The Prince of Graustark

The venerable Graustarkian's heroic face was a study. He had just concluded a confidential hour in a remote corner of the library with the millionaire while the younger people were engaged i

ny one like him, Count. He i

very

" said Mrs. King. "Didn

. This daughter of h

her.

soul, Mrs. King, he quite took my breath away when he announced that he knew all about our predicament in relation to the Ru

ance on his wife's fair brow as she stared reflectively through the

e," said King drily.

prehension came, he smiled. "I see. No, he isn't for sale. He is a Prince, no

er," said King, ruminating. "P

newspapers last winter of an Italian duke. Poor girl! From what I hear of her, she is rather a good sort, sens

is young Scov

is marked up too high for him. He doesn't po

y you Americans go aft

ood-nat

the way you Europeans go aft

t a most acceptable duke for three or four millions, a nice marquis or count for half as much, and a Si

obligation for us if no one else turns up in time. As a matter of fact, without waiting for my reply, he said that he would have his lawyers look into the matter of security at once. I was some

it was not to be consid

as saying. Moreover, I tried to tell him that it was a matter

of hearing any one but

i

is in jeopardy," said

n is af

oudly, and then found it necessary to pull his collar away from

h an imagination, Count," said s

in the face and erect-"if he should presume to-" Words failed him and an instant

h spirits. His wife was asleep,

or you. We'll have a prince in the fa

ay. "In heaven's name, Will, what hav

e what I land. He's as good as caught right now, but we'll let him nibble a while before

o him about-about-Oh, my God, Will, don't tell me that you w

Sow the right kind of seeds and you'll get results every time. I merely dropped a few hints, that's all,-and in the rig

he bed and talked for half an hour without interruption. When he came to the end of his oration, she turne

roared, perfectly aghast at the way she took it

to talk about

the deuce are you crying about? You said you wanted him, didn't you? Well, I'm going to get him. If I say I'll do a thing, you can bet your last do

pride? She guessed at once just what you had gone over there for and she cried her eyes out. Now she declares she will never be able to look the Prince in the face, and as for the Kings-Oh, it's sickening. Why ca

count we've been considering. Maud says she won't marry the count, anyhow, and she did say that if this prince was all that h

you forget that she said she wouldn't promise anything

all right," sai

eet him, if she hears of y

t him?" gasped

but-but she's stubborn, as well you kno

e needn't tell her what I said to that old chap, Lou. Just let her thi

ill, and you know you can't

ork for a few days," he muttered unhappil

lie with a straight fac

balk like this," said h

r go to New York," s

" muttered he. "I-I think I'll g

our or two if you leave before

and-and that I love her better than anything on earth, and that I'll be back the end of t

nd I don't

she'll thank us both for the interest we take in her future. It wouldn't surprise me if she fell in love with him right off the reel. And you may be sure he'

word millions aga

, old girl; I'm going to get this prince for her if it's the last a

rry. I may be able to undo the misch

ine when the time comes. And I still insist that I have so

morning, and with him went a mighty determination to justify himself before

decided that it would be impossible for them to make the loan under consideration. The financial agents who had been operating in behalf of the Graustark government confessed that they were unable to explain

e influences had been brought to bear upon the situation, influences inimical to Graustark. Both were of the opinion that Ru

t to the banks throug

be of assistance to u

es being such a power in the financial world that hi

pied. They were nearing the Terminal when he leaned over and, laying his

at Graustark has not g

the daughter of our n

ove, that's odd. I was thinking o

ailed with the wildest acclaim. We are a race of blood worshippers, if I may put it in that way. She represents a force that has dominated our instincts for a great many centuries, and we are bound hand and foot, heart and soul, by the so-called fetters of imperialism. We are fierce men, but we bend the knee and we wear the yoke because the sword of destiny is in the hand that drives us. To-day we are ruled by a prince whose sire was not of the royal blood. I do not say that we deplore this infusion, but it behooves us t

wsbergen has American blood in her veins but her sire is a prince royal. Her mother, as you know, was an American girl. She who sits on the throne with Robin must be a princess by birth or t

to the crown you support. I sincerely hope that Robin may find his love-mate in the small circle you draw for him, but I fear it isn't likely. He is young, romantic, impressionable, and he abhors the thought o

pidemic of independence among them. They marry whom they please in spite of royal command, and the courts of Europe are being shorn of half their glory. It wouldn't surprise me to see an

very happy young beg

e of fools to be happ

with pri

y with princ

lithers was the man to see; he and he alone could bring pressure to bear on the directorates that might result in a reconsideration of the surprising verdict. Something had happened during the day to alter the friendly attitude of the banks; they were now politely reluctant, as one of the agents expressed it, which really meant that opposition to the loan had appeared from some une

" cried the perplexed Count. "Surely our prime minister and the cabinet

, "shall I try to make an appointment for you with

ularly dis-spiriting nod of the head. The old Graustarkian cleared his throat and rather stiffly

ents, half-starting from

hem. "You may say to him t

me. "Blithers isn't in the habit of going out of his way to-to

with a frosty smile, "

man

him at his office. It's just around the corner."

that the Count will be pleased to have him t

scornfully. "Blithers,

of speech," sai

elephone," said th

utes later with a triu

him to-morrow morning at half-past eight at h

e tea with us!" demanded the Count,

said in reply. Half-past eight, at hi

" began the Count furiously, but checked himself with an

's the o

before I'll come to his office to-morrow at eight-thirty or at any other hour." And wi

he elevator, "I've got an idea in my head

, sir, that I w

Are you not

unt, and his scowl was an indication

ldn't in the least surprise me if Blithers is the man

keenest interest and sympathy th

ong," admitted King, b

husband. It merely stated that he was going up to have tea with the Count