Evening star., 1915-06-20

"Truly think here little else is known
of us. Yet we are nation with history.
But will not bore you. Only this let me
y: that when Prussia sent to us a Hohen-
-ollern to be our King many of our native
princes ate the dust of disappointment
OF these princes the chief was Prince Xico
of Kemesvar. He was the peoples choice
for King, and the Powers had promised
us native prince; but the Prussian Bis
marck sent the Hohenzollern-and he
stayed. Dying, Prince Xico left two sons,
Vasilief and Lascar. Vasilief Xico now
became head of the house and the master
of Kemesvar, and-he chose a bride"
\ Count Szemere's eyes took on CLINT OF
hatred, the muscles in his jaw set hard.
"She was woman of Bessarabia, of
Tartar blood, low-born. His father would
have seen him die thousand deaths
sooner than that the blood of Xico should
mingle with such as hers. But the Court
at Bucharest lent it all countenance.
Whatever estranged the reverence of the
/ people for the house of Xico played into
h their hands. Prince Lascar said nothing
\ to his brother; but he swore to me, his
/ comrade, that he would not remain to
\ look upon the outrage. Feigning illness,
/ he announced that he would travel to
restore his health. 1t CHANGED that this
/ plan suited his brother. Some of the
A jewels of kemesvar, proudly worn by
princesses, had failed to please the low
born Tartar: the stones must be recut in
the fashion of the day. In Bucharest
was no workman to be trusted: they must
be sent to Paris. Since Lascar was to
travel why not to Paris with the jewels?
He agreed, and we left for France taking
with us the Cross of Kemesvar."
"The necklace?" asked Amarinth.
"Yes; so it was called-for the cross
itself was the chief treasure of the noble
house. In earlier days the Hospodars
were also bishops of the Church, and it
was to Prince Xico that the necklace
and cross were given on his ordination
by the Patriarch of Constantinople, the
head, as you must know, of the Greek
Church"
Again hatred and anger cleaned from
Szemere's eyes. "Lascar, my friend, is
dead, he exclaimed, "and one | love more
than life wastes her youth in faith to me;
yet | could almost wish the Cross OF
Kemesvar were never found if it must
lie upon the bosom of the Tartar hag!"
THE mood Of violence spent itself swift
ly, and presently he went on: "ln Paris
we lived as men of our age and class, and
for such Paris has much to offer; but Las
car soon wearied and talked of Peters
burg. | had my reasons for preferring
Paris: my betrothed was there. But to
remain in Paris the Prince had to be
amused. One evening, seeking some new
diversion, chanced to hear of the Purple
Pigeon, theater of Montmartre unknown
to me-"
He halted, and a tremor ran over him.
alt was fatal night for all concerned"
/ ,e said grimly; "for there, for the first
b ime, Prince Lascar saw Alix Floria."
"Alix Floria?" Hugh Senior caught up
h The name. "I've heard Of her, | think. }"
"No doubt. The world heard of her
soon after, when she was murdered.
"Who was she?" Guy asked.
"She was dancer. Ah!"-Szemere
pointed an eager finger at Hugh-"you
have remembered something! Our stories
have had meeting, is it not?"
"Perhaps," said Hugh. "When did all