The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-25
A Question Of
Money
By WARREN MILLER


went to Italy soon after completing his
education, where he fell in with one
Of the many princes Of that country, q
man of fifty. with a family, Of mar
riageable daughters. 1t occurred to
Jim that, since he was known to be
very rich, he might aspire to the hand
Of one of these princesses notwith
standing that he was a commoner.
Jim asked an Italian friend what he
thought about it. and the friend said
that match might be brought about,
but it must be done In the European
and not the American way.
Jim, after long deliberatOn, conclud-
ed to enter the matrimonial machine
and get himself ground out Il husband.
In a way he would be free to back out
provided he was willing to appear to
turn down a girl who would not be per-
mitted to turn him down, whether she
liked him or not, for her father had the
disposition of her hand and If he gave
his consent to the match that settled
the matter for his daughter.
The Princess Lita was twenty years
old and beautiful girl, but any girl
brought out for inspection by the man
who has been provided to be her hus-
band is naturally at disadvantage.
The princess was tongue tied during
the whole visit. and when Jim left the
paazzo he drew a sigh of relief
Great heavensr he said to him
self Just think of having to spend
vii hard fn
talk to as that"
Jim was now as anxious to with
draw from the affair as he had been
to get into it. He had thought much
and with pride upon taking princess
back home with him as his wife, but
even this honor was not enough to
make up for living with woman who
had not spoken word to him during
his visit.
The next question was how to with
draw from the arrangement. After
much thought and discarding many
plans Jim settled on the following:
He would say that so beautiful, SO
high born lady, would be considered
in America to have demeaned herself
by marrying miners grandson and
her place in American society would
be equivocal. For that reason a mar
riage between them would be inadvis-
able.
Jim turned this over in his mind.
looking at it from every point OF view,
and considered 1t stroke OF genius.
He communicated it to the prince, who
said nothing. but was much disap-
pointed at the failure to provide for
one Of bis daughters, especially since
his finances were In an extremely low
state. Jim asked permission to send
a token of his own disappointment to
the young lady 1t was granted, pro
vided the article was not Of any pecu-
mary value. Jim sent through the
prince a brooch consisting of a cluster
of diamonds
Jim, through the American minister,
secured an invitation to reception OF
the king OF Italy Mt the Quirinal pal
ace He got himself up in as fine style
as possible, but since most OF the men
present wore some sort of uniform
Jims ordinary evening dress looked
commonplace A group of men sur
ruundeu y young Iady VINO was evi-
dently attracting them with her vivaci-
ty. Jim approached in order to get
view of her and recognized the prin-
cess he had turned down. Later he
met her walking with man en-
blazOned with medals and was prepar-
ing to give her courtly bow when
she passed him, chatting In an ami
mated fashion with her attendant, but
without the slightest recognition OF
him.
Nothing will demoralize man sc
quickly as being ignored by woman.
Jim realized that he had made guy
of himself. Either he had no business
to ask the prince for his daughter or
he should have accepted the gift when
made But Jim was thrown out of
his equilibrium by another considera-
tion. He had declined belle, one
whose vivacty was as apparent on
this second meeting as was her stiff
ness on the first. He deplored having
turned down not only princess, but
very attractive princess.
After a weeks consideration as to
the practicability OF undoing what he
had done he remembered that he had
been told that the princess hand was
at the disposal of her father and her
father was in the market financially
for a husband for her. Jim concluded
to submit the matter to him, feeling
assured that II he could control his
daughter the door would still be open
to him.
So he called on the prince and told
him that he had determined to make
his home in Italy and the reasons
why he had considered marriage with
the princess inadvisable did not per-
tain to any country save America. He
therefore begged leave to renew his
proposition.
The prince, who seemed disposed to
keep on good terms with him, said that
he was greatly disappointed at being
obliged to refuse him. but an Austrian