The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-03

sooy, giving promise that 10 would still
be safe to talk about private matters
for . long time to come.
Elizabeth told me that you had
done her the honor" Mrs.. DRAGON be.
gan.
Perhaps should have spoken first
to you," said the prince, talking rap.
idly. But said. This is America,
where there must not be too much
Formally Besides. I was crazy
crazy with love-as I have been ever
since first looked at her"
mo scene. please" cautioned Elisa.
beth steadily.
The band hinged louder. Her remark
drew blood apparently.
1T is true that I have debts" the
prince went on; but they are the
debts Of my ancestors. I pay interest
on them No one expects more than
that. They are like state debts-what
you call national debt. A national
debt is never paid. But why mention
such things? It is you love. You
followed again back to Europe"
will you have cream or lemon?''
asked Elizabeth, suddenly remember.
ing the tea things.
so why-why-will you not have
met"
Shall I go over it all once more ?"
asked Elizabeth. smiling but cruel.
I've seen enough of these inter-
national marriages to make me sick.
II / ever marry-which doubt-IIl
marry an American. I'll marry a man
who can take care of me, just as
though l didn't have a cent in the
world; one who will work, accomplish
something. be someone by his own ef-
forts. Since you owe so much, by your
own admission, why don't you work
and"
Elizabeth"
Mrs. DRAGON was scandalized, as she
often was by this ultra-modern daugh-
ter of hers; but the prince was listen
ing. sober. intent.
Il can't work, the way you mean"
said Prince Frederick with bated
breath. I'm q Hohenstaufen. be-
long to the empire. If it were not for
that. there is nothing in the world !
wouldn't do to show you-show you
how I love you. Even now, could
do so with honor, I'd blow out my
brains"
i've dropped my FAM" said Mrs.
DRAGON.
The prince recovered 1t for her with
little laugh just a. the music, with .
succession Of ripping scales sugges.
tive Of flight of butterflies, went up
into the air and was silent.
Silent, also, for most Of the time
were Mrs. DRAGON and her daughter %
they drove homo little later through
the high-arched allees Of tho Bots.
They were stopping at the Bristol.
would be moving ON soon to one Of the
German spas. Wiesbaden most likely.
And they were both willing to pretend
that It was this approaching departure
from Paris that kept them little 70
strained. . little blue.
Finally Mrs. DRAGON spoke.
Don't you think you're Q bit brutal
with him, Beth? Young Germans have
been known to kill themselves"
"Oh. he'll show up again." said
Elizabeth.
Paris was like a pond overstocked
with goldfish-flled with the rich and
idle from the four quarters Of the
world. Came the end of Grand Prix
week, and 1t was as though some
mighty hand had opened all the sluices
Of the pond. The goldfish scattered.
The DRAGONS fingered longer in
Paris than they had expected mat.
ter Of new gowns-and then hoated
on. with other goldfish, to the German
resort. But still there was no sign
Of Prince Frederick Won Hohenstaufen.
It troubled them both little secretly.
He wasn't acting in accordance with
form. Generally when an impover-
ished prince once fixes his attention
on . dazzling bait like Elizabeth ORA
con-handsome, educated. immeasur-
ably rich in her own right-he be-
comes - . ravening pike.
50 they both thought. They were
not without experience. But they said
nothing about It. Not until one night.
It was the night that followed .
hideous day. From early morning they
had been crowded with Stranger
whom they feared and distrusted in
the tiny. sufIocating compartment Of
. third-class railway carriage. An day
the train had crawled and stopped.
then crawled again, like . wounded
worm, while other trains rushed By
with lordly authority. Soldiers. hei.
melted. 'brusk. tmpersonal. had 5erksd
the door Of the compartment open at
times, had stared and talked among
themselves, but had answered NO cues.
tons.
Even more lusubrious was the deep.
ening night. II had begun to rain.
Then. finally. a. though the wounded
worm was completely exhausted. the
train came to halt and moved no
more. There was another hour OF
sitting misery. then once more the
door was jerked open and there came
the order in the clipped. military Ger.
man of Prussia:
"Al passengers get down."
It was almost panic as the shudder.
ing civilians-men, women and chill
dren. Dutch, Belgian. French. English,
American-clambered out; but infor.
nation somehow got about that here
they were to remain until mobilization
was complete, that there was q hotel