New-York tribune., 1909-12-05

If some one was 10 analyze mercilessly the pre-
else reasons OF my present journey
STOP Let Us do it. 1t viii serve to pass the
- time"
She laughed and blushed wait little.
We have many hours before US.
You viii never have more appreclatIve
audience, II only YOU could make your voice
heard above this DIM
What are YOU driving at, Please tell me. "
You have seen the TWO people sitting over
there" and he twisted eyebrows and mouth
awry, with a whimsical leer of caution
Yes; what OF them
Do you know them.
NO"
Not even the ladvs"
She reminds me OF some one Why do YOU
ask"
Il am surprised at YOU loan Those charm
ing ewes of yours should be keener True, there
Is nothing feminine about Alec, and he has not
suffered, Ike his mother. Still, there is re-
semblance."
Felix. are YOU IN earnest"
ABSOLUTELY. l. at least. have not the Greek
temperament. Our friends across the gangwav
are none other than Prince and Princess Michael
belgrade. You viii discover no prophecy Of
Alec IN his father; but he IS his mothers own
son, despite her weak chin and air OF reSlgna-
tor"
Joan was dismayed utterly astounded the
color ebbed from her cheeks. Are they going
70 Delgratzs" she almost whispered
Il suppose so. 1t Is one OF the oldest things
about our lives how they run IN grooves. uSt
now al the tiny furrOwS OF our separate eXIs-
tences are cOnvergIng on the Danube. We are
like ships fOredOOmed 70 collision. that hurry
remorselessly from the ends OF the earth 70 the
preOrdaIned crash"
Oh Felix il YOU knew Of this, why did YOU
bring me here,'
"W Who am I 10 resist when the gods beckons
I love YOU, Joan, and hate Kings; but II Is
hqr hall he L INV
arms and bow my head Ike the meekest OF nor
tals."
u viii quit the tram at the next stopping
place"
But whys If Alec and YOU are TO wed. II Is
only TT and proper that his parents should
grace the ceremony"
"N You harp on marriage when there NAV be
no marriage. If Alec was not King II might
be different; but the world VIII Scoff when II
hears that his chosen bride came % HIM from
lodgings IN the Place de Ia Sorbonne. What
will Princess belgrade think now that she has
seen me here. rushing of % Delgratz the in
slant / was summoned, Felix I must return
70 Paris, Happily, / have some two thousand
francs due within a week, and can then refund
the cost OF our tickets. and perhaps the railway
people viii allow something Tor the uncom-
pleted journey.
Calm yourself Bla estitcl You count Ike
the proprietress OF my favorite cafe And L.
what purpose IL would be a Dirv II act ",
that foolish way. There Is no Compulsion ON
YOU 10 marry Alec, and the Byzantine saint
Peter still hangs N the cathedral Let anvone
so much rs HINT that YOU are throwing Yourself
at Aec's head. and / shall have the hinter dvna-
mlted! No. no. my Joan We NAV weld 10
higher powers, but we DO not abandon our pil-
grimage because II Is shared bv an old Scar,r,
OF a father whose sole anxiety Is % fleece his
SON Come now. finish Your dinner IN peace
and let me explain % You why II Is that Alexis
Ill and not Michael V reigns in Delpratz
You don't CLEAN many facts about monarchs
from newspapers II / brought YOU 10 d ,,r-
tam wIneshop IN the Rue Taitbout anv evening
after dinner. YOU would hear more truth about
ROYALTY IN hall an hour than YOU viii read in
halt year.
Joan. conscious OF telltale pallor WAS lean
- ing forward with elbow on the table ans
shielding her face with widespread fingers
Wopped against cheek and forehead In th~
noise and furry of the tram II was easy 10 tune,
the voice 70 such note that it must br inau,ii-
Die 10 those at the adjacent tables. but Pol1sL,,
seemed % be careless whether or NOT ne ~
overheard. and the girl fancicd thar Princes
belgrade had caught the words "NIrxis
Michael Dclgratz" Certainly the Prin-
TeSS turned again and booked AT her while She