Evening star., 1922-04-30

oAN
uncle. now in his dotage, holds up his
hands at the slightest tittle-tattle OF
irresponsible journalists. Zichy reads
it all for him. and then tells him all
he has read-with some Of his en-
broidery, Of course. Well, I suppose
somebody has said something about
me. eh? Let them say what they like.
Leopoldine will always be Leopoldine,
and even the emperor cannot alter
her, eh?"
"True, princess" 1 said. laughing
at her youthful buoyancy. But tell
me. what is the reason Of all this?
What can the emperor have heard
about your =
"Oh. some scandalous story or other
no Doubt" she laughed lightly, tap
ping the ash from her cigarette. TITS
always the same. If had been born
a commoner, and had had to work for
my living as a typist, a lady clerk. a
shop assistant or a governess.
could have had a good time. engaged
myself, and perhaps got married. But
because am Of the blood royal I'm
surrounded by three women who are
not in sympathy with me. I thought
they were my friends, but find them
only craving sycophants who spy upon
my doings and report everything to
Vienna. Now, dear old boy. what have
I done to deserve it?" she asked in her
nonchalant, open way, which was SO
characteristic Of the playful princess.
You've done nothing to deserve 1t.
Leopoldine. except"
well? Except what?"
Except that you've once or twice
been horribly indiscreet."
"Indiscreet for a princess. 1 admit"
she said. "Oh, dear! how tired I am
of highness this and 'highness that T;
and those horrible people who try to
scrape acquaintance with me. Do you
recollect those people, the Maynards,
we mot at Beaulieu? They were so
anxious to meet me and ask me to
their place in Perthshire. And you
found out for me that the man had
an office in Aldgate, and shipped old
iron to Italy-a kind of gloriaed rag
and-bone dealer! Oh, what glorious
fun life Is" Then she added in the
same breath. I'm going for ride in
tho park tomorrow at 10. I go every
morning. Shall you be there? I like
tho Cascine in Florence better than
HYDE Park, but. as you know. am
never well unless ride each day."
'rll be in the Row." I replied. Il
haven't got a mount"
Poor old fellow" she laughed. "rll
order one for you"
NO, don't, princess. There's suffi-
cient scandal in London concerning
you We don't want to increase it
you and t.
Bah! I'm not afraid. and I'm sure
you're not! Don't you recollect how in
the Matin three years ago they said
was going to marry you? Fancy our
marrying, eh? wouldn't it be a hor-
rible tragedy? But the papers would
be full Of it, with lots of photographs,
and they would call it "A Diplomats
Romance or "A Romantic Marriage
or some of their stock phrases. Oh, l
love our friends the journalists! You
can gull them every time. and by so
doing pull the public's leg"
X X \
EOR a second she paused, Then she
added:
Look here! A brain wave! Let's
pull the public's leg again, eh? Come
out riding with me for two or three
mornings. and the journalists will
soon have something to say about it.
Our long friendship is known, and
then we can hint-just hint-at an
engagement. Next day our photo
graphs will appear, and a great SEN
sation will be created, and Uncle
Franz Josef will be furious.
"A very paetty idea, Leopoldine." 1
replied. "Bur. thank you, I'd rather
not. Remember I am here on be-
half Of his majesty, not in order to
annoy him."
I'VE have discussed this several
times BEFORE" I said. in sympathy
with the high-spirited girl who was
SO good looking as to be noticeable
anywhere. And when people knew
she was an imperial princess she was
the cynosure Of all eyes always.
Did not know this only too we'll?
Had I not had experience Of it in
Madrid in Rome and IN Pefrorrad1