New-York tribune., 1911-01-22

thereuDOu became @ highly probable deNel-
oDment. when the moment should advise
that Edith Steck had better be detained
away from the Kingdom Of Princess Ihlr-
vInla.
Chapter XIII. The Soup Thickens More
THE next few days developed a number
l. of factors. cxcitements. and sNrmslcs
leading toward things ClImaCteric.
Thurlev and Alice had never been so com
r1etcIv cngr0ssed with social functions ana
diversions On TWO successive nights iAey
attended the opera, both occasions being
notable for brIilIance and increasing iurore
Of the socially elect over the many appear
arces of the princess, the persistence with
which Alice Van Kirk evaded any and all
a1Iusi0ns 10 her guests identity, and the
unanimous infatuatiOn Of all the men per
r7itted 10 come within her circle.
AnnOvanccs by the daily press, sufficiently
Dcrgistent from the first, were rapidly mul-
fiDIicd as reporters, camera demons, and
-,9icuIOus rumOrs hung upon Ihurley S
movements night and day.
DESPITE II all, she rode her horse three
mornings. fairly early. accompanied by her
Groom on two excursions. The hour she
Chose was one in which the park was prac-
-,raIlv deserted by the smarter set, who ire
Cran-lv ride for display. But the newspaper
men were on hand the second morning,
v-I;ro ON the third Kelsey Wood accident
srIv" aDpeared in the saddle path, gallopcd
- her side. and improved the opportunity
fo~ which he had lOngcd with a cheer she
could not have discouraged.
The news Of Woods clever maneuver
c.r,a dulv 10 the ears Of Ihurley.s other
s,,itors and aroused q storm OF jealousy and
-I,,7te- scbcmlng FlasChi was irrtated.
C.;II.r9 was particularly InCensed. The
Cn,,n+ was no rider, but feared and hated
t,-r.s. while the college man felt that his
I'll license, granting him cXclusll rights,
I'D bcen unwarrancably violated.
Tba tact and diplomacy Of both Alice and
,r,l,,,-l,.,, were taxed % the utmost 10 main
- an arrnistiCe and avert lntcrneclne strIic.
Almost ike eapportiOnmcnts Of pie, the hours
- Tbr-lay's dav and evening were sliced and
.,,,arJrd TO her ClamOrous SWANS, 10 keep
- from raveuiug starvation. To tlaschl
su ,,ght with Thurlcv at the opera.
~ III 5rove with the Princess, in her
,,..toris six or eight times round the
o".- ctr,ycrant came 20 dine al the royal
p'i' - and sat with Thurley alone for nearly
IN hour aftcrwart.
,rL. Count. during the long and passionate
,.,,. ' srenc depicted IN Tristan uni Isolde.
- r,urrnured declaration Of hls burning
iI',o'' i",.a and - demanded Thurey.s hand IN mar
.o., 1. Gaillard. oblivious 20 all the world OF
H. -, g.s and people about them, announced
81 "a j,tst with all her other various wtos,
.lls,,.rfgf ms Thurlcy Of their past relationship,
I ,J,.s;rad her consent forthwith to an an
anu l...terlcnt OF their engagement Stuyvcr-
ho1'',l 10. lone Of the three, behaved himself like
raI,o''li5 Haw sine had parred the 'hrusts Of the
~ Vrsuvau flames, or the ubcs Of
Coui'- C,',ii.-f.s ra5cntfuI impauenco Ihurley
"l,,',''., ,.iI 's.r,,rrrlv have told. She only knew
.%u," .tu, F,Ischi had become intoIerable, the
'r..r una. If college widows impossible. and
nl'h'' rcirhcr had received satisfaction.
i,t ilaa rr,tbcr had been further meensed
thous,- ,n,de had, wholly hopeless or unmoILhcd.
OF '',@G a game rs she was PLAYING. and
M III 5,i-,, With such elements AS Gmllard and
eng Hs,,siness partner presented, such tmId
ms DLuosnr-tlenanly courtlers as Stetson, the
ana ttTh ,he Captain, Dearborn, and even kel-
Beau LLI N'-t ....I..aaIy ftet.ulrf H.+