The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-02

posed to her over in Philadelphiaf
you see," he said, With IN effort Ut
lightness, Il got to thinking over what
Miss Elizabeth said to me about In
ternational marriages. I don't zee how
It applies to ~. I know that she b
not Grassy for . title-other than her
own high-born name; and me, I'm not
after-after money"
The relocated band. responsive to
. frenxied leader. was singing and
banging through . Hungarian rhap-
sody. giving promise that II would still
be safe to talk about private matters
for . long time to come.
Elisabeth told me that you had
done her the honor" Mrs. Dfacon b.
ean.
Perhaps should have spoken flrst
to you" said the prince. talking rap.
idly. But said. This IL America,
where there must not be too much
formality.' Besides, ! was crazy
crazy with love-as I have been ever
since first looked ut her."
mo scene. please" cautioned Eliza
beth steadily.
The band hinged louder. Her remark
drew blood apparently.
TT Is true that I have debts" the
prince went on; "but they are the
debts OF my ancestors. 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
I followed again back to Europe"
will you have cream or lemon?'
asked Elizabeth, suddenly remember.
ing the tea things.
$50 why-why-will you not have
me-"
"Shall I go over 1t all once more?'
asked Elizabeth, smiling but cruel.
tive seen enough of these inter.
national marriages to make me sick
II ever marry-which I doubtful
marry an American. I'll marry a man
who can take care Of me, just as
though I didn't have q cent in the
world; ono who will work, accomplish
, something, be someone by his own eff.
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.
II can't work, the way you mean,
said Prince Frederick with bated
breath. I'm a Hohenstaufen. be-
long to the empire. II 1t 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 30 with honor. I'd blow out my
brains"
1--WE dropped my FAM" said Mrs
DRAGON.
The prince recovered It for her with
q little laugh just ~ the music, with q
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 the 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 1t was this approaching departure
from Paris that kept them . little ~.
strained, q little blue.
Finally Mrs. DRAGON spoke.
Don't you think you're . bit brutal
with him, Beth? Young Germans have
been known to kill themselves"
"Oh, he'll show up again." said
Elizabeth.
Paris was like q pond overstocked
with goldfish-filled with the rich and
idle from the four quarters Of the
world. Came the end Of Grand Prix
week, and It 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 fioated
on, with other goldfish, to the German
resort. But still there was no sign
Of Prince Frederick Won Hohenstaufen
1t troubled them both little secretly
He wasn't acting in accordance with
form. Generally when an impover
ished prince once fixes his attention
on q dazzling bait like Elizabeth ORA
con-handsome, educated, immeasur
ably rich in her own right-he be
comes as ravening pike.
So they both thought. They wer,
not without experience. But they sale
nothing about It. Not until one night
It was the night that followed ,
hideous day. From early morning the,
had been crowded with stranger
whom they feared and distrusted II
the tiny. suflocating compartment o
. third-class railway carriage. All d.,
the train had crawled and stopped
j then crawled again, like . wounde,
worm, while other trains rushed By
with lordly authority. Soldiers. hel
meted. brusk, impersonal, had jerket
the door Of the compartment open a
times. had stared and talked amoni
themselves, but had answered no cues
tons.
Even more lugubrious was the deer
ening night 1t had begun to rain
Then, finally, as though the wounde,
| worm WAS cOmnlafalv oxhanaxoa Al,