The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-22

be repeated by you to anybody, unless l give you leave?"
 Varley, conscious of extreme surprise, took out his pipe and turned to her with grave mouth and twinkling eyes.
 .'This is so sudden he began in voice which made her smile in spite of herself.
 "No don't rag" she threw out pleadingly For wonder, I am in earnes'."
 His look searched her face and he saw that she strung up.
 "You really mean that you wish to con- fide in mel"
 "Yes The point is, l want an unbiased opinion. You see, my nearest and dearest, their majestices, love me quite sincerely, but they can't be unbiased, because they are political as we'll as private people-sove- reigns as well as kinsfolk. It is not only obvious, it is quite right that, if l lay any difficulty before my brother, he should think first of how it affects his country, and only in the second place of how it affects his sister. Now l want to lay some odd facts before you, and l will be guided by you entirely. If you say l am to tell the King instantly, why then I wil.''
 The blood had surged up into Varley's face. Are you sure that I am completely unbased?" he asked, bending to strike match on the sole of his shoe.
 "Of course! That is-I mean that l am sure you would consider my affairs from my point of view; that you would put my interest before any question of political expediency."
 q should certainly put your interest be- fore-anything else," he responded quietly.
 .sVery well. Then you undertake to look on this conversation confidential"
 q hope you don't really need assurance on that point. But l ready to take formal oath if you wish. l am deeply moved by your giving me such proof of trust. l will try to deserve it."
 "Well, it's long story, so l must begin at the beginning" said she, turning slightly sideways in the hammock so as to face him. He made verbal reply, but turned his own chair toward her, and sat with his arms on his knees, his gaze on the tiles of the veranda floor.
 "Since you have now been more than two years in Klistra may take it for granted you have heard that I was to have mar ried Leonhardt of Vrelde?"
 q knew that very well,' was the instant answer. kHeW IL DcIOie CdmC CO Nil- istria; from Leonhardt himself
 "What!' She was so surprised that she raised herself upon her elbow to see if he meant what he said "You knew him? Oh, why did you never tell me so before?"
 "When first arrived in Kilistria, l was told that you had never got over the shock of his death. Was it likely I should open a topic which would distress you?"
 Distress mel" Then you did not like him?"
 ''On the contrary, thought him first rate man. Most unusual
 "How did you come to know hm?"
 "He was at Christchurch with me. But I knew him before then. He and l were both at Eton and Oxford. 1 knew him rather we'll at the House. In fact, he want ed me to come to Pannonia with him when he went to take possession of his throne"
 "But you did not go?'
 'No. It happened that I was not free at the time. My elder brother was i'll, and my father would not consent to my leaving England. l did intend to go later, but as you know, in very few weeks it was too late"
 She sighed. "Too late! Did you ever see his great friend, Michael Feroltz?"
 T saw him once. He came over to Eng land one summer. But they were staying with royalties, and only met them casual ly at theatre one night. They were rather alike, you know, same build same height, both of them with that charming manner a mixture of modesty and sef-reiance. Oh, Leonhardt was man who might have done great things! There is very little doubt that