RANSVESTIA

She told me an unbelievable story of human love or loyalty that was made the more unbelievable by being completely true. (It had to be true, because the circumstances would not permit lying.)

Wendell had refused to go on those terms. Oh, he would be only too glad to visit Saxe-Gotheburg, but as for the idea of becoming Queen of a story-book country, he declined the honor.

"I don't understand. I would think that anyone in those circumstances would jump at the chance . . ." I suddenly stopped speaking. The smile on the face of my companion told me I had already said too much.

Of course there was no denying the fact that Wendell was entirely ac- curate in pointing out that there was a disparity in their ages not great, but significant. And so much as he'd like to he wouldn't. But he ap- preciated the problem. And, if he might be permitted to make a sugges- tion, he had an alternative. An alternate.

"You mean, he actually turned it down? Why? And what was his idea?" I asked.

"Well, that should be obvious," came the reply. "He suggested an- other person a person he knew very well. You have a rare friend there."

Yes, good old Wendell. The son-of-a-gun had immediately thought of me as the ideal candidate to go play Queen with the girl King. Mar- velous. (It is, in a way. I mean, it does seem like an ideal solution to everything, doesn't it? Too bad it won't work.)

"He told me all about you, and I think I fell in love with you even then. And we made plans. ..

Even the most die-hard critic of the monarchy could not help but ad- mit that the Prince had an interesting idea when he talked of seeking a bride in the US. The publicity was worth literally millions of dollars and the story-book kingdom could expect to reap a rich harvest from af- fluent American tourists who would feel an almost proprietary interest in the land. The only problem worth mentioning was actually getting the star performer to consent (and you haven't solved that one yet, Princess baby) and Wendell had conceived a mad, mad plot which was so easily done it was absurd. (He simply mentioned the Prince's name one day as he was frying the hair of one of our county's matrons and she had charg- ed out like a firehorse dragon, breathing fire and dropping names.)

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