The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-29

her in his deep rich voice. as courtly
and kind as could be. But still she
was stubborn. No, she would not tell
! the iady's name. She was sick, and
| it was not right.
And she wishes to dispose of this,
yes?'
Right away.-She amt got any
money fer anything. And she'll never
dance again. She broke her ankles.
L guess, and something went wrong
with her back, too, when the car
smashed up
NO In the hospital. and if we
don't sell this she'll be charity case
| next week. Oh, won't you buy it,
please ?''
The dealer spoke up.
1T is the same, is it not, sir?''
The prince bowed his head. looking
at the gem as it lay now in his palm
I will purchase it from her." he
said. II will make out the check,
and you will see that it is certified
not buy this gem, tell your mistress.
but L will make her loan on it, for
| nave no right TO take advantage of
her circumstances, and it is worth
far more than she realizes. 1 will
give you a check for five thousand
now. If she needs more you will
come back here and tell Stoll what
you require. That is all:
WHAT'S your royal h1SEneSS'S
name asked Tillie bravely. She'll
want to know"
He detached a seal charm from a
block silk fob and gave it to her.
You may give this to her in surety
for her gen.
Tillie never forgot the face of Sonia
LaViloff when she looked upon the
charm. The check lay on the cover
lid unnoticed, but the color came
into the girls face and she tried to
rise on her elbow.
Take it back to him. she ordered.
"And the check. I might have known
where the gem came f1on, but Persia
is far away. You will lake it back at
once. Wait, Tillie, L will tell you
something for you have been kind to
me, and my one friend here. danced
by royal order before the Persian
court, and there was one, Prince AL
tair Cassam Bey." Her eyes closed
as she spoke softly. You have seen
him, so you will not wonder that l
cared for him, but l returned to Rus
STA and came straight to America,
Now he has followed me. 1 cannot
accept his charity, tell him. And the
gem IS his. He should not have sent
it TO me-"
But TilIie. being from the east side
and wise in her own generation and
hour, went downstairs to the public
telephone and called up Mr.. Stoll for
advice. Never before had romance
lighted like q bird of paradise on
Titles shoulder, and she could not
bear to shoe it away.
Mr.. Stoll was greatly interested.
He would notify the prince, he told
her, at once, and doubtless he would
know what course to pursue. Tillie
waited in the reception room nervous
ly, but before the street lights flashed
in the gathering dusk a closed limou-
sine rolled up to the curb and the
prince alighted.
You did right, little maid" he told
her, with his rare smile. You shall
choose your own gift at the bridal of
your lady,
Tillie followed him upstairs timidly
and sat on the edge of a hall chair
while he went into the little private
room in response to Sonia's faint call
at his rap. The silence seemed filled
with song and beauty and high hopes,
and the tears fell happily from Titles
eyes as she felt herself to be a herald
of happiness to her lady. Finally the
door opened and the prince called her.
You will stay with her constantly
he said gently sstsI will make all ar
rangements/&for her removal to-
night" He bent over the cot with
yearning tenderne SS. Sonia, we will
find the sea first, and rest there until
you are well, my bride. L bless the
sacred gem that brought you back to
me-
After he had gone, Sonia smiled at
the wide-eyed Tf1lie.
He sent me the gem himself,
Title" she said. 1T is supposed to
have magical qualities for bringing
back a lost love-; and you see what it
has done for us. We are to be mar
ried now. He has sought for me all
through Europe and now here, and
he sent it to me secretly the night
before the accident, and then lost me
again. Stoll was watching for it in
every pawnshop and dealers in the
city and, 10, you, my Tillie, were
Loves messenger and agent. I shall
get well and strong, now. Half
world away he came for me, and to
marry me, Tillie. L had not dreamed
that he loved me So.
Tillie beamed on her joyfully.
Il can't go way off to Persia with
you, Miss Sonia, but I'd love to see
you doing the princess act over there.
l always said you had that royal way
with you. But who'd have thought
piece of shiny glass could do all
that?''
Sonia held the gem on her palm
smingly. 1t was clear and radiant
with perfect CLEANS of color.
ut is loves witchcraft," she said
softly. I'VE must not question it,
only bless whatever power gave me to
him. '-(Copyright, 1915, by the Nc
Clure Newspaper Syndicate.)