The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-11-04

gone far to prevent such imprudent
measures.
My mother has tortured us for eight
weeks" Clarimond at length said to
Eric. Il wonder how much longer she
will insist upon making it crime for 4
man to be seen smoking a cigarette
within twenty yards of her, even eu
pIeine air.
What is the punishment for such q
crime?" asked Eric, who had thus far
been simply repealed by the princess,
never presuming to cross the threshold
of any chamber in which she chose to
enshrine her august presence.
"Decapitation, l believe" said the
king, tragi-comically. My dear Eric, :"
he went on, sis not everything quite
spoiled?'
I'VE had thought of n sham revolu-
ton, Lonz and l." began Eric. And
then he described, in terse and swift
phrase, an imaginary fete, where the
court would play parts of masquerading
martyrs and suppliants and the palace
would be stormed by suppositious in
surgents.
Delightful" said Clarimond. what
"a lark to speak your American slang.
We would give sanguinary orders to the
maitre d. hotel. Plenty of blood, and
heads on pixies thrust in at the win
dOws. Everybody would be mock ter
rified until supper-time, and then it
would all end in amicable beakers. Did
your beloved Alonzo suggest that? No,
l need not ask, Eric. 1t is too dis
tinctly you"
ut is he, not l." replied Erie, fbbing
shamelessly. when you know him
better you will accredit him with the
originality of the idea"
Il know him well enough" said the
king, Ito credit him with much invent
iveness. But my mother"
''Ah, yes, your majesty, /"
Tut, tut, Eric. If you majesty me
l will exile you from Saltravia."
Pardon, monsieur; it was slip"
Don't let the slip occur again. But
the princess would never consent to
such fete. 1t would satirize too fierce
" her well-l1nown prejudices. q.
'Lonz', as you call him, will soon be
D2ck Win some lTcaSuTGS.
Alonzo returned within the week, and
greatly pleased his new employer by
one or two shrewd selections in the way
of purchase. But when October had
waned, and the princess had given
every sign that she did not choose to re-
seek her dear Italy. Clarimond declared
himself piteously Handicapped. Blanca
Il E, - !: I'D
the young lady's Accomplishments
were made as drearily ordinary to him
as the details of his toast and coffee at
breakfast time. He could discover in
Blanca nothing that interested him.
The winter began, and the
court had become, under the prin-
cess naughty surveillance, one somber
monotory. Winter in Saltravia was
never severe; snow fell and blasts
blew, but seldom with harsh results.
4Slonzo, thoroughly fitted to his new
position, acquitted himself with skill
and tact. He made several new jour
neys, and each bore its fine artistic
fruit. The king became almost as de-
votedly his friend as he was the friend
of Eric. When fresh spring had Law
ished its green beauty on the Saltravian
hills, Eric declared to his fellow-lodger:
Il am positively jealous of you, ny
dear Lonz. Jealousy, you know, is tho
touchstone of friendship. You leave
me no resource with the king except
that of Islander. / must whisper insid-
uous things about you IN the ear Of
Clarimond.'
las if you could, EricF"said Alonzo.
TO BE CONTINUED.