THE SLIM PRINCESS

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12, 23 March 1907, Page 14

THE SLIM PRINCESS

By

GEORGE ADE

i. Myf OROVENIA is a state in which IVI both the mosque and the motorI I car now occur in the same I 1 landscape. It started out to be ▼ Turkish, and later decided to be European. The Mohammedan sanctuaries, with their hideous stencil decorations and bulbous domes, are jostled by many new shops with blinking fronts and German merchandise. The orthodox turn their faces towards Mecca, while the enlightened dream of a journey to Paris. Men of title lately have made the pleasing discovery that they may drink champagne ami still be good Mussulmans. The red slipper has been succeeded by the tan gaiter. The voluminous breeches, now acknowledge the superior graces of intimate English trousers. Frock coats are more conventional than beaded jackets. The fez alone remains as an insignia of the old faith and hereditary devotion to the Sick Man. 'idle generation of males which has been extricating itself from the shackles of Orientalism has not devoted much worry to the Condition of Woman. In Morovenia. woman is still unliberated. She does not dine at a palm-garden, or hop into a victoria on Thursday afternoon io go to the meeting of a club organized to propagate cults. If she met a cult face to face she would not recognize it. And little does she suspect. as she sits in her prison apartment. peeping out through the lattice at the monotonous drift of the street life, that her sisters in far-away Michigan are organizing and raising missionary funds in her behalf. She does not read the dressmaking periodicals. She never heard of the Wednesday matinee. When she takes the air she rides in a carriage that has a sheltering hood, and she is veiled up to the eyes, and she must never lean out to wiggle her little fingertips at men lolling in front of the cafes. She must not see the men. She may look at them, but she must not see them. No wonder the sisters in Michigan are organizing to batter down the walls of tradition, and bring to her the more recent privileges of her sex! Two years ago, when this story had its real beginning, the social status of woman in Morovenia was not greatly different from what it is to-day, or what it was two centuries ago. Woman had two important duties assigned to her. One was to bide herself from the gaze of the multitude, and the other was to be beautiful—that is, fat. A woman who was plump, or buxom, or chubby, might be classed as passably attractive, but only the fat women were irresistible. A woman weighing two hundred pounds was only two-thirds as beautiful as one weighing three hundred. Those grading below one hundred and fifty were verging upon the impossible. IT. Because of the fashionableness of fat, Count Selim Malagaski. GovernorGeneral of Morovenia, was most tin happy. He had two daughters. One was fat; one was thin. To be more explicit, one was gloriously fat, and the other was distressingly thin. Several of the younger men in official circles, who hail seen Jeneka at a distance, when she waddled to her carriage- or turned sideways to enter a shop-door, bad written verses about, her. in which they compared her to the blushing pomegranate, the ripe melon, the luscious grape, ami other vegetable luxuries more or less globular in form. No one had dedicated any verses to Kalora. Kalora was the elder of the

two. She had come to the alarming age of nineteen without having an offer of any kind. In court circles, w'here there is much time for idle gossip, the most intimate secrets of an important household are

often bandied about when the black coffee is being served. The marriageable young men of Morovenia had learned of the calamity in Count Malagaski’s family. They knew that Kalora weighed less than one hundred and twenty pound. She was tall, lithe, slender, sinuous, willowly. hideous. The fact that poor old Count Malagaski had made many unsuccessful attempts to fatten her was a stock subject for jokes of an unrefined and Turkish character. Whereas Jeneka would recline for hours at a time on a shaded verandah, munching sugary confections that were loaded with nutritious nuts Kalora showed a far-western preference for pickles and olives, and had been detected several times in the aet of bribing servants to bring ibis contraband food into the harem. Worse still, she insisted upon taking exercise. She loved to play romping games within the high w-alls of the inclosure where she and the other female attaches of the royal household were kept penned up. Iler father coaxed, pleaded and even threatened, but she refused to lead the indolent life prescribed by custom; she scorned the sweet and heavy foods which would enable her to expand into loveliness; she persistently declined to be fat. Kalora’s education was being directed by a superannuated old professor named Popova, lie was so antique and bookwormy that none of the usual objections urged against the male sex seemed to hold good in his case, and be had the free run of the palace. Count Selim Malagaski trusted him implicitly. Popova fawned upon the GovernorGeneral, and seemed slavish in his devotion. Secretly and stealthily he was working out si frightful vengeance upon his patron. Twenty years before. Count Selim, in a moment of anger, had called Popova a “Christian dog.” In Morovenia it is flattery to call a man a “liar.” It is just the same as saying to him, “You belong in the diplomatic corps.” It is no disgrace to be branded as a thief, because all business transactions are saturated with treach-

