Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-15

HIS Royal highness recalled all tins with
great distinctness, and. Immediately dismiss
Ing 1t from his mind. ato the legs and arms
of the tig woman with enjoyment. Which,
not the eating of the legs and arms, Of
course, but to be able to dismiss what Is un-
pleasant-is another highly desirable royal
trait
SO far his movements had been swift and
entirely objective. But success rather went
to his head. lie had never been out alone
before Even at tho summer palace there
were always tutors or Miss Braithwaite, or
an aide-dc-camp, or something. lie hesi-
tated. took out his small handkerchief. busted
his shoes with 1t. and then wiped his face.
Behind was tho opera. looming and gray
Ahead WaS--tho park.
Noto tho long alice between rows of trees
trimmed TO. resemble walls of green in sum-
mer, and curiousy distorted skeletons in
winter; note the coffeehouses, whero young
officers in uniforms sat under tho trees, read
Ing the papers, and rising to bow with great
clanking and much ceremony as II gold
wheeled carriage or u pretty girl went by.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto had the
fulfllment of great desire in his small.
active mind This was nothing less than
rido on tho American scenic railroad which
had secured a concession in far corner OF
the park. IIedwig's lieutenant had described
1t to hini-how one was taken In a small
car to a dizzy height. and then turned loose
on a track which, dropped giddily and roso
again. which hurled one through sheet-iron
tunnels or 1nCreQlDle DtaCkneSs, thrust ono
out over "A gorge, whirled one In mad curves
around corners of precipitous heights. and
finally landed one. painting, breathless.
shocked, and reeling but safe, at the very
platform where one had purchased ones
ticket three eternties. which were only
minutes. before.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto had put
| this proposition. like the fig woman. to Miss
| Braithwaite. Miss Braithwaite replied with
the sad history of an English child who had
ntlI ant
| on a similar track at the Crystal Palace In
London.
.'When they picked him up she finished,
| "every bone in his body was broken"
Every bone?"
| Every bone" said Miss Braithwaite, sob
emnly.
'The little ones In his ears and all?"
| Every one" said Miss Braithwaite. refus-
| Ing to weaken.
| The Crown Prince had pondered. HE
| must have felt like jelly he remarked, and
| Miss Braithwaite had dropped the subject.
So now, with freedom and his weeks allow
| ance except the outlay for the fig woman, in
| his pocket, Prince Ferdinand William Otto
started for the Land Of Desire. The alice was
| almost deserted. 1t was tht sacred hour OF
coffee. The terraces were empty. but from
| the coffee houses along the drive there came
| a cheerful rattle of cups. hum of CONVEX
| sation
AS the earlv spring twilight fell the gas
| lamps along the alice, always burning made
| a twin row of pale stars ahead. At the end
even as the wanderer gazed. he saw myriads
| Of tiny red. white and blue lights, rising higf
In the air. Quilting the crags and peaks OF
the sheet-iron mountain which was his des
tination. The Land OF Desire was very near
There came to his ears. too, the occasions
rumble that told Of some palpitating sou
being at that moment hurled and twisted
and joyously thrilled, as per the lieutenant
description.
Now, It is a strange thing. but true, tina
one does not reach the Land Of Desire alone
because the half of pleasure is the sharing
| Il with some one else, and the Land or Desire
alone, Is not the Land of Desire at ALL Quit
| suddenly Prince Ferdinand William Otto dis
| covered that he was lonely. He sat dow
| on the curb under the gas lamp and ate tn
| az woman's head. taking out the cloves
| because no did not like cloves. At that mo
| ment there was q soft whirring or TO on
| side of him and a yellow bird. rising an
falling erratically on the breeze, careene
suddenly and fell at his feet
Prince Ferdinand William Otto bent dow
and picked It up. It was a small toy aero
plane, with yellow silk planes. guy ropes o
waxed thread and wooden rudder. its mo
tive power vested In q tightly twisted rub