Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-01-04
could have existed so long without

smoked half-a-doZen cigars, one afte
another, apparently with the most in
tense qualification. Meanwhile W
talked. The Prince was most agree
able companion; his experiences wer
varied he had travelled far and wild
bad seen many cities, and knew me
and manners. 1t was delightful t
listen to him. But he was far to
well-bred to monopolize the converse
ton. He also could listen, and di
so with courteous, unfiagging interes
as enlarged upon the subjects ha'
most at heart; he even led me on t.
talk quite Familiarity and freely of m.
regiment; my comrades; my life anC
prospects-everything. in short. which
interested me.
In this way the hours passed, til
suddenly the Prince jumped up.
"You have been most good, NJ
Carruthers | can never return you
kindness. But now, the day is al
vancing, l must be moving on"
"Pray do not think of it, You will
surely stay and dine morrow o.
next day will be time enough to travel
by then you will be refreshed and re-
cruited in strength"
81 hardly dare take advantage o
your good nature. know not wha
to say. But your pleasant society
draws nae toward you; | will stay
Suffer me only to write few letters
| must communicate with the Russian
Embassy l should send to my bank
ers, and to my London hotel for cloth
ing and necessarles."
| sat him down at once to my writ
ing desk, piece of portable barracl
furniture, limited in dimensions, very
much Uttered with old letters, books
and stray papers, BRIDESMAIDS bills
an army list, Bradshaw officials re.
ports and returns, some of my owl
hand writing and signatures. But frou
among them [ cleared sufficient space
and left the Prince to write his letter:
alone
1t was quite an hour before | re-
turned He started rather as | re-
entered the room, but explained that
his recent narrow escape had shaken
his nerves. He had been busy sew.
eral letters were lying on the table.
their addresses uppermost, and, fol
the life Of me, | could not help seeing
that one was addressed to the Rus
o;on En,bacS,y ano+bar m copoa Opa a
Claridge'S Hotel; third to Messrs.
Courts of a fourth | read only part
"Jemmy Haw- Seven Di-.'
But the moment my somewhat sur
prised and curious eyes bad read thus
far, the Prince took up all his cores
and rose to greet me with
a pleasant smile.
"There. So much for business. This
contretempts will altar my plans. But
what matter? am still alive. Shall
we take breath of air ?" Outside,
after few turns upon the shore, he
said:
as your post Office far ? We might
drop these in as we passed"
| 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? | shall be truly grieved to
derange you. Your soldier would
hate me. What say you, shall we
walk to the post Office ourselves /
should like it, and it would do you
good, too; you are lazy, mon Lieu
tenant, YOU will grow fat. Say then,
shall we walk to Silverburn ?"
Iexcused myself The fact was, |
wished to stay at the fort to attend to
household affairs. | did not often en-
terrain Prince, and | was somewhat
about the dinner which was
being prepared by my inexperienced
soldier cook.
"You will not p You are wrong.
You should walk more. 1t is excel
lent exercise. | find the benefit, and
need it much always, as now. But
see you will not be persuaded. Au
revoir, then, till-?"
"Dinner at half past six. That will
give us a nice long evening""
eyes; a nice long evening"" he re-
peated after me in a strange, hooking
tone. IF be had not been Prince
might have considered his conduct
rude.
We parted. He walked on at a
cry brisk pace returned slowly to
the fort.
For the next few hours | was busy
experimenting operations in the kitch-
en-, assisting to lay the table, drawing
wine, and making ready for the feast.
About 8 p M | dressed in mess uni
form to do honor TO my foreign guest,
and walked down the road to meet
him on his return.
He had had three hours to do the
journey there and back, but half past
six came, and with it came no Prince.
Seven still he did not appear.
What had happened p? He must
have lost his way. 1t was quite dark,
and rather cold. AT half past seven
[ sent off two non-commissioned ofti'
GERS in search of him; at eight | went
myself, and growing more and more
concerned, walked on to Silverburn.
Yes; a person answering to the de,
scr;ption of the Prince had been seen
there. He had taken the train to Var
chester. An extraordinary proceed
ing still it accounted for his absence;
so somewhat relieved went home
dined by myself, and went to bed.
| slept late next morning. 1t was
close on 10 when | was aroused by 9
familiar voice in the outer room.
"What Randall! Still in bed ?"
1t was Bob Finch, brother Lien
tenant from headquarters.
you are to return at once to The
regiment" he said. 81 have come tc
relieve you"
"Hurrah :"
"Steady, boy, steady. Read this
Don't sing out too soon.'
1t was an official letter from the Ad
iutant, desiring me to hand over my
detachment, and report myself forth