The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-24
CContinued.l

repress, a loathing of the man, the place. the vice which was evidently depriving him of reason. Ronald passed into the concert-room. He shipped into a seat and leant back wearily; then he started, for voice beside him whispered:
 "Ronnie,'
 He swung round. and aw Lyd- stones wife, the Princess Zorelll. She was as pretty. as dainty, as ever; put her eyes were Sadder, and there was little line at the corners of the childish mouth, showing plainly that her husband had set his mark upon her She was quivering with the ag- itation of their meeting, and her face went from white to red and then white again.
 ..Princess!" said Ronald in a whis- per. for the band was playing softly at that moment. He put out his hand. and her small one closed over it and clung to it.
 "Give-give me a momentv she breathed. Ut is so sudden-I did not expect to see you! Ah,' She drew a long breath; the hectic flush came back to her girlish face, the blue eyes grew bright with the joy of his presence "As I sat here I was thinking of you-I can scarcely be- lieve that it is not dream still. Oh,
 
 been ill?''
 Now, in simple fairness. it must be stated that Ronald had never f1irted with the poor little woman; he had pities her too sincerely to include her amongst the women. for whom he could pretend devotion, to whom he might have whispered sentiments as foolish as they were false. Lydstone had never had any cause for jealousy all the world might have heard, un- moved. every word Ronald had ever spoken to her; and, not being a vain man. he did not guess that the Prin- cess, fascinated by sheer contrast, adcred him with the adoration wo- men of her type and temperament lay at the feet of the strong man, the man of simple nature.
 He pitied her so much as he look ed down at the piteous little face, that he patted her hand as one pats the hand of a child in trouble, and his voice was gentle, unusually gentle, as he said:
 Its all right, Princess. Of course, you're startled. I didn't see you. How is Lydstone?" {,
 TT don't know" she answered quaveringly. We've have separat- ed."
 I'm sorry" he murmured.
 Are you" she said wistfully. "It was the best, the only, thing to do. He would have killed me- I should have died if I had remained with him. We parted soon after that that night you quarrelled, and he struck you. Bonnie, I have felt that blow ever since, as I have never felt any he gave me. If you had killed - nave D6Cn SldU, put Tor the consequences to you. I will never go back to hinl-never! But don't let us talk, think, of him. She scanned his face with passionate in tensity. You have been ill!''
 Just little off colour he admit ted casually; but I'm all right now. You are staying here-not alone?"
 "Yes; with my maid," she said. You are-shocked? What does it matter? All the world knows how he has treated me-that I have left him l am at the Eagle Hotel You-you will come and see me, Ronald? Oh but l must not call you Ronald I T forgot It is the name by which l think of you. Forgive mel"
 There is nothing to forgive,'' he said, still unwisely, still in ignorance of the reason for her agitation; he a,- tributed 1t to the suddenness of their meeting, to the painful memories his presence recalled Of course, I'll come and see you. But-Tm afraid you'H think me presumptuous-but is Monte Carlo exactly the place? mean, wouldn't you be better, more comfortable in England? You don't play, I suppose?'
 She hung her head and sighee. wearily; her hands pIucked at each other.
 No; I tried England; but it was too quiet I could do nothing but think, think. I came here for the excitement, the gaiety. I play in the hope of distraction; it does not amuse me-I don't care whether I win or lose-but l manage to forget myself for a time, and that. is something gained; it keeps me from going mad. But I'm shocking you again How thin you've got-almost as thin as l am Look," She drew the costly cloak from her arm, and held it out with a shy, nervous laugh.
 Poor little womanI" he muttered under his brea tn; but she heard him, and her face flushed
 T like to hear you say that" she said And yet another mans pity hn sr+1