Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-18
4 STRANGE ADVENTURE.
food morning, SRA lovely dayr'

L
in fact | was engaged in examining the
/ padlocked moorings of graceful little boat
| whose keel lay on the shore, and meditat-
\ ing 10 myself how very agreeable row
across the crystal lake would be through
! the silence of the purple August daybreak
Good morning. l responded, turning to
meet the lnquiring gaze of a tall, gentle
| manly looking parsonage, apparently about
| 3o years of age, who stood leaning against
a little gate. He was dark and handsome,
| with piercing eyes, forehead slightly bald,
and a jet black mustache, twisted jauntily
| away from a small, nervous mouth and his
dress was tasteful and faultless in the last
| degree. He had taken off his light straw
| hat TO greet me, and now stood apparently
| awaiting some more definite explanation
| on my part.
| Il beg your pardon, SIR" 1 stammered,
| rather confused; Il hope am not tres
passing on private groundss'
| why, sir, you are undeniably on private
| grounds, returned the stranger, smiling,
but think we won't cali il by any such
| harsh name as trespassing. You are stay
| ng in the neighborhood:
Il am staying at the Lake house for the
| summer explained, and suppose my
| morning walk has led me farther than at
! first intended"
| You are about six miles from the house.
! sir" returned my companion courteouslv:
and, Judging from your occupation when
! ! came down to the gate you would not
! object To crossing back by watere"
l laughed, and acknowledged the fact.
| ITO tell the truth, sir, l was just think
| ing how cool and pleasant short row
would be. In fact, if the boat had not been
| fastened | should most assuredly have
hay oil I'd hi,
ventured the experiment"
Il think we can overcome that oh
| lection, said the stranger, quietly turning
| to an old ruined tree, whose guarded trunk
overhung the transparent tide, and draw
ing key from its hollow depths. Sup
| pose we get up an appetite for breakfast
together? am not an inexperienced oars
man myself, and | suppose you under
stand the art of propelling on the waters"
just give me an opportunity. and see if
| ! don't indicate my education in aquatic
matters" | said, in high good humor.
springing into the fairylike little shell.
70 lowed by my new acquaintance. Real
", sir, this Is an unexpected treat. l scarce
y know how TO thank you sufficiently for
| your courtesy
Then do not attempt said the gentle
man, inclning his head with dignified.
Il
/ more and more in his favor. 4 assure Won
/ the qualification is entirely mutual. Pull
| to the right little; we shall get entangled
/ in yonder floating sheet of water lilies if
! we are not careful. Upon my word this is
| a most perfect morning for the water"
| IU was indeed Across the diamond gilt
| ter of the lake the golden splendors of an
| August sunrise were just beginning to be
| Effected, and in the distance a range OF
| dim, misty mountain peaks leaned against
! the horizon like far off sentinels, almost
| los ng their outline in the blue radiance OF
| the cloudless heavens.
Il wish | were an artist broke almost
| invOluntarilv from my lips.
| Ny companion smiled.
Need a man be an artist to enjoy the
beauties of such a scene as thiss" he asked
"A little more toward yonder point, if you
| please, sir Now we are ont in the chan
mel, and you can pull as hard or as easy as
| you choose. The boat will almost move of
| herself, in fact
| He threw down his oars and leaned back
| in the stern, adjusting his straw hat so as
TO shield his eyes from the too vivid glare
/ OF the morning sunshine.
Zone scarcely thinks of civilization in
such a secluded spot as this" he murmured
| lazily. Il suppose there isn't living soul
| within mile of Us, always excepting birds
| and fishes
Il suppose not l assented.
But nevertheless the forms and cere-
| monies of society cannot entirely be cast
aside. May know whom have had the
| pleasure of helping to an hours enjoy
menu"
l drew my card from my waistcoat
| pocket and handed it across with smile
! " ernon Cheveley, eh; 4 very pretty
name, sir. l congratulate myself on max
! ing your acquaintance. Will you allow
| me to reciprocate your franknesst'
! he bowed low a. he presented me with a
| crun pied bit of brown paper that he ex-
tracted from an old cigar case. Upon it
was inscribed, in staring letters OF red ink,
| the one word Albert"
"A bert-who?'' l involuntarily ques-
| tionel.
"A bert, sir!' returned my companion,
| starting into sitting posture and regard
! ing ne with stern dignity: Prince Albert.
! sir! Albert of England, Scotland and
| Wales"
| stared at him aghast. Was the man
| mad ur dreaming?
| ITO your knees, sir!'' he said, with a
| sharp sudden imperiousness. Have you
no rev rence for royaItyln
| | obeyed his quick sign almost before
knew what was doing. He smiled com
| placer tly, at the same time drawing a
| gaudy tinsel star from his pocket and
| gravely affixiag il to the left breast of his
! coat.
'Yes, my friend" he went on impress
| lively, you are now in the presence of the
| prince consort of Great Britain! Men have
amused themselves by disseminating the
| idle tale that l was dead: that's all they
| know about it. ! am not dead; and, what
| Is more, l never shall die. am privileged
! with the gift Of everlasting existence As
! long a l wear this jeweled star death can
/ never come near met
/ felt the cold perspiration oozing from
every pore in my body; could almost feel
myself grow pale as l became fully con-
vInced that I was out upon the solitary
| lake alone with q madman Z had heard.
when first came to this mountain retreat,
that there was a large asylum somewhere
in the vicinity, but had never given the
| affair second thought Now was reap-