ery. But to call another a “Christian dog” is the deadliest of all insults. Popova writher in spirit when he was called “Christian,” but he covered his wrath and remained in the nobleman’s service and waited for his revenge. And

now he was sacrificing the innocent Kalora in order to punish the father. He said to himself; “If she does not fatten, then her father’s heart will be broken, and he will sutler even as I have suffered from being called “Christian.” It was Popova who. by guarded methods, encouraged her to violent exercise, whereby she became as hard and trim as an antelope. He continued to supply her with all kinds of sour and biting foods and sharp mineral waters, which are the sworn enemies of adipose tissue. And now that she was nineteen, almost at the further boundary of the marrying age, and. slimmer than ever before, he rejoiced greatly, for he had accomplished his deep and malign purpose and laid a hearvy burden of sorrow 7 upon Count Selim Malagaski. 111. If the father was worried over the situation, the younger sister, Jeneka. was well-nigh distracted, for she could not hope to marry until Kalora had been properly mated and sent away. In Morovenia there is a very strict law intended to eliminate the spinster from the social horizon. It is a law 7 born of craft and inspired by foresight. The daughters of a household must be married off in the order of the nativity. The younger sister dare not contemplate matrimony until the elder sister has been led to the altar. It is impossible for a young and attractive girl to make a desirable match, leaving a maiden sister marooned in the market. She must co-operate with her parents and with the elder sister to clear the way. In Morovenia the discreet marrying age is about sixteen. Jeneka was eighteen—still young enough and of a most ravishing weight, but the slim princess stood as a slight, yet seemingly insurmountable, barrier between her and all hopes of conventional happiness. Count Malagaski did not know that the shameful fact of Kalora’s thinness

was being whispered among the young men of Morovenia. When the daughters were out for their daily carriage-ride both w 7 ore flowing robes. In the case of Kalora, these voluminous garments were intended to conceal the absence of noble dimensions. It is not good form in Morovenia for a husband or father to discuss his homelife, or show 7 enthusiasm on the subject of mere woman, but the Count, prompted by a fretful desire to dispose of his rapidly-maturing offspring, often remarked to the high-born young gentlemen of his acquaintance that Kalora was a most remarkable girl, and one possessed of many charms, leaving them to infer, if they eared to do so, that possibly she weighed at least one hundred and eighty pounds. These casual comments did not seem to arouse any burning curiosity among the young men, and up to the day of Kalora’s nineteenth anniversary they had not had the effect of bringing to the father any of those guarded inquiries which, under the Oriental custom, are always preliminary to an actual proposal of marriage. Count Selim Malagaski had a double reason for wishing to see Kalora married. While she remained at home he knew that he woud be second in authority. There is an Occidental misapprehension to the effect that every woman beyond the borders of the Levant is a languorous and waxen lily, floating in a milkwarm pool of idleness. It is true that the women of a household live in certain apartments set aside as a “harem.” But “harem” literally means “forbidden” — that is. forbidden to the public, nothing more. Every villa at Newport has a “harem.” The women of Morovenia do not pour tea for men every afternoon, and they are kept well under cover, but they are not slaves. They do not inherit a nominal authority, but very often they assume a real authority. In the United States, women cannot sail a boat, and yet they direct the cruise of the yacht. Railway presidents cannot vote in the Senate, and yet they always know how the votes are going to be east. And in Morovenia. many a clever woman, deprived of specified and legal rights, has learned to rule man by those tactful methods which are in such general use that they need not be dwelt upon at this time. Kalora had a way of getting around her father. After she had defied him and put him into a stewing rage, she would smooth him the right way, and, with teasing little cajoleries, nurse him back to a pleasant humour. He would find himself once more at the startingplace of the controversy, his stern commands unheeded, and the disobedient daughter laughing into his very face. Thus, while he was ashamed of her physical imperfections, he admired her cleverness. Often he said to Popova: “I tell you, she might make some man a sprightly and entertaining companion, even if she is slender.” Thereupon the crafty Popova would reply: “Be patient, your Excellency. We shall yet have her as round as a dumpling.” And all the time he was keeping her trained as fine as the proverbial fiddle. TV. The Governor-General thought he saw a way out. He would give a garden party in honour of Mr. Rawley Plumston. the British Consul. Of course, he would have to invite Mrs. Plumston, and then, out of deference to European custom, he would have his two daughters present. Possibly some of the cautious

