The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-13

bath was installed, with stove to heat
the water. The paint and furniture were
white, the carpet was black velvet pile,
the hangings and coverlet pale blue; and
wherever the scheme of decoration permit
ted, was embroidered in scarlet small key.
NADIA was nervous-almost fearful. To
find oneself thus suddenly and without
warning set to dress the hair of a reigning
sovereign was enough to scatter the wits
of the country girl. To wonder how soon
she would be superseded was a damping
process of thought.
She badly needed encouragement-even
that her royal mistress should laugh at her.
But Evadne sat like statue, the life and
animation drained out of her.
Only few days ago, what triumphant
cheer would have been hers at sight of the
devotion so tenderly expressed in the little
devices for her comfort!
AS it was, she sat there, within few
hours of her nuptials, with her heart full
OF the fear of another man-asking herself
what form the blackmail demanded by the
spy would be likely to take.
Few though the words were which had
passed between them in the garden, she felt
that they had talked for hours; the sum
of all amounting to something like this
struggle if you like. 1t will be of no
use. 1 hold you in the hollow of my hand"
1t was incredible that the mere person
atty of a man could have such power;
man neither handsome nor commanding, but
with subtle force radiating from hin1-some
quality that shook her, that penetrated
ovorx, rococc of bor consciousness
When she was dressed she sat down to
compose a letter to Leonhardt. Impossible.
She could not keep her mind fixed upon
the present moment. Ceaselessly she was
considering her problem. For, with all her
shrinking, it was gradually borne in upon
her that she and this man must have things
out. He was there, in the hotel, wearing
her favor pinned to his coat, her ring about
his neck. What was tn of pretending?
TIL. ugh all his ARROGANCE, his pitiless
strength, there flickered CLEAN of some
thing else--some secret appeal which laid,
ha-ds upon the very springs of life and
made her, for the first ime in her memory,
afraid.
Dinner over, they all moved into small
adjoining room, really bar, but converted
for the evening into lounge. The queen
did not like to excuse herself at once,
though she felt inclined to bolt for the.
covert of her room the moment they rose
from table. She gave permission for every
one to smoke, and for few minutes they
sat round, not knowing very well what to
say
Countess Loriscu, judging from what she
had heard, had expected to find The princess
much more equal to the occasion than she
was. Varley knowing, as she did not, how
unlike herself Evadne now appeared, was
obsessed with the dreadful thought that she
was grieving for Theobald. He was, how
ever, not quite so occupied with the state
of the royal affections he might have
been if less engrossed with the question of
his own.
Beruna, in white evening gown, was
sight to distract the attention of any young
man. In about a quarter of an hour he
and she slipped away together with Anton
into the moonlit garden. Anton reappeared
almost at once, and asked if his mother
would speak to him for moL.ent.
The queen, rapt in her breeding, gave
leave without having noticed that the defec-
ton was universal; and almost Immediately
upon her being alone the door of the lounge
opened, and Woronz came in, carrying
tray Of little cups of coffee.
Then she sprang to her feet.
''No coffee for me-" said she, rapidly.
Garry it into the garden, they are all out
there" She waved him away as if he had
been an intrusive dog.
He hesitated just moment, then laid
down his tray upon table rear and came