Tombstone epitaph., 1915-04-11
,osed to her over in Philadelphia.

tcfudtiOHdi marriages. l uOu see HOW it applies to us. l know that she is not crazy for a title-other than her own high born name; and me, I'm not after-after money"
 The relocated band, responsive to frenzied leader, was ringing and banging through a Hungarian rhap- sody, giving promise that it 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. Dracon be- gan.
 Perhaps I should have spoken first to you" said the prince, talking rap idly. But said. This is America where there must not be too much formality' Besides. I was crazy crazy with love-as I have been ever since first I looked at her"
 No scene. please" cautioned Eliza beth steadily.
 The band zinged louder Her remark drew blood apparently.
 Tt is true that 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 I love. You l 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 me-"
 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 If I ever marry-which I doubt-I'll marry an American. IT! marry 8 man who can take care of me. just as though I didn't have 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 Dracon was scandalized. as she often was by this ultra-modern daugh- ter of hers: but the prince was listen ing. sober, intent
 q can't work, the way you mean" said Prince Frederick with bated breath. I'm a Hohenstaufen. I 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 fan" said Mrs. Dracon.
 The prince recovered it for her with little laugh just as the music. with a succession of rippling scales sugges- tive of flight of butterflies. went up into the air and was silent.
 Silent. also. for most of the time were Mrs. Dracon and her daughter as they drove home little later through the high-arched allees of the Bois 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 re- strained, little blue. Finally Mrs. Dracon 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 a pond overstocked with goldfsh-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 Dracons fingered longer in Paris than they had expected-a mat | ter of new gowns-and then floated on, with other goldfish. to the German of Prince Frederick von 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 a dazzling bait like Elizabeth Ora. con-handsome. educated, immeasur- | ably rich in her own right-he be- | comes as a ravening pike. So they both thought They were not without experience. But they said nothing about it. Not until one night | It was the night that followed a hideous day. From early morning they had been crowded with strangers whom they feared and distrusted in the tiny. suffocating compartment of a third-class railway carriage. All day the train had crawled and stopped then crawled again, like a wounded | worm. while other trains rushed by with lordly authority. Soldiers, hel meted. brusk. impersonal. had jerked the door of the compartment open al times, had stared and talked among themselves, but had answered no ques tions.
 Even more lugubrious was the deep ening night. It had begun to rain Then. finally. as though the wounded worm was completely exhausted, the train came 10 a halt and moved nc more There was another hour oi stifing misery. then once more the door was jerked open and there came the order in the clipped, military Ger l man of Druoeta.