een a frequent caller
at the Harmon residence ever since Miss Harmon's return, and, as
usual, gossip has been busy trying to find some plausible
explanation of this growing intimacy between the heir presumptive
to a European throne, and the family of an American railroad king.
It is whispered that Miss Harmon, whose marriage has been the
topic of the last two seasons, is not indifferent to the Prince,
and that if the consent of the King can be obtained, the
engagement of the young couple will be shortly announced."

A lump rose in Armitage's throat. Calling for a cup of coffee, he lit
his pipe and took up the paper again. After all, he thought
philosophically, why should he care? The girl was lost to him, that was
certain. He would never see her again. She was a bit of sunshine that
had suddenly burst into his dark, unhappy life; and suddenly gone again,
leaving the outlook blacker than ever. He knew it was hopeless. He loved
her, would always love her. Time would make no difference. She would
marry her prince and have long forgotten her adventure on the island,
and still he, knocking alone about the world, would cherish her memory
in his heart.

He did not blame her. It was different in her case. On the island, alone
with him, she might in time have learned to care for him. They might
have been happy together, far happier than she would ever be in her
Eurasian palace. But when the spell was once broken, when she returned
to New York and was once more absorbed in her fashionable life, it was
only natural that she should speedily forget him.

He threw the newspaper down and, having settled his bill, was about to
rise and leave, when suddenly his eye was arrested by an advertisement
he saw in the paper which he had just put aside. Picking it up again, he
read as follows:

ARMITAGE: If John Armitage, second son of Sir William Armitage, of
Alnwick Towers, Bucks, England, will communicate at once with the
undersigned he will learn something to his advantage. Coxe and
Willoughby, attorneys, 27 Broad Street, N. Y. City.

His heart beating furiously, he read the advertisement over and over.
John Armitage, second son of Sir William Armitage of Alnwick Towers,
Bucks, England--what a familiar sound that had! Many long weary years
had gone by since he had seen those names in print. What could have
happened! Why should they want to communicate with him--the scapegrace