young noblemen would talk with Kalora, and, finding her bright-eyed, witty, ready in conversation and with enthusiasm for big and masculine undertakings, they would be attracted to her, notwithstanding her shortage in avoirdupois. At the same time, the father decided that there was no occasion to boldly advertise this shortage. Even at a garden party, where the guests of honour are two English subjects, the young women would be required to veil themselves up to the nose-tips and hide themselves within a veritable cocoon of soft garments. On the morning of the day set apart for the debut of Kalora, Count Selim went to her apartments, and, with a rather shame faced reluctance, gave his directions. “Kalora, I have done all for you that any father could do for a beloved child, and you are still thin,” he began. “Slender,” she corrected. “Thin,” he repeated. “Thin as a crane —a mere shadow of a girl—and, what is more deplorable, apparently indifferent to the sorrow that you are causing those most interested in your welfare.” “I am not indifferent, father,” she in-

sisted. “If, by merely wishing. I could be fat, I would make myself the shape of the French baloon that floated over Morovenia last week. I would be so roly-poly that, when it came time for me to go and meet our guests this afternoon, I would roll into their presence as if I were a tennis-ball.” “Why should you know anything about tennis-balls? You, of all the young women in Morovenia, seam to be the only one with a fondness for athletics. I have heard that in Great Britain, where the women ride and play rude, nianlv games, there has been developed a breed as hard as flint —Allah preserve me from such women!” “ Father, you are leading up to something. What is it you wish to say?” “This. You have persistently disobeyed me and made me very unhappy, but to-day I must ask you to respect my wishes. Do not proclaim to our guests the awful truth regarding your deiiciency.” “Good!” she exclaimed gaily. “I shall wear a robe the size of an Arabian tent, and I shall surround myself with soft pillows, and I shall wheeze when 1 breathe, and -— who knows ? —perhaps some dark-eyed young man worth a mil lion piasters will be deceived, and will come to you to-morrow and buy me—buy me at so much a pound.” And she shrieked with laughter. “Stop!” commanded her father. “You refuse to take me seriously, but I am in earnest. Do not humiliate me in the presence of my friends this afternoon.” Then he hurried away before she had time to make further sport of him. To Count Selim Malagaski this garden party was a desperate experiment. To Kalora it was a lark. From the pure fun of the thing, she obeyed her father. She wore four heavily quilted and padded gowns, one above another, and when she and Jeneka were summoned from their anartments and went out to meet the comnany under the trees they were

almost like twins, and both duck-like in general outlines. First they met Mrs. Rawley Plumston, a very tall, bony, and dignified woman in grey, wearing a most flowery hat. To every man of Morovenia Mrs. Plumston was the apotheosis of all that was undesirable in her sex, but they were exceedingly polite to her. for the reason that Morovenia owed a great deal of money in London, and it was a set policy to cultivate the friendship of the British. While Jeneka and Kalora were being presented to the consul’s wife, these same young men, the very flower of bachelorhood, stood back at a respectful distance and regarded the young women with half-concealed curiosity. To be permitted to inspect young women of the upper classes was a most unusual privilege, and they knew why the privilege had been'e.xtended to them. 11 was all very amusing, but they were too well bred to betray their real emotions. When they moved up to be presented to the sisters they seemed grave in their salutations, and restrained themselves, even though one pair of eyes peering out above a very gauzy veil seemed to twinkle with mischief. and corroborate their most pronounced suspicions.

