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


threw its dull shadow across her face.
Say what pleases you. Felix. she replied
gently. | shall not suffer more than | have
already endured | think am benumbed now.
but at least | am sure that have acted right.
There were influences at work in DelgratZ OF
which even you had no cognizance. Popular
as Alec seemed to be- every prejudice of the
Serb was arrayed against him. He appealed to
the imagination of the people as brave and
gallant figure; but he is and ever will remain
foreigner among them. They apart.
and Alec is not of them. And it would have
been fatal error to give them as Queen
another foreigner like himself.
"Alone, he will win his way In the
of years he cannot fail to identify himself more
and more with their interests. He will-some
day-marry Princess of the blood to which he
belongs. That will help kosnovia to forget
that he was neither born nor bred in the coun-
try, and the presence of a Serbian consort will
tend to consolidate his reign. 1t would have
been quite different if he and were married
within few weeks. Those who are opposed to
hlm-and they are far more numerous than you
may guess at this moment-would have been
given most powerful argument by the refusal
of the Greek archimandrite to perform the cere-
mony. You see, Alec himself is not member
of the national church, nor am l. and draw
back that may be overlooked when a Slav
Princess becomes Queen of kosnovia would
have been fatal thing for me-
DOLUSKI could not but admire Joan's splen-
did detachment in speaking of Alec's hypo-
thetical wife His thin lips creased in satirical
grin. rs that it." said he. the everlasting
religious difficulty? No, my BELLE tell that to
the marines, or, at any rate. to some guileless
person not versed in kosnovian history! There
never yet was bloodstained conqueror or evil
living Prince in that unhappy city of Delgratz
who failed to obtain the sanction of orthodoxy
for his worst deeds, whether in beheading
rival or in divorcing a WIFE
Joan hesitated. Il do not wish to lay too
hot r,boc of
matter" she said at last. 1t was only one
of many. In itself it might have been
surmounted; but when the church, large
section of the army, and nearly all the higher
officials of the State, are ready to combine
against Alec's sincerity of purpose, it asking
too much of me knowingly to provide the special
excuse for his downfall.
There was silence for little while and
Poluskis keen gray eyes still dwelt searchingly
on the girls sorrow laden though resigned
features She did not finch, and there was
certain sadness in the Poles next comment.
What you say. my dear, sounds very like
the dry as dust utterances of some podgy
Minister of State; they are far from being the
words of woman who loves, and so they are
not yours
Perhaps YOU are right, Felix she said
YEARLY. Perhaps, had | told Alec these
things, he might have silenced my doubts and
persuaded me to dare everything for his sake.
yet. knowing this, YOU are herei" he cried.
his conscience singing him at the memory of
that forsaken King mourning his lost bride.
Yes. and no consideration would induce
to return"
All then there is something that you have
not yet told me-
"Yes, and it can never be told, Felix Be
content, my friend. with that assurance. There
is nothing that can happen which has the power
to change my decision. Heaven help me, l can
never marry Alec"
The true must remain secret"
"Yes."
"A womans secret"
"Yes, my secret"
HIS eyes sparkled. He bent nearer and sank
: his voice to deep whisper; for there were
Others in the carriage and that which he had
to say must reach her only.
mot yours, Joan. Oh, no! Not yours!
Another woman'si Hal Blind that l was
now have it! So that is why you are running
away! They threatened to drag Alec headlong
from the throne unless you agreed. My poor
girl, you might have told me sooner. The
knowledge has been here, lurking in the back
of my head for years; but l never gave
thought to it. Why should l? Who would
have dreamed of such tragicomedy? Joan,
to-day in the cathedral could have bound you
with ropes if that would have served to keep
you in Delgratz; but now kiss the hem of your
dress. My poor girl. my own dear Joan. how