Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02

WW ~ TWIN decade earlier. Small wonder then,
NJ M4A w that Alec should express surprise
TaNE at such display of galantry on his
SJES part!
And indeed the unprecedented
action of the gruf old Serbian
General in taking Princess belgrade for drive that
evening destined to have consequences not to
be foreseen by any person. least of all by the young
couple whose contemplated marriage then in
the mouths of all men. 1t was the first step in the
new march of events Stampoff meant prove to the
Kings mother that her son would be ruined in the
eyes of his people if he married foreigner, ruined
instantly and rretrievably, matter how gracious
and pleasing Joan might seem to be in their eyes.
and, true to his military caste he wasted time
in making the Princess Of his motive in seeking
this tete-a-tete conversation.
Il think am right in assuming that you approve
of the young American lady your son wife,? said
he when the carriage clear of the paved streets
and bowling smoothly along the south bank of the
Danube on the only good driving road outside the
city,,
The notion startled me at first" confessed the
Princess; but the more see of Joan the more
like her. Alec and she devoted to each other.
and she will be popular for she is the type
of woman who will take her position as Queen
seriously
She is admirable in every respect" interrupted
Stampoff but she suffers from one defect that out
weighs all her virtues,-she is not Serb
Nor am " said the Princess quickly; yet no
seems to find fault with the King that ground. "
"One cannot judge the conditions that hold good
to-day by those which existed twenty five years ago
said Stampof gravey. When Prince Michael
married you madame, he was an exile but Alexis is
the reigning King, and he will offend his people
MORALLY he brings in foreigner share his throne.
DRINCEss BELGRADE was bewildered BY tbs
sudden attack. She turned and scanned the old
mans impressive features with feverish anxiety.
What do you mean?' she asked quickly. Are you
trying to enlist my aid in campaign against my
sons chosen wife? If SO, you will fail, General am
weary to death of political ntrigues and the
ceasng tactics of wire pullers. have been surround
ed by them all my life and thanked Providence in
my heart when saw that my began his reign by
sweeping aside the whole network of lies and artifce
He has not imposed himself on his people. He is
here by their free will and if they ready to
accept him thoroughly they will surely not think
OF interfering IN such personal matter as his
marriage"
But they are thinking of it." said Stampoff
doggedly. That is why you here with me.
l felt that must you of the trouble ahead.
Alec, l admit would be ideal King in ideal
State; but he has failed absolutely appreciate the
racial prejudices that exist here They are the
growth of centuries. They cannot be uprooted merely
because King is in love with eminently desirable
people, Princess there hardly ten thousand who
have settled notions of government whether good
bad, and those ten thousand think they have
prior right to control the destnies of the remainder
of the nation With the exception of few of the
younger officers, there is not among the
governing class who doesn't harbor more or less of
resentment against your son. He is putting down
with ruthless hand the petty corruption which
they thrlved, and at the same time reducing their
recognized salaries. In and out of season he
breaches the duties of good citizenship, but these
have too long been considering self to yield
without struggle the positions attained under
less scrupulouS regime
Il speak of what l know when l tell you that,
placid and contented Delgratz looks it is really
seethng volcano of late and discomfort. Re
pressed for the hour kept in check perhaps, by the
undoubted loyalty of the masses it is ready to spout
devastating fire and ashes at the least provocaton,
and that will be found in marriage that seems to
shut out all hope of realizing the long looked for
Joining of Montenegro and kosnova. | have
bitter acquaintance with history, madame, and
persuaded that