Out of courtesy to his guests. Count Malagaski had made his garden party as deadly dull as possible. Little groups of bored people drifted about under the trees and exchanged the usual common place observations. Tea and cakes were served under a canopy-tent, and the local orchestra struggled with heathen music. Kalora found herself in a wide and easy basket-kind of a chair sitting under a tree and ehatting with Mrs. Plumston. She was trying to be at her ease, and all the time she knew that every young man present was staring at her out of the corner of his eye. Mrs. Plumston, although very tall and evidently of brawny strength, bad a twittering little voice and a most sweet and confiding manner. She was immensely interested in the daughter of the Gover-nor-General. To meet a young girl who had spent her life within the mysterious shadows of an Oriental household gave her a tingling interest, the same as reading a forbidden book. She readily won the confidence of Kalora. and Kalora, being most ingenuous and not educated to the wiles of the drawing-room, spoke her thoughts with the utmost candour. “I like you,” she said to Mrs. Plumston. “and oh. how I envy you! You "O to balls and dinners and the theatre, don’t you ?” “Alas, yes, and you escape them! How I envy you/” “Your husband is a very handsome man. Do you love him?” “I tolerate him.” “Does he ever scold you for being thin ?” “Does he what ?” “Is he ever angry with you because you are not big and plump and—and—pulpy ?” “Heavens, no! If my husband has any private convictions regarding my personal appearance, he has sense enough to keep them to himself. If he isn’t satisfied with me, he should be. I have been working for years to save myself from

becoming fat and plump and—pulpy.” , “Then you don’t think fat women are beautiful V’ “My child, in all enlightened countries adipose is woman’s worst enemy. If I were a fat woman, and a man said that he loved me. I should know that he was after my bank account. Take my advice, my dear young lady and bant.” “Bant ?” “Reduce. Make yourself slender. You have beautiful eyes, beautiful hair, a perfect complexion, and with a trim figure vou would be simply incomparable.” Kalora listened, trembling with surprise ami pleasure. Then she leaned over and took the hand of the "racious Eng lish woman. “I have a confession to make.” she said in a whisper. “I am not fat—l am slim—quite slim.” And then, at that moment, something happened to make his whole story worth telling. It was a little something, but it was the beginning of many strange experiences, for it broke up the wonderful garden party in the grounds of the Gover-nor-General, and it gave Morovenia something to talk about for many weeks to come, ft all came about as follows: Count Malagaski had provided a diversion for his guests. A company of Egyptian acrobats, on their way from Constantinople to Paris, had been intercept d, and were to give an exhibition of leaping and pyramid-building at one end of l’ie garden. While Kalora was chatting with Mrs. Plumston. the acrobats had entered, and. throwing off their yellow and black striped gowns, were preparing for the feats. Four devil-may-care young bachelors stood a few paces a wav from Kalora discussing her problematical charms. “She seems rather attractive,” said one. “What you see is all shell,” replied another. “Do you really think so?” “T can easily prove it, if you will do as I tell you.” “Do you mean that you are going to weigh her?” “I mean that we shall lift her and find out for ourselves.” A few moments later the four conspirators advanced in a half-candess, sauntering manner to where the two women sat under the sheltering tree, intent upon their confidential chat. “Pardon me. Airs. Plumston but the acrobats are about to begin,” said one of the young men. touching the fez with his forefinger. “Oh. really?” she exclaimed, looking up. “We must see them.” “You must face the other way,” said the young man. “They are at the east end of the garden. Permit us.” Whereupon the young man who had spoken and a companion who stood at his side very gently picked up Airs. Plumstorfsi bi inbetween them and carried it around to the other side of the tree. And the two young men who had been waiting just behind picked up Kalora’s chair and carried her to the other side of the tree, and put her down alongside the consul’s wife. Did they carry her? No, they dandled her. She was as light as a feather for these two young giants of the military. They made a palpable show of the ridiculous ease with which they could lift their burden. It may have been a forward thing to do, but they had done it with

