The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-10-19

AVs 'F'Eatt4fttii- t@tif ESxt$G -EiS
he lleyS| |baek.1l,i1 arm = chair !! M and d
intense qualification. :. Meanwhile we
talked. The Prince was q most agree.
able companion his experience were
varied he had travelled far and wide,
had seen many cities, and knew men,
manners. It was delightful to listen
to him. But he was far too well-bred
to monopolize the conversation. He
also could listen, and did SO with cour.
toous undagging interest as Ienlarged
upon the subjects had most at heart
he even led me on to talk quite famil.
iarly and freely of my regiment my
comrades; my life and prospects,
everything, in short, which interested
me. -.
In this way the hours passed, till
suddenly the Prince jumped up.
"You have been most good, NJ. Car.
ruthers. can never repay your kind.
ness. But now the day is advancing,
l must be moving on
"Pray do not think of it. You will
surely stay and dine? Tomorrow or
next day will be time enough to travel;
by then you will be refreshed and re.
cruited in strength"
81 hardly dare take advantage of
your good nature. know not what to
say. But your pleasant society draws
me towards you; I will stay. Suffer
me only to write few letters. Imust
communicate with the Russian EN-.
bassy I should send to my bankers,
and to my London hotel forclothes aud
necessities.
I sat him down al once to my writ.
ing'desk, 2 piece Of portable barrack
furniture limited in dimensions, very
much Uttered with old letters, books,
and stray papers, tradesmen's bills,
an army list, Bradshaw, sofficials' re.
ports and returns, some in my own
handwriting and bearing my sigma.
ture. But from among these I cleared
sufficient space, and left the Prince to
write his letters alone.
1t was quite an hour before I re.
turned. He started rather as I re-en.
tered the room, but explained that his
recent narrow escape had shaken his
nerves. He had been busy: several
letters were lying on the table, their
addresses uppermost, and, for the life
of me, could not help seeing that one
was to Secretary of the Russian En-
bassy, another to some one at C1ar-
idge's Hotel, a third to Mcssrs. Coutts;
of a fourth I read only a part. 1t
looked like s'Jemmy Haw-Seven Di
-" But the moment my somewhat
surprised and curious eyes had read
thus far, the Prince took up all his
correspondence, and rose to greet me
with pleasant smile.
"There! So much for business. This
contretemps will alter all my plans.
But what matter? am still alive.
Shall we take a breath of air o.
Outside, after few turns upon the
shore, he said
''1s your post'ofice far: We might
drop these in as we pass"
said sent an orderly with the let-
ter.bag as far as Silverburn, the near.
est village and rail station, three miles
or so. He would start in an hour.
"Now confess-you are sending on
purpose f? I shall be truly grieved to
derange you. Your soldier would hate
me. What say you, shall we walk to
the post-office ourselves? I should like
it, and it would do you good, too; you
are lazy, mon Lieutenant, you will
grow fat. Say then, shall we walk to
Silverburn!
/ excused myself. The fact was 1
wished to stay at the fort to attend to
household affairs. l did not often en-
tertain q prince, and was somewhat
anxious about the dinner which was
being prepared by my experienced SOL
der cook.
''You will not? You are wrong. You
should walk more. 1t is excellent ex-
ercise. Lind the benefit, and need it
much always, as now. But I see you
will not be pursuaded. Au reyoir then
-
spinner at half.past 8. That will
give us nice long evening"
"Yes; a nice long evening" he re.
peated after me in strange mocking
tone. If he had not been q Prince /
might have considered his conduct
rude.
We parted. He walked on at a yery
brisk pace; returned slowly to the
fort.
For the next few hours I was busy
experimenting the operations in the
kitchen, assisting to lay the table,
drawing wine, and making ready for
the feast. About 6 p. m. 1 dressed In
mess uniform to do honor to my for.
eign guest; and walked down the road
to meet him on his return. :
He had had three hours to do the
journey there aud back, but half.past
6 came, and with it no Prince. Seven
still he did not appear. =" ~.
What had happened! He must have
lost his way. It was quite dark, and
rather cold. At half-past II sent of
two non.commissioned officers in
search of him /; at 8 I. went myself
and, growing more aud more con
cerned; walked on to sSilverburn.
Yes a person answering to tho de-
scription Of the Prince had been seer
there. He had taken the train to Var
chester. An, extraordinary proceed
ing still it accounted for his absence
so, somewhat relieved, T~Went. home
dined by myself, and went to bed.
slept late next morning. sIt wa
close on 10 when 1 was. reused by ,
familiar voice in the outer room. ::