THE NATIONAL SUNDAY MAGAZINE
Evidently Mr. Totten did not care for the refreshment. With the most courtly of smiles, he arose and left them to their bouillon
BY GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON
Axithor of Beverly of Graustark. Brewsters Millions, Etc.
T11 n t a -i i tu.
rri
m
SES; it i.s quite apparent that the
nhthcrs lnmuy intends to have a
title at any eost," slio said, and lier
eyes flashed.
"Would you like to take a few
turns, Miss Guile?" lie inquired, a
traco of nervousness in his manner.
"I think 1 can take you safely over
the hurdles and around the hunk
ers." lie indicated the outstretched
legs along the promenade deck and
the immovable groups of chatterers
along the rail.
Before deciding, she shot on investigating glance
into the corner. Mrs. Gaston was not only there
but was engaged in conversation with the gray
mustached gentleman in a near-by chair. It re
quired but half n glance to show that Mr. Totten
was unmistakably interested in something the voluble lady had just said to him.
"No, thank you, Mr. Schmidt," said Miss Guile hastily, and then hurried over
to her chair, n distinct cloud on her smooth brow. Robin, considering himself
dismissed, whirled and went his way, a dark flush spreading over his face.
Never, in all his life, had he been quite so out of patience with the world as .on
this bright sunny morning.
Miss Guile's frown deepened when her abrupt appearance at Mrs. Gaston's
side caused that lady to look up with a guilty start and to break off in the middle
of n sentence that hod begun with: "International marriages, as a rule, are
-Oh I" '
Mr. Totten arose and bowed with courtly grace to the new arrival on the
scene. He appeared to bo immensely relieved.
"A lovely morning) Miss Guile," 'ho said as ho stooped to arrange her rug.
"I hear that you were not at all disturbed by yesterday's blow."
"T was just telling Mr. Totten that you a're a wonderful sailor," said Mrs.
Illustrations by R F ScKo-belltj
RETROSPECTIVE Princi Robin of Graustark, traveling
about the world, arrives in the Catskills to visit the Truxon
Kings. W. W. Blithers, self-made multimillionaire and
doting father of an only daughter, Maude, prematurely decides
on the Prince as a son-in-law. He knows that Graustark is
financially embarrassed as a result of the Balkan wars, and with
the Blithers millions in mind he confides his domestic ambition
to his wife. Blithers calls at the King villa and meets the Prince.
He decides to lend Graustark $16,000,000 and departs for
New York to confer with Count Quinnox, the Graustark Minister
of War. Meanwhile it is decided to give a ball at Blitherwood
in honor of Prince Robin. Maude does not attend the ball, and
Mr. Blithers, meeting the Prince the next day, apologizes and in
vites him to dinner and to be his son-in-law. Maude writes her
parents that she and her former governess are going abroad, she
under an assumed name, and expect to book passage on the
Jupiter. Coincidently Prince Robin plans his return to Graustark.
and sails under the name R. Schmidt, to avoid publicity. He meets
a mysterious Miss Guile on board and is infatuated. She dis
covers that he is the Prince of Graustark.
Gaston, u note of appeal in her voice. "Ho says his
friend, Mr. Schmidt, is also a good sailor. Isn't
it perfectly wonderful?"
"I can't see anything wonderful about it," said
Miss Guile, fixing the ex-governess with a look
that seared.
"Wo were speaking of this rumored engagement
of the Prince of Graustark and or what's tlfp
name?" He glanced at his newspaper "Miss
Blithers, of course. I enquired of Mrs. .er
Gaston if she happens to know the young lady.' Slit
remembers seeing her frequently as a very small
child."
"In Paris," said Mrs. Gaston. "One couldn't very
well help seeing her, you know. She was the only
child of the great Mr. Blithers, whose name was on
every one's lips at the "
Miss Gude interrupted. "It would be like the
great Mr. Blithers to buy this toy prince for his daughter as a family play
thing or human lap-dog, or something of the sort, wouldn't it?"
Mr. Totten betrayed no emotion save amusement. Miss Guile was watching
through half-closed eyes. There was a noticeable stiffening of the prim figure
of Mrs. Gaston.
"I've no doubt Mr. Blithers can afford to buy the most expensive of toys for
his only child. You Americans go in for the luxuries of life. What could be
more extravagant than the purchase of a royal lap-dog? The only drawback
I can suggest is that the Prince might turn out to be n cur, and then where
would Mr. Blithers be?"
"It is more to the point to ask wheii Miss Blithers would be, Mr. Totten,!'
said Miss Guile, with a smile that caused the fierce old warrior to afterwards
declare to Dank that he never had seen a lovelier girl in all his life.
"Ah, bnt we spoke of the Prince as a lap-dog or a cur, Miss Guile, not as a
watch-dog," said he.
