The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-07-26


 porch.
 Before Chase left London Sir John Brodney bluntly cautioned him against the dangers that lurked in Lady Dep pingham's eyes.
 ''She won't leave you a peg to stand on, Chase. if you seek an encounter" he said. She's pretty and she's cley- CT, and she's made fools of better men than you, my boy. I don't say she's bad lot, because she's too smart for that. Remember; my boy, you are go- ing out there to offset, not to beset, Lady Deppingham.'
 Chase was not in love with the proud Princefs Genevra, He denied that to himseD hundred times day as he sat in his bungalow and smoked the situation over.
 He had proved to himself quite be- yond a doubt that he was not in love, when, like bolt from clear sky, she stepped out of the oblivion into which he had cast her to smile upon him without warning. It was most unfair. Her smile had been one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in the effort to return a fair and final yer dict.
  than that she should come to the en- heard of island of Japat, unless, pos sibly, that he should be there when she came? She was there for him to look upon and love and lose, just as he had dreamed all these months. It matter ed little that she was now the wife of Prince Karl of Brabctz. To him she was still the Princess Genevra Of RappLThorberg.
 In his leather pocketbook lay the ever present reminder that she could be no more than dream to him. It was the clipping from Paris newspa- per announcing that the Princess Ge- nevra was to wed Prince Karl during the Christmas holidays.
 He had seen the Christmas holidays come and go with the certain knowl- edge in his heart that they had given her to Brabetz as the most glorious present that man had ever received.
 Now she was come to the island, and, so far as he had been able to see, there was no sign of the Prince Bra betz in attendance. Her uncle by mar riage, an English nobleman of high de- gree, in gathering his friends for the long cruise evidently had left the pIluCc OuI o1 lic pdAty, AOA hdt ACo son Chase could not imagine. To say that the omission was gratifying to the tall American would be too simple a statement There is no telling to what heights his thoughts might have carried him on that sultry afternoon if they had not been harshly checked by the arrival of a messenger from the chateau. His blood leaped with an ticipation.
 Could it be possible? But, no, she would not be writing to him. What ridiculous thought! His hopes fell flat as the note was put into his eager hand. It was from Britt.
 Still he broke the seal with consid- erable eagerness. As he perused the somewhat lengthy message his dis appointment gave way to no uncer- tain form of excitement. With its con clusion he was on his feet, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm.
 By George" he exclaimed. "What luckI Things are coming my way with a vengeance. I'll do it this very night, thanks to Britt. And I must not for get Browne. Ah, what consolation 1t is to know that there are Americans wherever one goes. Selim! Selim" He was standing as straight as cor poral and his eyes were glistening with the fire of battle when Selim came up and forgot to salute, so great was his wonder at the transformation. Get word to the men that I want every mothers son of 'em to attend a meet ing in the market place tonight at 9. Very important, tell 'em. Tell Von Blitz that he's got to be there. I'm going to show him and my picturesque friend, Rasula, that I am here to stay. And, Selim, tell that messenger to wait. There's an answer"
 Long before 9 o'clock the men of Japat began to gather in the market and trading place. Hollingsworth Chase, attended by Selim, came down from his mountain retreat. He. heard the sibilant hiss of the scorned Per sians as he passed among them on the outskirts of the crowd. He observed the threatening attitude of the men who waited and watched. He saw the white, ugly face Of Von Blitz quiver- ing with triumph He felt the breath of disaster upon his cheek. And yet he walked among them without fear, his head erect, his eyes defiant.
 The market place was a large open tract in the extreme west end of the town, some distance removed from the business street and the pier. Through . break in the foothills the chateau was plainly discernible, the sea being obscured from view by the dense for est that crowned the cliffs.
 Chase made his way boldly to the nearest platform. exchanging bows with the SurDriSed VoD RlitZ and tha saturnine Rasula, who stood quite near. The men of Japat slowly drew close in as he mounted the platform. From where he stood looking out over those bronze faces he could pick out the scowling husbands who hated him because their wives hated them. Afar off stood the group of women who had inspired this hatred and distrust. Be hind them, despised and uncounte- nanced by the oriental elect, were crowded the native women who down