New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
Chapter XVI. Boots to Tremble in

Thurlev had been unCOmmOnly per
@N1S turbcd. He had only the Count
GNHE3TN half falling from her side, he
NTNNSLu Clutchcd at the fern for support.
IASg6ES Why he had done such thing as
IGlAlA ntrude where Fiaschi had guided the
RVZZoIW4 Princess was more than he felt he
lNlG8Y)M| could explain.
WIEsSjW He had merely obcyed an impulse,
W%gW since neither envy nor. jealousy, had
N%4H/ they been his portion could have
n (SNl a. forced such action upon him. The
" ~ ensuing dance was his and Thurlcy's,
SX to be chatcd out, he had told her,
OIO making an eloquent gesture with his
injured arm, by way of denotlng his
useleSsneSs in waltz.
Nov as they moved across the floor he had subtle
comprehension of her disturbed condition. He attnb-
uted everything to Fiasch whom he hated thoroughly
He hoped the Count had betrayed himself so completely
as to be an eliminated factor in Thurleys existence
He could ask her what had occurred, and ne could
not know that the sight OF Acton Galllard more than
the denominations of Fiaschi had wrought upon the girl
at his side to humble her splendid equpolse
Thurley, for her part excited to new intensity
of agitation. What it might signify thus to have
Gaillard drift more across her orbit was more
than she dared conjecture They could not help but
meet Wild dreams Of denying her former identity
flashed for a moment her thought, only to be dis
missed at once as utterly prepoSterous Gallard was
not the sort of man to be trlckcd or deceived tor halt
minute by any device so childish. What he would DO
when everyone about him in the social world was dill
gently advertising her as Princess Thirvnia was the
inquiry haunting her reflections Should he take the
pains to declare the truth and reveal her humble
origin the disaster herself and Alice would be appa
ling. .
What would or could Alice do in such eventuality'
Could she still continue her friendship her support her
exploiting care and expenditures? Or would she not,
in self defense be obliged to repudiae the whole affair
and charge that she herself had been detraudcd!
Stuyvcrant was talking trying to start a converSa-
ton trying to lead her away to the quiet retreat OF the
palmroom beyond. She could not listen. She heard as
one in a dream. The wondrous, butterfly existence on
which she was barely launched seemed about to fade
away. 1t was only bit of Cinderella magic, after all
And she loved SOL 1t had been 50 absolutely Joyous
Its promise had been golden and 50 sweet!
In that bewdering moment she was teartuly tempted
She could meet Acton Gaard, here, soon within the
hour. and throw herself upon his mercy, tell him all,
beg him to aid her in her harmless little preenSe After
all she was not pretending much She was merely per
mtting a foolish world to make her a runaway Princess.
What could it possibly advantage him to reveal her as
his castaway a college widow, left on the strand to
continue the humbleSt of teaching?
He might exact sort of price for the silence she
desired Perhaps she might meet it, were it not too
high, and Alice be made of the bargain.
The possibility tremendously exciting He had
once been than merely friend If by any chance
Copyright, 1910 BY Philip V. Nilhels All rights reserved