Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-05

any rate, l don't see why you are afraid of
him."
Il am not. Indeed, am notl" Joan's
voice was tremulous. She was on the verge OF
tears; for the little Poles persistence was break
ing down the barrier that she had striven to
erect against her lovers pleading.
A Lee had not said much in his letter; but
what he did say was wholly to the point.
Come to me, JOAN he wrote Don't
wait. Don't stop and worry about what the
world will say, since it will surely be something
bitter and untrue. The people here are all
right. and think they are beginning to like
me; but l quite plainly that they will
not be content until l am married, and hints
are being thrown out already that there are
several eligible Young ladies in neighboring
States. But if these Kosnovians take me they
must take you too and it will be far easier for
me when they have seen you.
Now, no hesitation, no doubts, no weigh
ing of pros and cons Just set your teeth and
toss your head up, and tell Pauline to sling
your belongings into your boxes, and before YOU
start send me one word in telegram. | am
horribly busy, of course (for details see daily
papers) and this must be the most extraor-
binary love letter ever written; but what does
that matter when you and understand each
other? 1t was you who sent me here. Don't
forget that, dear teller of fortunes, and want
YOU to be standing by nv side when the storm
breaks that must surely be brewing for me
after an incredible success"
There was more in the same vein. Alexis
the King seemed to differ in no essential from
the Alec belgrade who used to wait for her
every day in the neighborhood of the Point
Neuf. Dare she risk it? The question had
tortured her ever since the early morning. 1t
was not that the prospect of being Queen was
dazzling or even dismaying in itself; she really
dreaded the result Of such a marriage on the
fortunes of the man she loved
But against that self sacrificing attitude she
was forced to admit the plea of Alec's own be
wildering lack of conventionality. If half the
stories in the newspapers were true he was the
most original minded monarch that ever
reigned She was quite sure that his answer to
any evasive reply on her part would be pub
lie announcement of the fact that his promised
bride was a Young lady in Paris, Joan Vernon
bv name And that would be worse almost
than going quietly to Delgratz and being mar
RED there.
WHAT was she to dor She found Felix
~ Poluski's gray eyes looking at her stead
tasty. In this dilemma he was her only trusted
counsellor. and he had already advised her to
yield.
IF even knew his relatives" she faltered.
His parents live in Paris. We have never
met How can say to his mother, Your son
wants me to marry him. What do YOU think
of me?' She, Princess, would scott at the
idea"
ALEC is well aware of that; hence he has
written direct to you, and said nothing to any
other person Let me assure you that if Prince
Michael belgrade had gone to Delgratz he
would have died sudden and violent death.
Prince Michael knew it, and declined the dis
tinction. Believe me. too, Alec has the very
best of reasons for consulting no one in his
choice of wife Now, Joan, be travel When
all is said and DONE it should be far more pleas
ant to marry King than fling bomb at him,
and have met several young ladies almost as
pretty as you who were ready enough to adopt
the latter alternative At any rate you will
take no harm by crossing the Danube. It is
not the Rubicon. you know, and you have
Saint Peter to lean on in case OF difficulty.
60 Felix did not return to Paris alone, and
- when he met Count julius Marulitch next
morning in the Louvre he was able to announce
that Miss Joan Vernon had accepted the COM
mission to copy the Delgratz Saint Peter and
was ready to start for Kosnovia by the night
mail.
CHAPTER vi.
Joan Goes Into Society
TOAN did not telegraph to Alec. She de-
y cfr IF holt re and