courtly politeness. and the consul's wife, instead of being annoyed was pleased ami smiling over the very pretty little attention, for she could not know at the moment that the whole manoeuvre grew out of a wager, and was part of a detestable plan to find out the actual weight of the Governor General's elder daughter. If Mrs. Plumston did not understand. Count Selim Malagaski understood. So did all the young men who were watching the pantomime performance. Ami Kalora understood. First, when she looked up and saw tin* lurking smiles on the faces of the two gallants who were carrying her. ami liter when the tittering became louder and some of the young men laughed aloud. She leaped from her chair and turned upon her two tormentors. “How dare you?” she exclaimed. “You are making sport of me in the presence of my father's guests! You have a contempt for me because I am ugly. You mock at me in private because you hear that I am thin. You wish to learn the truth about me. Well. I will tell you. I «ih thin. I weigh one hundred and eighteen pounds." She was speaking loudly and defiantly, and all the young men were backing away, dismayed at the outbreak. Her father elbowed his way among them, white with terror, and attempted to pacify her. “Be still, my child!” he commanded. "You don't know what you are saying!" "Yes, I do know what I am saying!” she persisted, her voice* rising shrilly. “Do they wish to know about me? Must they know the truth? Then look! Look !” With sweeping outward gestures she threw off the* soft quilted robes gathered about her. tore away the veil and stood before them in a white gown that fairly revealed every modified in and out of her figure. What ensued? Is it necessary to tell? Tie costume in which sin* stood forth was no more startling or immodest than the simple gown which the American high-school girl wears on her commencement day. ami it was decidedlv more ample than the sum of all tin* ginneiits worn at important social gatherings in mon* civilised communities. Nevertheless, tin* company stood aghast. They were doubly horrified—first, at the effrontery of the girl, and second, at the revelation of her real person, for they saw that she was doomed, helpless, be reft of hope, slim bey on I all curing. \ . Kalora was a lout*. After putting the company to con sternation she had Hung herself defiantly back into tin* chair and directed a most contemptuous gaze at all the desirable young men of her native land. The Governor-General made a choking attempt to apologise and explain, and then, groping for an excuse to send the people away, suggested that the company inspect the new stables. The aero bats were dismissed. The guests went rapidly to an inspection of the carriages and horses. They were glad to escape. Jeneka. crushed in spirit and shamed at

the brazen jierformanee of her sister, began a plaintive conjecture as to •‘what people would say,” when Kalora turned upon her such a tigerish glance that she fairly ran for her apartment, although she was too corpulent for actual sprinting. Mrs. Plumston remained behind as the only comforter. “It was a most contemptible proceeding, my child. When they lifted us and carried us to the other side of the tree I thought it was rather nice of them; something on the order of the old Walter Balcigh days of chivalry, and all that. And just think! The beasts did it to liud out whether or not you were really plump and heavy. It’s a most extraordinary incident.” "I wouldn’t marry one of them now, not if he begged and my father commanded!” said Kalora bitterly. “And poor Jeneka! This takes away her last chance. Until lam married she cannot marry, and after to-day not even a blind man would choose me.” “For goodness’ sake, don’t worry. Yon tell me you are nineteen. No woman need feel discouraged until she is about thirty - five. You have sixteen years ahead of you.” “Not in Morovenia?” “Why remain in Morovenia?” “We are not permitted to travel.” “Perhaps, after what happened to-day, your father will be glad to let you travel,” said Mrs. Plumston with a significant little nod and a wise squint. “Don’t you generally succeed in having your own way with him?” “Oli, to travel—to travel!” exclaimed Kalora, clasping her bauds. “Do it, my dear, and take my word for it, the moment you leave Morovenia you will be a very beautiful girl; not a merely' attractive young person, but what we would call at home a radiant beauty—the Oriental type, you know. And, as a personal favour to me, don’t be fat.” “No fear of that,” said the girl, with a melancholy' attempt at a smile. “But you must go and join the others. Do, please. I am now in disgrace, and you may' compromise your social standing in Morovenia if you remain here and talk to me.” Mrs. Plumston gave her a kiss and a friendly little pat on the- hack, and walked away toward the stables with a swinging, heel-and-toe, masculine stride. Kalora had the whole garden to herself. She sat squared up in the wicker chair with her lists clenched, looking straight ahead, trying in vain to think of some plan for revenging herself upon the whole race of bachelors. As she sat thus someone spoke to her. "How do you do?” came a voice. She was startled and looked about, but saw no one. “Up here!” came the voice again. She looked up, and saw a young man on the top of the wall, his legs hanging over. Evidently- lie had climbed up from the outside, and yet Kalora had never suspected that the wall could be climbed. He was smoothly shaven, with blonde hair almost ripe enough to lie auburn; he wore a grey suit of rather loose and careless material, a belt, but no waistcoat; his trousers were reefed up from a pair of saddle-brown shoes, and the silk band around his small straw hat was tri-coloured. In his hand was a paper-covered book. Swung over his shoulder was a camera in a leather case. He sat there on top of the high wall and gazed at Kalora with a grinning interest, and she, forgetting that she was unveiled and clad only in the simple garments which had horrified the best people of Morovenia, gazed back at him, for he was the first of the kind she had seen. “What are you doing here?” she asked wonderiilgly. ' “I am looking for the show,” he replied. “They’ told vie down -at the hotel that a very hot bunch of acrobats were doing a few stunts down here this afternoon, and I thought I’d break in if I could. Wanted to get some pictures of them.” “Were you invited?” “No, but that doesn't make any difference. iu Uajro 1 went to a native wed- . ding every day. If I passed a house A where there was a wedding being pulled off, I simply- went inside and mingled. They never put me out —seemed to enjoy having me there. I supjmse they ■thought it wa» the American custom for i Outsiders to ring in at a wedding.” “You saM American, didn't you? Are you from America?”

