New-York tribune., 1910-01-16

II 4 TREND house. l 0 me IN those GaVS
q Prince was a wonderful creature. He
quickly saw that | was a 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 cali herself
a Princess, and II seemed TO my fighty
mind that the fact OF nv son 5 bearing a
different name than my own would always
advertise my plebeian origin; for [ was
quite woman OF the people, the daughter
OF Z stOrekeeper IN Pueblo. And so, when
we set up an establishment in Paris. nv
infant son came to be known as a Prince
Of the belgrade family.
Once such blunder IS made it IS not
easily recrihed; but during many a sad
hour have | regretted it, for Michael Del
grado did not scruple to use 1t as threat
whenever | resented his Ill conduct At
first . trivial thing. IN time it became a
milestone round my neck. As Alec grew
up Il became more and more difficult to
announce that he was not Prince Alexis
belgrade, but a simple COmmOner, Alex
ander Talbot by name.
There, then. YOU have the measure of
my transgression. It was the knowledge
OF the truth that drove that dear girl,
loan Vernon. from Delgratz this evening,
because General Stampoff would not
scruple to reveal the InpOsture If he failed
TO secure the Kings adherence to his
projects"
"Od's bones," broke in Stampoff Il
made him King, though | was aware from
the dav OF your wedding that he was not
Michael son. King he is, and King he
will remain # he agrees to my terms!
Go on with your story, mother" said
Alec softly 80 think | am beginning to
understand It all now
What mere need | say? walled the
Princess IN a sudden access Of grief.
have squandered your love. Alec; | have
ruined my own life; l have devoted all
these wretched years to man who IS the
worst sort Of blackTnailer, husband who
trades on his wife's weakness.
She turned on Prince Michael with a
last cry. | am done with you now for
ever she sObbed. have borne with
YOU for nv son sake; but now you and
must dwell apart, for my very soul lOathes
yOu,"
She sank into d chair in a passion of
tears. and Alec bent over her He spoke
no word 10 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.
T THINK We have all heard sufficient OF
the belgrade history TO render unnec-
essarv any further comment on my de
cision TO relinquish an honor that, it would
appear. | had no right to accept" he said.
I have gained my end, though by
strange path. VIII you please leave me
with my mother,
The one man present who felt com
pletely out Of his depth in this sea Of dlscord
took it upon himself to cry pathetlcally,
The door IS locked, yOur-your Maj
estvl'
d" An. forgive me, Monsieur NesiInir,
said Alec, with a friendly smile. ." had
forgotten that And, now that l come to
think Of it. | still have something to say
but we need not detain my mother TO near
an uninteresting conversation. Pardon
me one moment, while / attend to her
But before we 60 have small request to
make. Give me your word Of honor
viii take 1t for what 1t IS worth-that to-
nights happenings shall remain unknown
10 the outer world. and that there VIII be
no interference with my mother or myself
before we leave Delgratz-
Prince Michael, who had recovered some