New-York tribune., 1910-01-23
BY LOUIS TRACY
Drawing by Howard Chandler Christy


to his great relief, she did not break down, as he
feared. Perhaps he will not want now,
Felix she said, and her eyes shining.
"Oh, fiddesticks" cried the hunchbaCk. Why
did he telegraph from the first waysde station after
leaving Semin: Alec not want you! At this
moment he is more proud that he is free born
American than if a miracle almost beyond the powers
of Heaven had made him belgrade
Felix, Cync that hewas Wassecretly delighted when
Joan discovered after breakfast that blouse which
caught her eye in one of the Budapest shops
much more suitable for travelling than that which
she happened to be wearing. 1t was also significant
that the dust which had gathered in her hair during
the long journey from Delgratz required visit a
couture. These straws showed how the wind blew,
he fancied.
A Nd it was good to the way Joans face kindled
\ when Alec clasped her in his arms. They said
little then. The why and the wherefore of events
they left to another hour but when Joan extricated
herself from her lovers embrace she turned 10
Princess belgrade. The two women exchanged an
attectionae kiss; each looked at the other through
mist OF tears. Words were not needed. They
understood and that sufhCed.
In camer moment Alec told Joan what had
happened. lie laid special stress the fact that
his mother was quite determined to renounce her
title and revert to the name she bore during her first
marriage.
Il realized the tenth part of her suffering
in Paris, he said, though l knew far more about
Prince Michaels conduct than he guessed We
must make 1t our business, Joan, to bring some
brightness into her declining years. have been
planning our future all day in the train Shall |
become the fortune teller this time2
Yes, she 1nurnured, and perhaps | may
forget that have cost you a Kingdom
lie laughed gaily, just he used to laugh on
those bright May mornings when he waited on the
POnt Neuf in the hope that he might be permitted
to escort her to the Louvre
Never dream that shall bring that up against
YOU Gear heart, he said. Degratz ought to
advertise itself as a sure cure for ambition | liked
the Ieople, but | hated the lob and KOsnOvia IS
already becoming myth in my mind | am re-
Jolclng IN my new name, Alexander Talbot. l hope
you like II. My mother tells me that nv father was
one on the strong men of the West. | am called
after him. 1t seems, and although nv own name
sounds strange to me like the purposeful ring in it
=, loan laughed merrily.. Felix was teasing me
tlS morning Dy suggesting that YOU might have
been christened Phineas' She said
The wretch! And what if | was?"
ohe looked at him with delightful ShvneSs NO
matter what name you bore YOU would ALWAYS be
my Alec, she whispered.
They were leaning over the balcony of an omen
ar restaurant at the moment; so Alec perforce
contented himself with claSping her hand
Nnd now for my scheme, little girl he sal
We Will get married at once of course"
She made no reply; but he felt the thrill that ran
through her veins
Then, he went on. gravely that she raised
her eyes to his, seeking to catch his slightest shade
ol meaning Tor her heart still troubled by the
rear that she had wrought him evil, Il will take
YOU TO America my home There is surely a nest
Tor us out there. | have never understood il
nCiore' put often, as boy, felt the call of the
Vet. 1t was natural, | suppose. We had many
Ainerlcln trends In Paris and nv blood tinged
when they spoke of the great rivers the nr,iT;es
the ocean lakes the giant mountain ranges and The
ftr hung PLAINS of that wondrOuS continent which
they describe with a reverent humor as Gods own
country ieel that shall win place for myself in
to 90 back there again 'S
lie paused and perhaps he hardly realized why
loan signed with happiness; for she could believe
at !1st that ne had never Pang for his lost kngship