Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21

drawing him into passage and thence to the
room of Princess belgrade. Alec was soothing
his mothers grief when his father entered Sc
cretly on tiptoe with the hushed voice and
steathy air of consprator. He carried par
eel, long and narrow, wrapped in brown paper.
Il have been consumed with anxiety said
he. Julius came and warned that your
departure from Paris ought to be incognito.
reach Delgratz. The newspapers are Fostering
me to declare program. They all expect that
l shall leave Paris tonight or early tomorrow.
Indeed an impudent fellow representing LIE
Soir' says that if l don't bestir myself shall
be christened the Sluggard King. But shall
humbug them finely. Leave that to me. Your
portmanteaus have been struggled out by way
of the servants quarters, and you must vanish
unseen. Buy ticket for Vienna, ignore Stamp
off during the journey, accept my blessing-and
take this He held out the parcel.
What is it," inquired Alec.
"My fathers sword, your grandfather's
sword. l have kept it bright for YOU
Alec squirmed. He knew the weapon,
a scabbard of gilt metal and purple velvet. In
its wrapping Of brown paper and Irvine it sus-
piciously resembled child's toy, and Prince
Michael's grandiloquent manner added a touch
of buffoonery to farewell scene made poignant
by a womanS tears.
AZ shall use it only on the skulls of eminent
personages," said Alec gravely. In truth, this
Partisan kingship was rapidly becoming farci-
cal. What line what situation for that
reviewl
outburst of family pride, Monseigneur became
practical. What of Dumont?" said he.
He was touched; but he knocked off five
hundred francs"
"Ah, bahl 1 rather hoped-well, must re-
turn to the salon and play my part. Remem-
Der, you will see no one except a servant at the
Care de IEst. Julius has arranged passports
everything"
He is taking an extraordinary interest in
me. Of course, if | pull through. he becomes
heir presumptive.
"Parbleul That is So. But-you will
marry. Bide your time, though. Choose
Queen who" his shifty eyes fell on the trem-
bling form of his wife, who had remained
interview" who will be as good wife to you
as your mother has been to me. Farewell J!
May God guard you'll"
Twice in one day had the pompous little man
been betrayed into an avowal of honest sentl-
ment; but he soon recovered. Once reestab-
lished on the hearthrug, with his eyeglass prop
erly adjusted, his hands tucked under his coat
tails when they were not emphasizing some well
turned phrase, Prince Michael enjoyed himself
hugely.
She was almost incoherent with terror. Bid
him remain she dare not; she lacked the force
of character that such step demanded. She
had given too many years to this chlmera OF
royalty now suddenly grown INTO monster TO
be stated only by the sacrifice of her son! But
she incurred as if he was already dead, and a
lump rose in Alec's throat. He had always
loved his mother; his father had ever been
remote, a dignifed trifer, poser: The three
held nothing in common. 1t could hardly be
doubted that every good quality of mind and
body the boy possessed was debt to the
broken hearted woman now clinging to him IN
very frenzy of lamentation. Small wonder
if his eyes were misty and his voice choked !!
All! if loan but knew of this sorrowlng mothers
plight, surely she would come to her
A T last he tore himself away. Grasping that
= ridiculous parcel, he hurredly descended
back staircase. Owing to the paternal watch
fulness that the French Government exercises
over its subjects, he was obliged to pass the
concierge; but none paid heed to him. If it
came to that, all Paris would guffaw at the no.
ton of dear Alec's becoming flibuster.
He hailed passing cab. If he would catch
his train, they must drive furiously, which is
nothing new in Paris. Climbing the Rue La
Fayette he passed Count Julius Marulitch and
Constantine Beliani coming the other way in an
open victoria. They were deeply engaged
in conversation that they did not see him.
Julius was talking and the Greek listening. It
flashed into Alec's mind that the presence in
Paris of the Greek on the very day of the Del
gratz regicide offered most remarkable coin
cidence Beliani was no stranger to him,
since he and General Stampoff, the one as Fl
nance Minister and the other as Commander in