The Washington times., 1912-06-22
THE PRINCE OF PRETENSE
STEPHEN CHALMERS
Copyright, The Frank A. Munsey Col

I was settled for a while, he advanced,
cleared his throat and spoke with gem
tie sarcasm to the man on the rocks.
| do not wish to intrude upon your
| highness. but will your prlnceliness con-
| descend to an interview"
Ihe only movement on Caslmir's part
williams direction. He remained with
! logged arms, his body turned to the
ioGh, and he said quietly:
..GSood evening. Captain Fitzwilliam." &"
! Ma1or. corrected Fitzwilliam, aston.
name. '''
|,Ah-pardon! major" said Charles
E1Wsrd softly. I'VE progress"
,,F FstSwiliiam S,a li said nothing to this He
was staring up at the man on tho rocks,
trying to reconcile the man with his
dttss ana vague -em'niscence.
Wc.have met somewhere before"'
lie said at last.
"If we have. you should recall IT," was
the cool answer. 'If you cannot recall
it Is probably hardly worth recall
Yes, by heaven. we have met be-
fole! exclaimed fTitzwilliam.
"A mare triie, my dear cap-pardon
ne, maJCr.. unless It is conscience that
stirs "reminiscences"
No ioubt shall remember later"
rasped the major, who was stung by
the speech. Then the memory may
serve against You and your scher,es.
Ana so, my good friend whoever-you-
are you are In the service Of Napoleon
"a French spy-hey?'
rocks, turning his back on EitzwillIam
tnd resun,ing his study Of the far
waters.
us your nams Charles EdVard?" de-
manded the major.
"Caslrnir?"
Major FitzwIlliam." said the man.
turning his head slowly. you have a
very poor memory"
Answer ne without subterfuge!"
cried Fitzwilliam furlously.. for there
was memory about this man which
troubled him vaguely. Did you land
on these shores and proclaim yourself
Charles Edward, heir to Charles Ed
ward Philir Casimir stuart and to the
crown of Scotland?"
"I'ardon me, majur." said Casimir
aniussdly: you are somewhat rapid,
and you forget that the wind is against
ance. you wish to know II l landed on
these shores. You mad better ask the
Maclarty brothers, who know more
about nv arrival than I do. AS t. who
proclaimed myself. l am uncer no obli-
:yation to answer Il; this unseemly time
and place.
And furthermore" he added coolly.
pretend to me. II Is hardly likely that
l should make a confidant of the British
army, as represented in Major Herbert
Fitzwilliam."
troubled by the mans knowledge of his
Christian name. and utterly at a loss
for further words, chewed his underlip
and gritted his teeth together. The man
was laughing. at him-playing with
him-d-- him!
Five minutes later, when Charles Ed
ward turned his head, the major had
disappeared. 1t seemed a little matter
to the prince, who straightway resumed
his reverie-there upon the rocks over
looking the sea.
Fitzwilliam was presently back in the
officers room at the fort. Kilby had
not yet returned. The major sneered as
he glanced at the clock. He had seen
the captains companion at the gather
ing. He thought he knew where Kilby
was-the fool!
For half an hour he continued to
pace up and down the room his hatred
and fear Of the man on the rocks
hatred born of intellectual inferiority,
fear born Of elusive reminiscence-grow
ing every moment as he thought Of the
manner in which Charles Edward had
coolly answered or evaded his pertinent
"Caslmr! Casimir! Yes, yes. The
name"-mused Fitzwilliam. It's IA
miliar. But where the deuce And he
me-" Had he been man with a clean
past the question would hardly have
arisen. Yes. he knew me-when l was
captain. Where was 1t? Captain
that was five years ago. Where was
then? All"
He suddenly came to a dead halt Over
his flushed, full-blooded face spread
hue that was more of reminiscent guilt
than of terror.
MY God" he whispered.
And that was all. while the ticking Of
the big clock in the outer guardroom
acme distinctly through the heavy
doors
Fitzwilllam's memory had returned.
n EaI ,E; "