HIM 70 the
palace N style. II was somewhat late N the
day, however, % rectIfv the mistake now. He
could not hang round the station while a mes
senger Went o his son, and II he meant To effect
a surprise he succeeded admirably.
Leaving valet and maid 70 bring the lug
gage, which an obSequIoUs customs officer
cleared al once, he ushered ms wife into a ram
shac1le victoria and told the man 20 drive o.
the Schwarzburg
Every Serb Is a born gossip. but a policeman
had whispered the names of the eminent pair.
and awe kept the driver tongue from wagging
else Prince Michael would have received a
greater shock than the welcoming bump of
s1ngularly bad pavement Luckily the Black
m y.
since Deigrdtz was but a small place when the
palace was built. and the town had long ago
closed around II on every hand
DURING the short drive Michael tried t. be
Cheerv though he had slept little during
two nights These old streets have really
changed very little" he said When was "a
boy remember thinking how magnificent they
We're What an eve opener II must have been
Tor Alec when he realized that he had given NJ,
~ .t-t.1b n.
hand toward the unkempt houses. yellow
washed and d1ngv. for the White CITY though
White when seen from distance turns out 10
pe an unhealthy looking saffron az close quar-
ters The Princess cared nothing for the
Squalor OF the town. She was thinking of her son
! wish we had told Alec we were coming
Michael she SAID Now that we are here
the reasons YOU urged for secrecy seem t. be
less convincing than ever
Alec would have telegraphed his Dror,rt adj
vice 70 remain where We We're"
Perhaps"
Perhaps YOU VIII allow me 10 decide what i,
best d be done Maria. So long as there VS. "a
chance OF nv becoming Kinq I WIS ab1, -
finance mvself. Now that AIec is tirrn1,, So
lshed and filling empty heads with an this
nonsense as 70 retrcnChuent and e-onor,i.,a1
adIninistration, every creditor I had IN the
WoI1u y pesterlng me GU cannot realize the
annoyance o. which have been subjected dur
ing the last fortnight. Life was becoming IN
toieraple. Just because Alec was talking gaH-
matias % number Of irresponsible journal
ists " VA ~
Why not write and tell him our troubles
RE would have helped us am sure. And tbat
which YOU call rubbish seems to ba,. r,,,rhr
| the ear OF all Europe Even The Journal drs
/ nehatS published a most eulogistir lrtirl,.
/ about HIM last week "
Poof' snorted M1nseipneur ~Tbose
fars rags pander % republicanisrn Fvrrv
word every act. of an inpetuotss vounpstrr
/ IKE Alec Is twisted into an argument AGAINST
Ihc Older monarchics GIVE an eve a. the moan
l9,'Alng building ON the right That Is the
n'iinnc OF peputics- Alec made the speech
mere th1t won hrn "a throne Who would have
King" " ''' ''''''
something m Prince Michaers tom, c,r.,.I
h' Wiie % look at hum sharply. You are NOT
growing envous. Michacl'" She sand
NO, but | was q fool
hccausc I shall keep YOU O, our cornp...t ~
N"r siid with hrmncss oi manner tblt sr--
p'l,ed the pompous lttlc man bv her silc He
h'd been answered IN that way so seldom ,Il,r-
.ns tnc" married lic that the novelty was dis
p, IN bah What are YOU saving" hr ,rirl
tir stiied the next words ON his lips for the