dismay.
"Yes. I am applying for transfer to another post. There are reasonswhy I cannot remain here any longer. I could not bear it. You knowwhy." And he looked her straight in the face, still holding her handstrongly in his.
She averted her gaze and sighed deeply.
He saw the hot tears upon her cheeks, therefore slowly he drew hertowards him in his strong arms, and impressing one last fervent kissupon her cold white brow, released her, and with bowed head left theroom with a whispered:
"_Addio--addio_, my own beloved!"
The door closed, and for a moment she stood motionless as a statue.
Then in sudden frenzy, with wild despair in her eyes, she threw herselfupon her face on the rose-coloured silk couch, and there burst into afit of violent sobbing--sobbing as though her young heart would break.
The sun of her life had, at that moment, been suddenly extinguished.
Several years have now brought their changes.
A new King rules in Italy. He has a new entourage and a new Cabinet,but the Princess Luisa stills lives at the Palace, sweet, handsome, yetever pale and thoughtful.
Her acts of charity and her blameless life have rendered her highlypopular in the Eternal City, and when she drives out in one of the royalautomobiles the men raise their hats and the populace cry after her,"_Viva Luisa! Viva Luisa di Savoia_!"
The giddy world of Rome has often wondered why Her Royal Highness, sobright and vivacious, has never married, though her name has frequentlybeen coupled by gossips with that of one or other of the eligible RoyalPrinces of Europe, notably the Crown Prince of Saxony.
The truth, however, has never leaked out, for his late Majesty, KingUmberto, who alone knew his niece's secret, never betrayed it, even tohis Queen.
Sir Hubert Waldron, K.C.M.G., is now British Ambassador at StPetersburg, yet still a bachelor. In diplomatic circles it has longbeen a matter of surprise that he has never taken to himself a wife, formany wealthy women are known to have set their caps at him.
However, the world is in ignorance that the plain disc of gold which hewears upon his watch-chain, though it has not the appearance of alocket, nevertheless is one, and opens with a cunningly concealedspring. Within, on one side, is an exquisite little ivory miniature ofthe Princess Luisa, while on the other two simple words are engravedupon the gold case--"For Ever."
Her Royal Highness wears an exact replica--except that it contains aportrait of Hubert Waldron--concealed beneath her corsage, the onetalisman which never leaves her either by night or by day.
Though Europe divides them, and the barrier of birth can never bebridged, the little golden lockets form the hidden link which stillconnects their lives.
When either gaze upon the other's pictured face, as oftens happens,memories from out the misty past arise. Those engraved words are as amessage passing between them--a promise that will never be broken, thepledge of a passionate and unsuspected royal romance--
"FOR EVER."
The End.
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