The Detroit times., 1913-09-26
CHAPTER xxxvI.
(Contlnued.J

/, But II was all AZ II should be: he
was entireiy happy. He had asked
three wishes OF the good fairies, as he
had SAID long ago; that the Prince
should Dc Emperor--that he might be-
come q Marshal OF France under an.
othsr Bonaparte"-thatA Alike should
love him. The first two he believed
about to be realized. The last? II
was not now the time to think OF
that. Alike had kissed him good.by.
That would more than do till the
night was over. So he sped back to
London. missing Pietro, but hopeful
and buoyant. And In London there
Was q letter for him from Virginia:
Dear Francois" Lucy began. ITO
think that the first letter sent to you
by Harry's wife should be to tell you
that she has betrayed your trust In
her. am distressed beyond words.
for have made q mistake which may
mean distress to you. You remember
the letter to Alike which you trusted
to me to send her In case anything
should happen to you? had II In
my hand the week after my wedding
when ] had gone upstairs to get 9TH
er letters for Europe which my father
had commanded me to send by the
next packet. And In some stupid, un-
explainable way slipped yours
your precious letter--among them In
place of one to my fathers agents In
London. and hurried down and gave
the parcel TO Sambo. who was waiting
10 ride to Norfolk with them. And
then Harry and I went away on q
visit to Martins Brandon for three
days. and 1t was only when ] came
back that discovered the dreadful
mistake had made Can you ever
forgive me? Harry and I thought
over every possible way Of stopping
1t. but there seemed to be no chance.
Are you very angry with me. dear
friend Of Harry's and miner"
The letter went on with reproaches
and regrets and finally slipped into a
tale Of a new happy life which Fran
co.'s had made possible for the two.
He read It over several times. His
letter ~ Alike, which should have
been sent only after his death, had
gone to her. What then! She would
know that he loved her; that he had
loved her always; that he would love
her forever; that the one wish OF his
life had been that she should love
himself-not Pietr0. He had said that
in the letter; that was all. He was
glad that she should know. though
he would never have told her In lie.
II was done, and he would md out
now II Pietro indeed cared for her. II
she cared for Pietro. And II not, then
enc had waited long enough: then at
last-the Joy Of the thought choked
him. Through the years Of renunciar
ton that hope had not died. AND
now his letter had gone and the con-
sequences must follow-after tho
fight. Everything must 90 till after
the hght. Alike had not had the let
ter before he saw her, this last time
in VicQues; he was sure OF that -
he thought back and remembered
each word. each look Of those short
hours. But she would have II soon;
in fact she had II now likely; MS
heart beat fast-she knew now that
he loved her.
A knock came at the door OF the
room In the London lodging where
he sat with Lucy Hampton's letter
before him. Fritz Rickenbach stood
there; his Highness would like to sec
the Chevalier. All personal thoughts
were locked swiftly into tho drawer
with Lucys letter and the Princes
bright shadow" went to the Prince.