“Du 1 look like a Scandinavian? I am from the grand old commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Did you ever hear of the town of Bessemer?" “I’m afraid not.” “Did you ever hear of the Pike family that robbed all the orphans, tore down the starry banner, walked on the humble workinggirl and gave the double cross to the common people? Did you?” “Dear me, no,” she replied, following him vaguely. “Well, I am Alexander IT., of the tribe of Pike, and 1 have two reasons for being in your beautiful little city. One is Federal grand jury and the other is ten-cent magazine. You know our folks are sinfully rich. About four years ago 1 came in for most of the guvnor’s coin, and in trying to keep up the traditions of the family, I have made myself unpopular, but I didn’t know how unpopular I really was until I got this magazine from home this morning.” And he held up the paper-eovered book, which had a rainbow cover. “They have been writing up a few of us captains of industry, and they have said everything about me that they eonlti say without having the thing barred out of the mails. I notice that you speak our kind of talk fairly well, but I think I can take you by the hand and show you a lot of new and beautiful English language. I will read this to you.” Before she could warn him, or do anything except let out a horrified “Oh-h!” he had leaped lightly- from his high perch and was standing in front of her. “I’m afraid you don't understand,” she said, rising and taking a frightened survey of the garden, to lie sure that no one was watching. “Strangers are not permitted in here. That is, men, afid more especially—ah—Christians.” “I’m not a Christian, and I can prove it by this magazine. I am an octopus, and a viper, and a vampire, and a maneating shark. I am what you might call a composite zoo. If you want to get a line on me just read this article on ‘The Shameless Brigand of Bessemer,’ and you will certainly find out that I am a nice young fellow.” Kalora had studied English for years and thought she knew it, and yet she found it difficult to f.*y comprehend all the figurative phrases of this pleasing young stranger. “Do I understand that you are travelling abroad because of your unpopularity at home?” she asked. “I am waiting for things to eool down. As soon as the muck-rakers wear out their rakes, and the great American public finds some other kind of hysterics to keep it worked up to a proper temperature, I shall mosey back and resume business at the old stand. But why tell you the story of my life? Play fair, now, and tell me a lot about yourself. Where am I?” “You are here in my father's private garden, where you have no right to be.” “And father?” “Is Count Selim Malagaski, GovernorGeneral of Morovenia.” “Wow! And you?” “I am his daughter.” “The daughter of all that must be something. Have you a title?” “I am called Princess.” “Can you beat that? Climb up a wall to see some A-rabs perforin, and find a real, sure-enough princess, and likewise, if you don’t mind my saying so, a pippin.” “I don’t know what you mean,” she said. “A corker.” “Corker?” “I mean that you're a good-looker—-that I am willing to go on the witnessstand and testify that you’re all right. Pardon me for saying this to you so soon after we meet, but T have learned that you will never break a woman’s heart by telling her that she is a beaut.” .Kalora leaned back in her chair and laughed. She was beginning to comprehend the whimsical humour of the very uinisintl young man. His direct and playful manner of speech amused her. mid also seemed to reassure her. And, when he seated himself within a few inches of her elbow, fanning himself with the little straw hat, and calmly inspecting the tiny landscape of the forbidden garden, she made no protest against his familiarity, although she knew she was violating the most sacred rules laid dow-n for her sex. She reasoned thus with herself: “To-day I have disgraced myself to the utmost, and, since 1 am utterly lost, why not revel in my lawlessness?” Besides, she wished to question this young man. Mrs. Plumston had said to her: “You are beautiful.” No one else had ever intimated such a thing.

