The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-08

the sovereigns. But it was poky, solemn affair, with only cabinet min isters and their shy wives to enliven the amenities. Besides, the prince had rendezvous with a party of his own friends, among them young woman whose father and mother were close to the court circle but who, herself, was drowned upon by Queen Mary because of her penchant for getting into print.
 At eleven o'clock the Prince grew restless. He could not withdraw, ex- cept under one plea a threatened head ache or some other illness. With some such profound excuse be obtained as- sent to retire to St. James, made his formal adieux, and a few moment later was speeding in his private car to his rendezvous.
 At four o'clock in the morning, the party, in half a dozen motor cars, headed back to town, the young wom- an tabooed by the Queen joyfully driv- ing the Princes car with him as her lone passenger. Of all times, there had to be a smash, and at the very edge of Kensington Gardens. One young woman was lightly hurt-more frightened than injured. A scream or two was sufficient to bring alert Scot land Yard Boobies from every direc- ton. Now, Scotland Yard Boobies are fastidious about their reports. At any report including notation of H. R. H. Prince of Wales would find its way inevitably to the Commissioner, to the Lord Chamberlain, to the Privy Coun- cil, to the King and-to the Queen And again the Prince of Wales would be reminded that though he is of no political importance or official standing whatever, he is, nevertheless, the First Subject of his King-father and sup posed to be an example for all upstand- ing youth of the Empire. What Queen Mary would say, in private, about the other name on the report, that of the young woman, goes without saying.
 So the bushes of Kensington Gar dens received a fugitive Prince who found, between them, a path to a taxi stand. With face muffled he ordered himself deposited in the Mall, behind St. James. He was decided that in so far as any of the St. James guards men knew he would have retired when he was supposed to and, if sought, found dutifully in his chambers. He sealed the courtyard walls, climb ed the roof, and attacked the skylight. There was some trouble with an an cient frame and, suddenly, the Prince of Great Britain and Ireland tumbled through the glass with a crash that summoned half a score of frightened relocated guardsmen. They found their Prince in a bunch on the floor, ruefully wiping blood from his face, but just the same smiling up at them.
 Echoes Are Heard.
 There was a summons to Bucking- ham in the morning. Edward confront ed an official from the Home Secre. tary's office and king livid with rage The scene echoed out into town. Some heads shook bit, but the young wom- an the Queen doesn't like went to France for visit to relatives and the story of the skylight lapsed into a clubroom whisper which, invariably, is accompanied by brandy and soda to which it seems to add, for sedate club men, a tasty relish.
 And they whisper, too, of another scene-in white cottage on the Conda. mine road just outside Monaco, on the Mediterranean. This one has to do with very common commoner, a corporal of the Grenadier guards, who was order ly to the prince during the latter days of the war. Recently the prince remem bered him when he was detailed to his round of duty at St. James.
 It was in one of these talks with his prince that the corporal confessed ht was not as happy as he could be; that his young wife, who had been a maid at Buckingham, had run away with ''an upperclass gentleman, sir," and haC been established by him in his Riviera retreat.
 Edward happend to know the "uppel class gentleman" by reputation. He had heard. as many have, of the white cot tage and its succession of young and pretty chatelains. And he was fond of his old orderly, the corporal of the guards.
 l The court circular announced an un expected absence from town of H. K. H "A short, informal visit, incognito, tC the continent" the announcement read A housemaid in the white cottage re ported to her mistress, few afternoon later, that a strange visitor was in the drawing room asking for her. The young woman, who had rapidly acquired the airs of the 'classes," swayed against the door when she entered the room tC confront the young man whom she had ! so often gazed at across the chasm that separates crowd and crown.
 Your royal highness!' she stam- mered.
 No, just a friend come out to tea, the visitor replied, putting out his hand with the famous smile.
 Prince and whilom serving maid sat down to tea to talk things over. After tea there was hurried packing of q travelling bag. The Calais express that night sped the corporal's wife, assured of pardon, back toward the corpOral'S quarters. Perhaps the guardsman could best of all, give answer to the cOnun' drum. "XVhy is the Prince of Wales? ??