The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-09-01

The heir of Hohenstaufen dropped
into the chair that waiter had al
ready pushed into position, gave one
meaning look at Elizabeth DRAGON,
then turned once more to the older
woman.
las soon as learned you had gone,
then / left" he said.
Elizabeth bit her lip, while her
mother smiled easily.
"A coincidence" said Mrs. DRAGON.
"A coincidence" conceded the
prince, "but designed by me-"
He looked from mother to daughter.
Mrs. DRAGON was listening intently, no
doubt, although she had the air of one
thing else. The daughters eyes met
his with the suspicion of a challenge
in them.
Hadn't they settled this, once and
for all, that night the prince had pro-
posed to her over in Philadelphia?
You see," he said, with an effort at
hghtness, Il got to thinking over what
Miss Elizabeth said to me about in
ternational marriages. don't see how
1t applies to us. I know that she is
not crazy for 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.
/ i1oh nfh al
done her the honor" Mrs. DRAGON be-
gan.
Perhaps 1 should have spoken first
to you," said the prince, talking rap
idly. But 1 said. This is America,
where there must not be too much
formality.' Besides, 1 was crazy
crazy with love-as / have been ever
since first 1 looked at her"
No scene, please" cautioned Eliza
beth steadily.
The band hinged louder. Her remark
drew blood apparently.
1T is true that / 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? 1t is you love. You
l followed again back to Europe"
viii you have cream or lemon %
asked Elizabeth, suddenly remember.
ing the tea things.
$50 why-why-will you not have
me?"
Shall l go over 1t all once more p"
asked Elizabeth, smiling but cruel.
I've seen enough of these inter
national marriages to make me sick
II ever marry-which / doubtful
marry an American. I'll marry a man
who can take care of me, Just as
though didn't have a cent in the
world; one 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.
Il can't work, the way you mean"
said Prince Frederick with bated
breath. I'm a Hohenstaufen. 1 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 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 it for her with
a little laugh just as the music, with a
succession of ripping scales sugges-
tive of fight of butterflies, went up
into the air and. was silent
Silent also. for most of the time
were Mrs. DRAGON and her daughter as
they drove home 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 we're both willing to pretend
that it was this approaching departure
from Paris that kept them a little re-
strained, a little blue.
Finally Mrs. DRAGON spoke.
Don't you think you're a bit brutal
with him, Beth? Young Germans have
been known to kill Themselves"
II
"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 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.
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 as ravening pike.
So they both thought. They were
not without experience. But they said
nothing about 1t. Not until one night.
1t 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
third-class railway carriage. All day
the train had craWIed and Stunned