Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-05-03

Time went on, and the most elaborate
preparations were made by all classes fol
the reception of the Prince. Mr. Offer.
proof, with the courage which had been
his salvation, had had himself elected
| spokesman of the deputation of merchants
who, with the leading military men and
officials of Punkabrandy, were to receive
the royal traveller on his arrival, and be
took his place on the platform that fatal
morning with GOODNESS which, consider
Ing the circumstances, was simply amaz-
ing. He knew that every man around
him was waiting to see if his Royal High
ness recognized him, and he knew that
there was just about as much chance OF
his Royal Highness recognizing any eoolie
in the street as himself, and yet he stood
| there with greater air of nonchalance
than any other man on the platform
/ At last the train rushed into the sta
ton. In another moment his Royal High
ness was on the platform. being intro
duced to the various gentlemen deputed to
receive him. Mr.. Oferprof' now, in the
supreme moment, remained as cool as a
cucumber.
At last his turn came
"Mr. Oferproof, your Highness," said
Colonel To-day.
"What Mr.. Oferproof, is it your cried
| his Royal Highness afiably. Then, turn
| ing to the other gentlemen, he added,
"Mr. Oferproof and / are old friends"
Mr.. Oferproof was dumbfounded. All
his GOODNESS disappeared at this unex-
pected turn of events. He stood gazing in
speechless amazement at the young Prince
and wondered within himself if he had
| gone mad.
"Yes," his Royal Highness went on,
I'VE used to meet at Doublechin House.
Wasn't it in 'S6 and 1872. / have often
1 wondered where you had gone to-"
"Yes, your Royal Highness," murmured
the bewildered wine merchant, scarcely
knowing what ne said.
"And think, by the way, that the last
time saw you was at Lord Rupert Rat
hilps?n
| cit was, your Royal Highness, answered
Mr.. Overproof, attempting with all his
might to pull himself together and appear
collected.
"Ah, yes, / thought SO. Delighted to
meet you again, MIMI fergrowth."
81 thank your Royal Highness most
deeply" replied Mr.. Overproof, with a
profound bow.
As the Prince left the platform, Mr..
Oferproof recovered his presence of mind.
Turning to Captain Pitcher, who had been
standing near regarding the scene with
amazed and incredulous eyes, the wine
merchant said, "WelI, Captain, what do
you say now? You see that his ROYAL
Highness has, indeed, right royal MEM
ory.''
Mr.. Oferproof's triumph was complete.
From that day he was universally accepted
as the fashionable dictator in Punka.
brandy. Even the sceptical Captain
Pitcher bowed to the last and crowning
proof of the realty of the wine merchants
| smart connections in England
But to Mr.. Oferproof it was, of course, a
mystery how the Prince came to recognize
one whom ne had never seen before At
last, however, he found the solution. 1t
| lay in the following letter, which reached
him about month after the Princes visit
to Punkabrandy:
Pirate and Coafdential.I
PuSKATIFFIS, Goth January
Dear Mr.. OferpToof: I'm sure you'll pardon
my troubling you about matter of some i'm
portance to your friend Prince Fitzedward and
me.
! His Royal Highness in returning from Lahore
| intends to break his journey for night at this
city, and, as there are possibly some persons
here whom he has met in England, but does not
, remember, have been sent ahead-as was at
! Punkabrandy-to discover them and acquaint
his Highness with their names and the occa-
sions on which he met them, lest any forgetful-
| ness on his part might cause annoyance.
| have bsen here several days, and been unable
| to discover anything as to the merchant com.
munity. Finding that you have business con-
nections here, write in the hope that you may
| be able to assist me. Do you know of any
merchant here who has met his Royal High
ness or has had any dealing with him III any
| way?
| II you can give me little information,
| shall feel eternally obliged. Very truly yours,
| CHARLES KNQwEsLY.
| Toa,Ja,, tTl.,A