Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-16

same year met Prince Michael belgrade
in friends house. To me in those days
a Prince was a wonderful creature. He
quickly saw that was prize worth cap
turing, and not many months elapsed be-
fore we were married. had all the fool
ish vanity of a young woman, unused to
the world, who was entitled to call herself
a Princess, and it seemed to my Eighty
mind that the fact of my sons bearing a
different name than my own would always
advertise my plebeian origin; for | was
quite a woman of the people, the daughter
of a storekeeper in Pueblo. And SO, when
we set up an establishment in Paris, my
infant son came to be known as Prince
of the belgrade family.
"Once such b1under is made it is not
easily rectifed; but during many a sad
hour have l regretted it, for Michael Del
grado did not scruple to use it as threat
whenever l resented his i'll conduct. AT
first a trivial thing, in time it became
milestone round my neck. AS Alec grew
UP it became more and more difficult to
announce that he was not Prince Alexis
belgrade, but simple commoner, Alex
ander Talbot by name.
There then, you have the measure of
my transgression. 1t was the knowledge
of the truth that drove that dear girl,
Joan Vernon, from Delgratz this evening,
because General Stampoff would not
scruple to reveal the imposture if he failed
to secure the Kings adherence to his
projects
''Od's bones!" broke in Stampoff. Il
made him King, though l was aware from
the day of your wedding that he was not
Michael's son. King he is, and King he
will remain if he agrees to my terms
Go on with your story, mother" said
Alec softly. Il think l am beginning to
understand it all now
What more need l say?" walled the
Princess in sudden access of grief. Il
have squandered your love, Alec; have
ruined my own life; have devoted all
these wretched years to a man who is the
worst sort of blackmailer, husband who
trades on his wife's weakness"
She turned on Prince Michael with a
last cry. II am done with you now for
ever!" she sobbed. Il have borne with
you for my sons sake; but now you and !
must dwell apart, for my very soul loathes
you'll"
She sank into a chair in a passion of
tears, and Alec bent over her. He spoke
no word to her; but his hand rested gently
round her neck while his eyes travelled
from Michael's gray-green face to Julius
Marulitch's white one.
I THINK we have all heard sufficient of
l the belgrade history to render unnec-
essary any further comment on my de-
cision to relinquish an honor that, it would
appear, had no right to accept" he said.
II have gained my end, though by
strange path. Will you please leave me
with my mother?"
The one man present who felt COM
pletely out of his depth in this sea of discord
took it upon himself to cry pathetically,
The door is locked, your-your Maj
esty!"
'Ah, forgive me, Monsieur Nesimir, "
said Alec, with a friendly smile. 81 had
forgotten that. And, now that come to
think of it, l still have something to say;
but we need not detain my mother to hear
an uninteresting conversation. Pardon
me one moment while | attend to her.
But before we go l have small request to
make. Give me your word of honor
will take it for what it is worth-that to-
nights happenings shall remain unknown
to the outer world and that there will be
no interference with my mother or myself
before we leave Delgratz."
Prince Michael who had recovered some
of his jauntiness, looked at Alec with the
crafty eye of a cowed hyena; but he said
&c TO no nv,