Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-09-01

Il
fravia; he's built a new royal palace,
which they say is a grand success"
sAnd he's very anxious for you to
come on and make him visit said
Lexington, while scanning the letter.
'tOh, yes He thinks me a wonderful
ert-critic, though the completest failure
as painter"
"How obliging of him." said Lexing-
ton, coldly. He had for some time felt
a vague jealousy Of this Eric Thaxter,
whom Alonzo would so often mention,
even amid the furry and whirl of the
life he led
"Read ON, Phil, and you'll see. Eric
| thinks there's no one with such flair
| as for what's genuine in art The
young king, who is absurdiy rich, con-
sidering the smallness Of his realm, is
anxious for somebody to prow1 through
forgotten masterpieces, besides buying
at modern sales everything that shows
transcendept merit
Sand actually he thinks you would
accept such position as thati'' sneered
Lexington s3Upon my word, Lonz, it
strikes me as almost an Insult. Does
your friend suggest any salary?"
Alonzo suppressed a yawn. 'tNo;
dare say the grandeur of knowing his
majesty would be thought sufficient"
! "Indeed!''
| 'tOh, come. now" cried Alonzo, slap
| ping his friend on the shoulder, fits all
| only little scheme on Eric's part to
have me go over and hob-nob with him
in Saltravi.'
'-And SO he bats his invitation with
! the prospect of meeting king"
| ''Oh, poor, dear Eric! Not at all
don't doubt he's aware that I've met
several" Here Alonzo begansto count
with one hand on the outspread fingers
of the other. They've. all been so nice
| to me, too. Let me think. First, there
was the prince, in London, year before
Last. But no, he isn't a king, is hep
| ''Oh, he'll pass for one. I remember,
| you saw him a lot of times"
Through Daisy Bostwick, you know.
| before she married"
''Daisy Bostwick," smiled Lexington,
'<that's American, I suppose. for the
marchioness of Middlesex.''
| Eyes, I've played more than one game
| of poker at the Middlesexes in eros
venor Square with III. r. 81. Then
there was Umbertc at Rome. Of course
| he was nice to me, because he and the
queen both adore Bessie Southgate,
who used to go to school with my sis,
ter Kitty, and is, xlow Princess
Carriole; and Bessie was simply sweet
| to us the minute she heard we were in
Rome. And-let ne think; haven't I
| any more royalties to brag about?
Yes, there was the king Of Servia,
whom took supper with in Paris, year
| before last, and oh, I'd forgotten-I
| was presented in Berlin, the same year,
at a great ball somewhere, to the en-
| peror of Ger But no, be wasn't en-
peror, then; he was only crown prince.
| So my list is pretty small one, after
| all, isn't it?''
tits large enough for you to snap
! your fingers at minor potentate like
the king of saltravia- By the way,
Lonz, your people will soon be arriving.
Why don't you dress?"
''Dress?' cried Alonzo, lifting both
hands and whirling himself round
while he surveyed his attire. ''Isn't
this good enough, in the name Of COM
mon sense?'
In the name of decency,'' replied
Lexington, SIT isn't. A velveteen sack
coat and a big tempestuous-looking
necktie Of briclz-dust red silk! It won't
do at all. You've lots of swagger after
noon things. Ring for your man, and
make him put you into one OF your new
London suits. It's positively shameful
that you should go downstairs in those
Bohemian toys. Your sister, Mrs. Van
| Santvoord, will be furious
! ooh, Kitty's always grumbling at
me, don't mind her"
'<But this is the first home entertain
ment you've given to Miss Kennaird;''
True said Alonzo, while his rat
ting manner seemed to soften. 'sBut,
my dear PHIL ne Suddenly resumed,
throwing back his head and making
Tightly gestures with both hands, eff
there's one thing that dear Kathleen of
mine likes about me, it's to have me be
myself. True, she's conventional
enough: but alb, when think of that
adorable girl she reconciles me to all
the sham and trash of the life we live
and the way we live it!''
Lexington furtively gnawed his lip.
He had his own secret cynical ideas
about the sincerity Of this new sweet
heart whom his young millionaire
friend had chosen
''Oh, well, - he returned, rather grirnly,
eff you want to defy convention it
doesn't matter. You're SO popular that
you can. Nobody minds. They all ac-
| ccpG you auu IKE you Ine OeGIcr 1Or
being yourself, since it's yourself they're
SO fond of
''Fondr' echoed Alonzo, and with 80
harshly unwonted a ring in his voice
that it made his nearer start and stare.
He let his flexible frame sink down on
the broad arm of an easy-chair near
which he had been standing, and his
tawny eyes had never shone with strong
er seriousness than while he now contin-
ued to speak:
you good, lind-hearted Phil Don't
you see that my popularity is the merest
myth? When do bold or queer things
it isn't whom they laugh at and make
believe that they think funny; it's a
fellow with few thousand year that
he squanders on their amusement. Let
fate strip me of those, Phil, and they'd
think me as ordinary as their morning
bath don't want to be cynic, and If
I did there are some few things that
would save me from it. You're one OF
them
''l?n
Eyes, you ring right, somehow-at
least to my ears you do.'
Thanks
And then there's Kathleen All, she