In fact, for live years she had been taunted. almost daily because of her Mek all phymtwl charms. - Perhaps she couUs learn the truth about herself by some adroit t|int>tioning of the young man from Pennsylvania. "You have travelled a great deal?” sl;e asked. .■“Me and Baedeker and Cook wrote it,*' he replied; and then, seeing that she w;is puzzled, he said: "1 have been to all of the places that they keep open.” “You have seen many women in many countries?” ."I have. .. 1 couldn’t help it, and I’m glad of it.” "Then you know what constitutes beauty?” "Not always. I saw a Chinese beauty coming down the Queen's Road in Hongkong one day, and I ran up an alley. I have seen Parisian Iteautics that had a coat of white veneering over them an inch thick, ami out in this country I have .-een so-called beauties that ought to be working in a dime museum.” “Hut in your own country, and in the larger cities of the world, there must Ire some sort of standard. What are the requirements? What must a woman be, that all men would call her beautiful ?” “I’m not sure that good looks can be analysed by any process of chemistry’, or worked out under any rule of algebra, because the one that strikes me as being the treat ever may look fairly punk to Borne other man, but I suppose that any male being in his right senses would find it easy’ to look at a woman who was young enough and had eyes and hair and teeth ami the other items, all doing team-work together, and then if she was trim and slender ” “Should she be slender?” interrupted Kalora, leaning toward him. “Sure. I don’t mean the same width all the way up and down, but I mean trim and Here, I’ll show you. You will find the pictures of the most beautiful women in the world right here in the ads. of a ten-eent magazine. Look them over and you will understand what 1 mean.” j) , fie turned page after page and showed her the tapering goddess of the straight front, the tooth-powder, the camera, the breakfast-food, the massagecream, and the hair-tonic. “These are what you call beayitiful women?” she asked. “These are about ■ tlie limit.” ‘ , “Then in your country I would not be considered hideous, would I?” i“llideous? Say, if you ever walked tip Fifth Avenue you would block the tvijllie! And in the palm- garden at the Waldorf —why, you and the head waiter would own the place! Are yon trying tef! string me by’ asking such questions? Are you a real ingenue, or a kidder?” “I hardly know what you mean, but J , assure you that here in Morovenia they laugh at me because 1 am not fat.” “This is a shine country, and you’re in wrong, little girl,” said Mr. Pike, in alkindlv tone. “Why don’t you duck?” “•Duck?” I”Leave here and hunt up some of the red spots on the map.- You know what I mean — away to the bright lights! ♦.’bine to America, and we will show you more real excitement in two weeks than you’ll see around here if you live to be a hundred.” “•| should like to go, but Look! Hurry, please! You must go!” • She pointed, and young Mr. Pike turned to see two guards in baggy uniforms bearing down upon him,’ their eyes bulging with amazement. “Shall I try to put up a bluff, .or fight it out?” he asked, as he stood up to inrrt them. • “You cainiot explain,” gasped Kalora. "Run! Kun! Tliey know you have no right here. This means going to prison — perhaps worst.'.” ’ ...... "Does it?” he asked, between his clenched teeth. “If thes<> two brunettes get me, they'll have to go some.” - When the two pounced upon him he made no resistance, ami they captured him He stopd between them, each of them clutching an arm and breathing heavily, not only’ from exertion, but also out of a sense of-, triumph. 1 VI. I And now,■ in order to give a key to the surprising' (lerformancea, of Alexander 11. Pike, it will be necessary to call up certain biographical data. When lie'was in the Hill School he woii-the-(Mile vault, but-later, in his real collegiate days, lie never could cornu within two iimju's of ’va'rsity form, and therefore failed to Make the track-team. .While attending the Institute of

