The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-06-27

toward me. why are you hcIFOuSf
am not very formidable"
He took her fingers, very much as
the prince had done upon her arrival,
and pressed them formally to his lips
Then he released them and rose.
"You know" he confessed. Il am
very stupid at this sort Of thing. Shall
we 90 back to the reception rooms? l
shall be the most unpopular man here
IL keep you any longer"
The smile deepened slightly. Little
lines appeared at the sides Of her
eyes. So far from being annoyed, he
could see that she was laughing.
Joseph" she Knocked, II am not
tempting you, really! DO sit down. /
have met men in many countries, but
none like you. Don't you realize that
your love for one woman should make
you kind to all?"
"No, don't" he answered bluntly.
She patted his hand gently.
"Come," she said, do not be afraid
Of me. / win not make love to you
seriously. You must be kind to me Der
cause everybody spells me. After sup
per there are one or two more ques-
tons i must ask you. Do you know
that am going to dance here? Never
before have danced in a private house
in England Except upon the stage,
like to dance only to those whom
Lowell"
The little space between the cur
tains was suddenly darkened. John
turned eagerly around, and, to his inn
mense relief, recognized the prince.
Their host came forward to where they
were sitting, and held out his arm to
Calayera.
Dear lady," he announced, supper
is served. Will you do me this great
honorP
She rose to her feet. The prince
| turned to John.
This is my privilege as host" he
explained; "but if you will follow us,
you will find some consolation in store
for you"
"Well?" the prince asked, as he
handed Aida Calavera to her place at
his right hand.
II think not" she replied.
He raised his eyebrows slightly. For
moment he glanced down the supper
table with the care of a punctilious
host, to see that his guests were prop
erly seated. He addressed a few
| trivialities to the musical-comedy star
who was sitting on his left. Then he
| rd hn
dancer.
"You surprise me-" he said 81
should have thought that the enter
prise would have commended itself to
you. You do not doubt the facts?"
"They are obvious enough" she re-
piled. 1.-THE young man tried to tell
me that he was in love with another
woman, and felt suddenly powerless.
think l must be getting to that age
when one prefers to achieve ones con-
quests with the lifting of finger"
The prince sighed.
II shall never understand your sex ~
he declared. II should have supposed
that the slight effort of resistance
would have provided just the necessary
stimulus"
She turned her beautiful head and
looked at the prince through narrowed
eyes.
after all" she asked, ''what should
l gain? The young man is, in his way,
a splendid work of art. Why should /
be vandal enough to destroy it? /
shall ask you another question"
The prince slowly slipped the wine
from the glass that he was holding to
his lips. Then he set it down DELHI
erately.
"Why not?"
what is your interest? Is it bet,
a whim, or-enmity?"
you may count it the latter" the
prince replied deliberately.
Calavera laughed softly to herself.
"Now, for the first time," she con-
fessed, Il feel interest. This is where
one realizes that we live in the most
impossible age of all history. The
great noble who seeks to destroy the
poor young man from the country is
powerless to wreak harm upon him.
You can neither make him pauper
nor have him beaten to death. Why
are there princes any longer, / won
der? You are only as other men"
1T is an unhappy reflection, but
1t is the TRUTH" the prince admitted.
MY ancestors would have disposed of
this young man as should trouble
some fly, and it would have cost them
no more than few silver pieces and
sack of wine. Today, alas, condi-
tions are different. 1t will cost me
more"
She trifled for moment with the
salad upon her plate, which as yet she
had scarcely tasted.
Il am feeling" she remarked; mag
nihcently oriental-like Cleopatra. The
sensation pleases me. We are bar
gaining, are we not"
I'VE shall not bargain" the prince
4 fENfsN Il