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

emerged from the interior of ramshackle cab
that had carried him from Melun to the edge
of the forest Now, a cab drive of several
miles, plus journey from Paris, was suffl
GENTLY rare event in Poluskis life to make
Joan stare. His unexpected appearance chimed
so oddly with her own disturbed thoughts that
she RRs1;xl she cried. have YOU brought i'll
news?"
of whom, dear girl'" he demanded.
"Of-of anyone?"
Alec still reigns, if that is what you mean
Il But he has sent you"
What, do l look like an envoy?" He
laughed. Well WELL ma belle, there is some
whom even Kings must bow; represent Saint
Peter But even apostolic dynamitard
must eat | am starving, having sacrificed my
luncheon to my love of you. Commend u1e,
then, to some deft handed waiter and let hun
ger and curiosity be stated at the same time.
Joan knew that Poluski would choose his
own way of explaining his presence. The hour
for luncheon was long past but she hurried to
the empty dining room and was able to secure
some soup and a cold chicken. Felix eyed the
bird distrustfu1ly.
ALTHOUGH am here in behalf of Saint Peter,
there is no sense in asking me to chew the
wretched fowl that proclaimed his downfall, /" he
muttered
oh Felix dear. please do tell me what has
happened" said Joan, clasping her hands in
real distress. Il received letter from Alec
this morning. 1t sent to from my
lodgings, and what between that and the ex-
traordinary things in the newspapers, think
| am bewitched. Now am sure that you too
have heard from him. Is it telegram"
YES" he said "a message sent without
wires; it came by one of those underground
currents that convulse an unconscious world,
sometimes agonizing mountains at Others per-
picking a simple maid like yourself. You see,
Joan, all things conspire to draw you to Del
gratz."
60 L. %1o&o
Poluski the exact information he needed; for
his nimble brain was beginning to the
nection between .Alecs letter and Count Julius
Marulitchs intense desire to avail himself of
Joans skill as copyist
tering tone and looking her straight in the
eyes.
How can such an absurdity be dreamed
Off" she demanded breathlessiy.
Because it is dream that will come true.
Listen, now, and don't be afraid for these gray
old trees of Barbizon have heard madden whis-
perings than that you should become Queen.
1t is in the natural order Of things that l, who
gave my best years to devising the ruin of
Kings, should be chosen in nay dotage to help
in fixing King firmly on his throne. 1t is
some sport of the gods, suppose, super
human jest perhaps the touch of farce that
makes tragedy more vivid, since even that
colossal Shakespeare of yours thought fit to
tighten Hamlet by introducing comic grave
digger Be that as it may, Joan. you are Alecs
Queen. and as he cannot come for you it fol-
lows that you must go to him Shall tell you
why? You are necessary to him. It rs de-
creed, and you cannot shirk your lot. He
knows it. and he has written to bid you come.
His enemies know it. but there is kind of
knowledge that leads its votaries bindfold to
the pit and Alec's enemies are bindly plotting
now to send you to Degratz and thus compass
his ruin"
Felix What are you saying?"
THE truth. the simple truth. Not Whit,
of metaphor or extravaganza about that state
ment, Joan. This morning man came to me
in the Louvre. He was seeking you. He wants
to pay you five thousand francs for copy of
some blazoned daub that hangs in the cathe-
dral at Delgratz. He will pay double. four
times, the money if only you will consent to go
there. Why? Because he believes that Alec
is infatuated about you, and that the mere
hint of marriage with one who is not Slav
Princess will shatter the throne of Kosnovia
about the ears of its present occupant. Ny
anxious visitor is mistaken of course. He is
trying to do good that evil may come of it.
but while there is justice in Heaven any such
perversion of an eternal principle is foFedoomed
to failure.
But just think of that man coming to me,
Felix Poluski. who has ear for every sob that
rises from the unhappy people who dwell in the
borderland between Teuton and Tartar Isn't
that the cream of comedy? When / make
everything clear to YOU when l show you how