The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-10

1 thrilled gently Her Joy had come l back to her with a rush. All through | the music lesson and through the re- | cital of the tale of mystery she had | hung breathlessly on his words and | watched the changing expression on | his features as he talked into the fire | This was her Mir. Nichols who was | speaking now, her friend and mentor, who wanted her to understand that | this was his way of atonement. But | she ignored his last remark, to Beth the most important of the entire con- versation
 1 'How-how much will the-the | money amount to?'' she asked timid- ly.
 Peter laughed. Figure it out for yourself. Half | million six per cent - fifteen years-''
 Half a million dollars-!" L "A million-or morei" "A million! God-a-mercy!" | Peter recognized one of Aunt Til lies expressions, Beths vocabulary ] being inadequate to the situation. But you haven't got it yet,' he said.
 And I daren't think of gettin' it. won't think of it. I'd get my brain so full of things I wanted it would | Peter laughed. | "You do want lot of things, don't you?'
 | just naturally bust. Oh lordy!" 1 "Of course. A silk waist, a satin | skirt, some silk stockings-but most | of all. real sure enough piano." she gasped. And then, as though in re- proach of her selfishness. And I 1 could pay off the mortgage on Aunt l Tilies farm back in the clearing!'' | How much is that?" Three thousand dollars I've al- ready paid off three hundred There ought to be enough for that said Peter soberly. "Oh Mir. Nichols, I hope you don't think I'm awful fool talkin' this way"
 Not unless you think I an" | But it is nice to dream of things som etimes."
 "Yes I do that too. What do you ] dream of, Beth ?'' "Oh, of bein' a great singer, mostly -standin' on a stage with people ! lookin' up and clappin' their hands at me"
 What eIse?"
 "Oh," she laughed gayly, 'T used to dream of marvin a prtnce-a1l girls d o. But there ain't any princes now to marry"
 NO, that's true" he assented. ''The old world hasn't any use for
 
 did you want to marry a prince?" he asked.
 "Oh, don't know. It's just fairy tales. Haven't you ever lived in a fairy tale and loved a princess?'' "Yes, I've lived in a fairy tale, but I've never loved a princess"
 'T guess if everybody knew" said Beth with conviction, ''the princes in Europe are a pretty bad lot.'' S1n --T they are.''
 She paused a moment, looking irto the fire. And then, Were you ever acquainted with any princes in Eur ope, MT Nichols?''
 Peter smiled. "Yes, Beth I did know one prince rather intimately rather too intimately" "Oh. You didn't like him?"
 NO, not much. He was an awful rotter. The worst of it was that he had good instincts and when he went wrong, he went wrong in spite of 'em- You see-he was temperament tai"
 Whats temperarental?
 Having the devil and God in you both at the same time,'' muttered Peter after a moment.
 "I know,' she said. Satan and God, with God just sittin' back a little to see how far Satan Will go.'''
 He smiled at her. You don't mean that you have temptations too. Beth ?"
 She ignored his question, her face sober. and went back to her subject.
 'I guess your prince wasn't any bet ter or any worse than a lot of other people. Maybe he didn't give God a chance?"
 ''No. Maybe not" said Peter.
 'It seems to me he must have been kind of human, somehow" Beth con- mented refIectively. Whats become of him now?" she asked then.
 "Oh, he's out of it." replied Peter.
 "Dead?"
 ''Yes. His country has chucked all the nobility out on the dust heap"
 Russia 2"
 "Yes"
 Did they kill him?''
 They tried to, but couldn't
 Where is he now.'
 "A wanderer on the face of the earth"
 I'm so sorry. It must be terrible to have to eat pork and beans when your stomach's only used to choco- late sunda aes.''
 Peter grinned-
 Some of 'ern were glad enough to and pork into. Oh, you needn't waste 1 your pity. Beth.''
 "I don't. I read the papers. I guess they got what they deserved. | The workin' people n the world afn't any too keen on buyin' any more diamond tiaras for loafers. I reckon | it was about time for new deal all around without the face cards"
 Perhaps. Beth But there's always 1 the ten spot to take the deuce"
 'I hadn't thought of that" said | Beth reflectively People aren't 1 really equal-are they? Some apples | are better than others. I guess" she | sighed, that the real trouble with | the world &s because there ain't | enough friendship in it.
 Petsr SSaE silent for a moment.
 Tcs, mats true" he said mot enough friendship-not enough love l And it's all on account of money, l European war if some people hadn't | Beth. There wouldn't have been any wanted property that belonged to | somebody else"
 T hope wanting this money won't | make me hat anybody or make any body hate me I don't want to make | NTr