Technology be worked one whole autumn to perfect an offensive .play _wluckvwas to be used against “Buff”.., Rodigan, rd the semi-professional athietie-ehib team. This play was known as “giving the shoulder,” with the solar plexus as tlie point of attack. The purpose of the play was not to kill the opposing player, but to induce him to relinquish all interest in the contest. Furthermore, Mr. Pike, while spending a month or more at a time in New York City-, during his post - graduate days, had worked with Mr. Mike Donovan, in order to keep down to weight. Mr. Donovan had illustrated many tricks to him, one of the best being a low feint with the left, followed by a right cross to the point of the jaw. While the two bronze-coloured guards stood holding him, Mr. Pike rapidly took stock of his accomplishments, and formulated a programme. With a sudden twist he cleared himself, sprang away from the two, and jumped behind a tree. One soldier started to the right of the tree and .the other to the left, so as to close in upon him and retake him. This was what he wanted, for he had them “spread,” and could deal with them singly. He used the Donovan tactics on the first guard, and they worked out with shameful ease. When the soldier saw the left coming for the pit of the stomach, he crouched and hugged himself, thereby extending his jaw so that it waited there with the sun shining on it until the young man’s right swing came across and changed file middle of the afternoon to midnight. Number one was lying in profound slumber when Alumnus Pike turned to greet number two The second soldier, having witnessed the feat of pugilism, doubled his fists and extended them awkwardly, coining with a rush. Mr. Pike suddenly’ squatted and leaned forward, balancing on his .finger-tips, until number two was about to fall upon him and crush him, and then he arose with that rigid right shoulder aimed as a catapult. .There was a sound as when tlie air-brake is disconnected, aiid number two’ curledover limply on tlie ground and made faces in an effort to resume breathing. ■Mr. Pike picked up .his magazine and put it under his coat. He buttoned the coat, smiled .ip*'a pale,-but placid, manner at Kalora, who was still immovable with terror, and iben dic proceeded to vindicate his “prep, school” training. He ran over to the conapy tent, under which -refreshments had been served, pulled out one of the poles and, pointing it ahead of him, ran straight for the wall. Kalora, watching him, regarded this as a wholly insane proceeding. Was he going to attempt to poke a hole through a wall three feet thick? Just as he seemed ready’ io flatten himself against the stones, he dropped the end of the pole to the ground and shot upward like a rocket. Kalora saw him give an upward twist and wriggle, fling himself fred froinijlie pole and disappear on the other side of the wall, the camera following like the tail of a comet. As-he did so, number two, coming to a sitting posture, began to shriek for reinforcements. Number-one was up on his elbow, regarding the affairs of this world with a dreamy interest. Fortunately for the Governor-General, the guests who had eoine to the dismal garden-party had escaped at the very first opportunity. Count Malagaski, greatly perturbed and almost in a condition of panic ovbr the unhappy affair in-the garden, was returning to' his apartments; when the second surprising episode of tlie day came to a noisy climax.] He heard the uproar and had the two guards brought before him. They reported that they had found a stpingcr in the garb of an infidel seated* within the secret garden chatting with 1 the’ I’rineess Knloi'.f. I They did not; agree in their descriptions of him, but bach maintained that .the intruder was a very large person of forbidding appeir-’ mice ami terrific strength. jt | ] •»llow did he manage: to escape?’’ asked the < ;oveviiwr;G.enera) ■ "Hy jumping’<)vcr -the-wall.” I 1 i “(Uer a wall -ton, feetuhigb ?3«deuia«ded ■ tlie. Govs-riwn--General. “Without touching his hands, sir. He 1 was very tall; must have been seven feet.” ■i "if you eve) - had ini atom of'grey matter, evidently this stranger has lieaten it out of you. Hurry and notify] thfe' po)i<ib!*’ r ' Kmlorn’s candid ■ version of the whole affair was Jutydly leps startling .jlian, that of the guards. The stranger’ had sudvleiily come over the wall, milch to her. alarm, lie attempted to converse

with her, but she sternly ordered him from the premises., Xie was exceedingly > taf|, as the guards id, aud very dark, with rather Jong hair and curling black He-addr<‘»se<lf*(ter in English, but spoke with a marked German accent. The secret police of Morovenia are said to lie the most astute in the world, and yet, although they guarded the entire frontier for a whole week, they could not find the tall, dark stranger with the German accent, although they were assisted in their search for two days by a famous detective of Great Britain, who had red hair and was registered at the principal hotel under the name of Pike. (To be Concluded in Next Issue.)