Evening star., 1928-01-30
By E. Phillips Oppenhei,n.

her coat a page trom one Oh tie Ahoih
ing illustrated papers.
Tell me. MIR. Paul. Is that you ana
your father"
She pointed to a picture in the CEN
ter mage. 1t was a snapshot of Paufs
father in full uniform. with ions
line of medals and decorations across
his chest. and by his side Paul. in the
white uniform of the Russian body
guard. also with medals and decora.
tions. Underneath was brief line:
Two of our Russian guests leav-
inc buckingham Palace after the
/ Lcvee this afternoon-Gen. Prince
Serge Alexis of Norsadia. connec-
tion of the late Car. and his only
son, Prince Paul of NorSadia.
Paul flushed a little as he glanced
at the paper.
Il am very sorry that the photog.
raphers were too quick for u.s. he
said. please do not tell Frances.
| Please forget il yourself If you can.
We go once year TO humor my
! father. lie thinks it is duty we owe
the family. We change at friends
house near. and up till now we have
escaped discovery. 1t was most un'
| fortunate"
Let me take YOU a little way"
Miss Brown begged, with her foot on
the step of the taxi.
But Paul, with his shabby bowler
| hat in his hand and his overcoat flap.
! ping about him. had already disap-
peared into the misty twilight.
Frances had removed her outdoor
| clothes and was lounging in her dress.
| ing gown, not as usual upon the bed,
| but in the one easy chair, An un-
opened evening paper lay by her side
and an unlighted cigarette dropped
| from her lips.
Hurry up" Miss Brown enjoined,
as she took off her coat. I'VE are
going to dine with Mr.. Paul. He
knew you were going TO be up and he
came all the way to Whitehall and
waited half an hour outside TO get me
20 promise
Frances face softened for a moment,
and then she INDUCED in a little
grimace.
''Oh. I don't know" she exclaimed
discontentedly. What's the use?"
You don't know" her friend re.
peated. Why. I thought you liked
Mr.. Paul"
Frances. lip curled for a moment;
the light shone out of her eyes.
''Of course, l like Paul." she re-
peated. Amy fool would. He's one
| of the dearest beings alive. He makes
absolutely impossible. but don't you
see, Edith. what's the good of it all?
That poor boy, carrying the restaurant
upon his back, supporting his mother,
father and sister. and only doing it by
sheer slavery. What's the good of
adoring him? What place is there for
me or for you or for any of us in his
life, except just a few moments of
pleasant friendship? And then-look
here.'
She flung the same illustrated paper
which Miss Brown had seen upon the
table.
"A prince" she scoffed. "A pretty
princess | should make, wouldn't /.
trying to live on what was left over
after Paul had fed the family. Poor
boy" she went or, I'D do anything
in the world to help him. give him
anything in the world he asked for.
but il wouldn't help either of us.
You're a little fool. Edith. 10 keep on
bothering me about him. He's great
deal more dangerous TO me than all
the F'rankiands in the world ever
were. You don't know how near
was last time ! saw him to throwing
my arms round his neck and telling
him what a dear thought him. and
asking whether there wasn't any way
| could make him little happier"
Miss Brown went over and passed
her arms round Frances shoulders.
| There was sympathy in her tone.
grave though il was
And even then, dear" she whis-
cred. "it wouldn't have been danger.
GUS at all. Paul would have taken you
into his great arms. he would have
thought that il was just the custom
among English girls TO be franz, and
he would have led you to his mother
and father and introduced you with q
little set speech as his fiancee."
And they would have groaned,"
Frances murmured. with a smile, half
humorous. half pitiful. ''and thought
TO themse!yes-'another one TO feed"
IF they had felt like that" Miss
Brown declared, you would never
have known it. They are of the world
who know how 20 hide such things"
We'll, anyhow. il wouldn't have
done" Frances sighed. That's the
cruel part of things. Life's beastly.
anyway. I've played the game up to
my twenty seventh year. and the only
two men worth thinking about who
have ever wanted TO have anything TO
do with me are Noel Frankiand and
Paul. One isn't a gentleman and the
others a prince with a family to su.
port and not a penny 10 do ii with"
Perhaps for the first time in her
life Miss Brown was little hard.
Frances" she said firmly. you
ought 10 be ashamed OF yourself.
Whether he can afford to marry you
just now or not there are millions of
girls IN your position who would give
anything in the world TO have a man
Ike Paul care for them and tell them
80, That in itself would seen xtIfy3.
cient happiness"
Frances was instantly repentant.
She threw her arms round her friends
neck. half crying, half laughing.
Iy dear, Of course. you're right"
shs exclaimed. I'm selfish. ego,is.
teal little pig, whining away like this.
Run in and have your bath, dear.
! I've had mine. I'm going TO put on
my pretliest dress and well 10 and
dine with Paul
Continued In ToruorYow's Etarl