Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-03

kSS3nK@ it was CATS" said l.
k2JEk&4 IF married to secure it. it would
MN&6JA be the same if it went to both, for
3@1N10 we should leada cat-and-dog life together. -
Together? But we would say, 'Good-by;
very pleased to have met you, at the church door,"
DO you mean that, Cynthia? Would you agrees"
"Agree?" [ echoed him again. Il should insist"
"We-shal make the experiment, and keep the
money from going to
Slightly inferior if less mercenary animals? Ye-es,
/ think it would Devise.
And so we were engaged my cousin Dick Thanet
and l.
This sounds like story, but there was more sense
iii the arrangement from cold-blooded point of view
than appears without explanation The way of it
this had lived with Uncle ever since my beautiful
American mother CHS widowed sister-in-aw) died,
and left to him legacy, the only she had
to leave.
poor Uncle had cordially detested. But the boy had
been named after him, and BESIDES must inherit the
baronetcy. When he twelve he had been sent
down visit, and had scored more of success with
Uncle than with Dick the only Thanet left;
he had done well in the Army and Uncle proud
of him. he considered it only fair, if Dick sensi
ble that he should have the wherewithal keep up
the title
We had preserved an air of mystery concerning
our Intentions which the easier to do as we were
both orphans and had relatives.
We were married in Guldford near which town
Uncle and | had lived. I had been fond of the old
place, Hidden Court, but it had become Dicks and
never wanted to see it again He intended to give up
the Army in obedience to Unces desire expressed in
the will, and become landed country gentleman"
| didn't think him tor the part; but that
not my business. | went straight to London, where
l had engaged rooms for Lady Thanet and her newly
acquired maid.
laughed as I asked myself whether there had ever
been such honeymoon as mine? My days gded
by in bssul delirium of shopping buying such things
as / had always dreamed of and never had. In the
evening usually had box at the theater alone; and
it did not annoy me that many opera glasses were
turned my way, for charming frocks, Josephine
dressed my hair to perfection and l doing nothing
to be ashamed Of Oh, there is great deal to be said
~LGT A
was married in June, and late in July went to
Homburg. 1t was luck for that Unces will had
forbidden any to wear mourning or should have
lost much innocent pleasure in changing the color of
costume every day.
From Homburg [ went to x-es-Balns for the rest
of August and part of September then to the Ital
ian Lakes; and at Cadenabba my real adventures be-
gan. / had fiirted little in mild way, of course;
but the boat going to Cadenabbia from Como, there
was an Italian. There others-lots of them, no
doubt; but this l felt sure, the moment | set
eyes him, must be prince. He looked just as all
princes ought to look, and seldom do but one
who is not prince possibly can; at least, that was
my comment on first sight OF him.
[ saw his luggage easily identified his valet
guarded IT'D and it was marked for Belaggio which
was Disappointing for he was one of the handsomes,
as we'll as most distinguished men | had ever seem
He seemed like my looks too, for he stared much
as politeness allowed; and towards the end of the
lake Journey my heart beat fast when Josephine whis-
pered to me- She said that there was Prince Fortuna
board & had not deceived mysef), that he was
deeply interested in maladl, that his valet had been
asking questions, and discovering that was going
to Cadenabbia, the prince had changed his mind de-
Gliding to go there also.
other can't remember with any distinctness rather
think he picked up something which hadn't dropped,
the balcony of the Bellevue, and asked if it were
mine. | think, also, that it the evening of
our arrival There not many young or desirable
men at the hotel so the princes attentions to
cited notice. and no doubt envy. | had known
an Italian before This ones ardent impusveness
onished me, after the of Eng1shmen and the
stolidity of Germans. | hardly knew what to make of
him. but l was interested and fattered; and when we
had had days of each others society, to my dis
may he proposed.
1t was moonlight and he fell on his knees. pulled
him up quickly as l could, with the news that
had a husband.
try mel" the prince stammered Your maid told my
man that you widow.
Josephine knows nothing of my affairs I said
stifHy q had got her in London, and breathed no
hint that 1 had been married the day before). Sir
Rchard-my husbands in England"
"Then he deserves to be punished for allowing a
divine creature like you about the world alone,
breaking mems hearts am sure he is unworthy. D-
him and marry me- | will make you happy
and princess"
ppm well enough satisfied to be Lady Thanet thank
you" I retorted, beginning to wonder If Italian ardor
were not, after all, little trying.
This was only the first chapter of the hateful ad-
venture which began Economically. The was
a prince but gentleman, for he persisted in fol-
lowing It became a persecution. l could not es-
cape, go where | might.
Of course might have returned to England, but
Uncle had never encouraged me to make intimate
friends and there to whom | wished to go,
or who wished to have me, in America, my mothers
land. Having eaten my Christmas dinner in Rome,
with Prince Fortuna looking unutterable things as he
sat at table opposite mine, did not know where to
flee next until | heard that some English acquaint-
ances-a mother and two daughters-were staying at
Monte Carlo and would be glad to They
were dull but dependable, and l wired that I would
join them. I travelled without stopping, but reached
Monte Carlo only just in time to find my protective
wall crumbling into ruin. Mrs Brooke Smith had re
reived telegram that Mr. rooke-Smth had infu-
enza in London and to London she departing with
her daughters. They extremely sorry, but il
couldn't be helped; would find my very nice
and from all accounts didn't much mind being alone
Three days passed. longer interval by twenty
four hours than usually elapsed before the boom OF
the enemys | began to hope that, by some
marvellous good luck, had contrived to cover my
tracks with unaccustomed skill My spirits revived
made friends with delightful Americans the
hotel tc whom l dropped word or two now anc
them as if by chance about my husband