Evening star., 1920-03-04
STORY OF RUINANLAN
PRINCE WHO MARRIED
GIRL OF HIS CHOICE
CHAPTER III

~ u AA~
| CHAPTER III.
| who in the last chapter described the prince s
| first proposal OF an eopement, the objections
OF Mile. Lambrino and the stratagems piannedo
| At my interview with Prince Carol
i we had nxed as our meeting place for
discussing final details Of the journey
| the little village Of Motca, between
Targu-Neantz and Pascani, and about
seventy kilometers from Roman. We
| went thlther on motor cycles like
madmen. For myself travelled about
! !11O k1lometers an hour, yet I arrived
church only few minutes before the
prince.
This time he was calm and deter
mined He said again he had weighed
everything; his decision was no hasty
| one and 1t was irrevocable.
| After handing him two Of the pass
ports-the two contrived to serve for
| him and Mile. Lambrino-and a GER
tain amount Of money I had changed
into Russian currency at his request.
| told him how she had asked him to re-
| fleet further: how she dreaded the
| journey to Russia: how she disliked
to deceive her mother
The prince frowned.
There is no need of waiting" he
said. Go back to Jassy and tell Zizi
we leave next Wednesday. And tell
| her that II she hesitates further we
| two will go without her"
| l shall never forget his look as he
| said this. He spoke with the air or a
sovereign. and yet like lover a 8 well.
l stood regarding him and thinking
how much he might do one day for
Rumania. And he seemed to read my
| thoughts. for he suggested that l tell
| zizi that he. though about to risk
everything. did not hesitate: that it
was ungenerous in her to make things
harder for him. I asked him If he ex-
pected to lose his rights forever. He
replied Only for time"
His belief was like that Of the rest
of US. that after the entente victory
many things would be changed.
So we went on to discuss details of
he journey. The chauffeur was Sc
lected and we planned what we should
do to quiet his suspicious. Then we
how to keep the king and the govern
ment in ignorance Of his absence.
stipulated they should be thus kept in
ignorance for six days. as in laying
out the course. so to speak: had cal
culated we could reach Moscow in
that length of time. The trains were
running fairly we'll. and was ia
miliar with the route. I knew the sta
tions and their booking offices, and
everywhere I had friends. Once in
even beyond the radios of Jassv.
The prince reflected
Il have it, he said presently. II
shall give the letters / .n...
Michaelescu Ga servant of the prince).
He shall deliver them in six days after
! hand them to him"
He said he intended to write to the
king and to his favorite sister. the
Princess Elizabeth. His absence for
the six days would not be noticed, we
HA
days with friends, unaccompanied by
his adjutant.
And further" he told me, "the ad-
jutant is i'll because of a fall from
his motor cycle. Thus he will not be
aware of my movements"
Following this We talked of our
equipment. I suggested that we dress
in sober colors. and omit wearing
jewels. which would tend to excite
the suspicion and even the cupidity
idea of downright disguise on the
ground that vi we were detected we
should appear ridiculous. Perhaps it
was here I committed an error. 1t
may be that II the prince had conceal
ed his identity, the wretched Bohe-
not have recognized him. But who
can tell?
Finally we discussed luggage down
to the smallest detail, even to the
taking. He would not listen to my ad-
vice on this.
And then I promised to return next
day to Jassy and make all ready for
our departure. also to inform Mile.
Jeanne that the prince would come
Tuesday night ostensibly to call on
Nine. Lambrino, and he hoped ITO find
her full of courage"
So we separated and the prince van
ished into the night.
;y, la%,
versation with Mile. Jeanne. gave
her the princes message and we had
| a long discussion. One cannot blame
a young woman for hesitating to en-
bark on voyage so hazardous. I my
self had my doubts. l will admit
In the end. however. she made up
her mind-all in a flash. it seemed
to go. What finally convinced her. l
think. was the fact that she was to
pass as a friend Of my future wife
the most ten, her mother and brother
would learn OF her safety.
So all was seemingly well under
way. And now came a sudden check
the first of many.
Tuesday arrived, the day before our
departure. With 1t arrived a mes
sage from the prince. His majesty,
the king. had determined to 20 to
lTargu-Neantz on Friday Of that week
to decorate certain officers and SOL
oIoiS VI tue piIHCo > reg lHenI. SarOl,
Of course. must be present. He in
formed US of this and at the same
time fxed the departure for Sunday
morning. saying he would be with US
| in Jassy Saturday evening.
The delay was terrible for all Of U.S.
cannot picture the agonies of the
prince and Of Mile. Lambrino. but for
| myself / can say the dragging days
of that week were each like a night
mare. l confess my confidence was
growing weaker as the event ap-
preached. and yearned to confide in
some one. By Saturday I was going
about in an almost hypnotic state. 1t
happened that just then l met young
diplomat Of an allied nation whom
had known for a number Of years
I barred the whole matter to him.
after eXacting his solemn oath never
to reveal it. and I begged his advice
as to the political and moral effect Of
1T may be as beneficial as you
hope said he after long thought.
yet there is great risk. 1t might be
better for all Of you to abandon the
plan.''
He went on to say that in his opin-
ion Prince Carols best policy would
be to remain in Rumania and conduct
a lively propaganda among the OFF,
GERS Of the army. Thus delicately he
intimated his disapproval Of the
project Of elopement
Like most advice, 1t met with no
favor.
Later that day Mile. Lambrino and
I went for a promenade. in order to
settle final details OF the journey
without exciting the suspicious Of her