The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-01-03
Two men, cropping through the fog,
jostled each other at the door OF Dolly's

l7tI. The tale printed below is founded on iact'l
Two men, cropping through the fog,
jostled each other at the door OF Dolly's
coffee house.
"sir," exclaimed the elder, laying
hand on his sword, "a man Of honor
"Invariably allows precedence to his
senior" interrupted the other, bowling
gracefully and stepping aside.
"And," continued the first speaker,
the irown vanishing from his brow, "he
grants so much consideration for that
seniors testiues that he excuses him and
becomes his guest at dinner"
Pardon, monsieur" responded the
younger man, "but l am the Count Pc.
niatowski."! .
"Then rank shall not hedge your re.
fusal, for am Frederick, King OF Cor.
sica. So, now, to table, and, Waiter,
bring US OF your best"
Seated in the room to which the at
tendant conducted them, he Of middle
age and he OF primal pigor gazed ut each
other questioniDgly.
"Count," began the former, shave you
hopes in PolandTn
~ scarce can tell. l wait the will and
favor OF Catherine OF Russia"
"Dream not too fairly Of the future. /,
too, wait and plan and hope-but pshaw
here comes tho wine. Nov a toast.
Fill high aud drink deep, for It's your
self. To the successor OF sobieski, may
he soon reign at Warsaw"
81 send 1t back, your majesty, To the
son of Theodore; NAV he yet rule the
realm his father won"
"Dinner is served" interposed the
waiter.
Il was meal OF the sort for which
DoIy's coffee house had fame, and the
new friends failed not in devotion to the
smoking dishes. The plates removed,
they ordered pipes and port. His msj.
esty, flushed with generous drinking,
felt In his waistcot pocket and withdrew
an empty hand. He turned 10 the at
tendant:
"You have served a king right roy
ally, and shall have royal fee. Your
nameF
"Wi!kins, SIRE"
"'Twill remain in memory. To.mor.
row expect parchment creating you
knight Of Ajacclo."
awhile, in present payment" laugh
ed the count, take this bright English
crown Of silver. IT'S elast of many"
"My humble thanks to both. And
here's your bill"
II have a score" replied Frederick,
"to which direct the manager to add
this item. So, Wilkins, adieu until the
morn."
The three entered the public room,
the waiter Fastening ahead to confer
with buriy man behind the bar. The
latter exclaimed:
"Look ye, Mister King, or whatever
You call YOURSELF claim good coin for
good fare. Too much you arc my debtor
row"
"My purse is empty, but We will not
parlsy," answered Frederick, drawing q
massive ring from his finger. Here is
the siguet OF my dominion of Corsica. l
leave it in pawn till l come again, Does
it satisfy your ciamor?"
"'Twill do" growled the manager,
weighing the jewel in his hand.
AT the door Poniatowski and the pre-
tender halted. The fog had risen. Frost
filed the air. The starsshone undimmed,
1t was glorious English winters night.
81 go this way spoke the count,
pointing down the street.
~ the other" responded his majesty,
"Fate well aud better fortune.n
Slowly the old man walked few rods
until be reached door opening on the
pave; He stopped, glanced at the brill
liant heavens, sighed and went in.
AT early dawn passing Waterman
"Five o the clock on New Years
morn. God save the kipg!"
Yes, God save the king, for on hum.
bic cot in his cherries upper chamber
he lies stark and stiGening, a bullet
through his brain, slain by his own hand.
FRED O. DAYTON.