The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-17
A STRANGE ADVENTURE.

moorlngs OF graceful little boat
whose keel lay on the shore, and mcditat-
Ing to myself how very agreeable row
across the crystal lake would be through
the silence of the purple August daybreak.
'Good morning. responded, turning to
meet the inquiring gaze of tall, gentle
manly looking parsonage, apparently about
S5 years of age, who stood leaning against
a little gate He was dark and handsome,
with piercing eyes, a forehead slightly bald,
and 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.
al beg your pardon. SIR" I stammered,
rather confused; IL hope / am not tres
passing on private grounds"
"Why, sir, you are undeniably on private
grounds" returned the stranger, smiling,
"but think we won't call it by any such
harsh name as trespassing. You are stay
ing in the neighborhood?"
II am staying at the Lake house for the
explained, 'and | suppose my
morning walk has led me farther than l at
first intended"
"You are about six miles from the house,
sir" returned my companion courteously;
land, Judging from your occupation when
came down to the gate, you would not
object to crossing back by water?"
laughed, and acknowledged the fact.
ITO tell the truth, sir, was just think
ing how cool and pleasant short row
lo Tn, fan &c fha boat h aH hQap
fastened / should most assuredly have
braved all consequences, and boldly adj
ventured the experiment"
Il think we can overcome that OBJ
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
togetherf / am not an inexperienced oars
man myself, and 1 suppose you under
stand the art of propelling on the water?"
"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,
followed by my new acquaintance. Real
ly, sir, this is an unexpected treat. | scarce
ly know how to thank you sufficiently for
your courtesy"
''Then do not attempt" said the gentle
man, inclining his head with dignifed,
high bred politeness which impressed me
more and more in his favor. 81 assure you
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
q most perfect morning for the water"
1t was indeedl Across the diamond gilt
Ter of the lake the golden splendors of an
August sunrise were just beginning to be
reflected, and in the distance a range of
dim, misty mountain peaks leaned against
the horizon like far off sentinels, almost
losing their outline in the blue radiance of
the cloudless beavers.
81 wish were an artistp' broke almost
involuntarily from my lips.
Ny companion smiled.
Need a man be an artist to enjoy the
beauties of such scene as this?" he asked.
"a little more toward yonder point, if you
please, sir Now we are out in the chan
mel, and you can pull as hard or as easy as
you choose. The beat will almost move of
nerself, 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 secluded spot as this, F" ne murmured
laziiy. ~ suppose there isn't living soul
within mile of US, always excepting birds
and fishes"
81 suppose not, 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
ment?"
/ drew my card from my waistcoat
pocket and handed it across with smile,
vernon Cheveley, Ell? A very pretty
name, sir. / congratulate myself on max
ing your acquaintance. VIII you allow
me to reciprocate your franknessf'
He bowed low as he presented me with a
crumpled bit of brown paper that he ex,
tracted from an old cigar case. Upon ii
was inscribed, in staring letters of red ink,
the one word ALBERT"
"Albert-who?" l involuntarily ques
toned
Albert, sirr' returned my companion
starting isto a sitting posture and regard
ing me with stern dignity; Prince Albert,
sirl Albert of England, Scotland and
Walesr'
l stared at him aghast. Was the man
mad or dreaming?
ITO your knees, sirr' he said, with q
sharp, sudden imperiousness. Have you
no reverence for royalty"
Iobeyed his quick sign almost before
knew what / was doing. He smiled com
placently, at the same time drawing a
gaudy tinsel star from his pocket and
gravely affixing it to the left breast of his
coat.
Eyes, my friend" he went on impress
lively, you are now in the presence of the
prince consorr of Great Britainl 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, / never shall die am privileged
with the gift of everlasting existence. AS
long as wear this jeweled star death can
never come near me"
felt the cold perspiration oozing from
every pore in my body; l could almost feel
myself grow pale As / became fully con-
WINGED that / was out rpop the solitary
lake alone with madmani l had heard,
when first l came to this mountain retreat,
that there was a large asylum somewhere
in the vicinity. but had never given the
affair a second thought. Now l was reap
ing the consequences of my own folly and
recklessness.
His dark. piercing eyes roved restlessly
from object TO object. Suddenly they
rested on nv appalled, countenance.
you don't believe what | am sayingi"