The Globe-republican., 1892-08-19

nothing positive to charge against her.
Only don't think she is made Of the
proper stuff for a reigning monarch.
She Is too giddy, too light-headed, sort
Of mad-cap hoyden. She thinks too lit
tie of her dignity. Court ceremonial is
infinitely tiresome to her; and the slow.
dead life Of x she fairly hates.
Harmless, necessary x she has been
known to call it. She was never born to
be the motionless figure-haad Of this
tiny ship of state; and with such crew!
Oh, you should see the ministers and
courtiers! Dry bones and parchment.
pulled up with tedious German etiquette!
She is too easily bored, too fond Of
amusement. She was born to be Boz
pity her, Ioor thing.-I pity every one
principaiity-but can't approve Of Ler.
is said to play the violin very we'll. My
own thought is-beware of fiddling mon
archs.
You hint Nero, said I.
yes. I've no doubt she'd fiddle over
the ashes Of y with the best will in
the world. Say Nero crossed with q
Haroun al Raschid. I fear her reign
would be marred by many a queer mid
night escapade, like that Of the merry
caliph, only without his intermixture Of
wrong rightinS. She'd seek her own
amusement solely, though to seek that
in Y, pshaw! You might as we'll
seek for blood in a stone. Oh, she'd
make no end of mischief. The devil
hath no agent like a woman bored"
That's rather true" agreed, laugh
ing. and Con; ad-what OF him?"
"Oh, Conrad's a beast, a squint-eyed,
calulating beast, there's no doubt Of
that. But beast might make good
enough grand duke; and, anyhow, a
beast is ali that beastly little grand
duchy like this deserves. However, to
tell you my own secret feeling, I don't
believe he'll have the chance to proveit
Mathilde, for all her ennui. is described
as most tenacious of her rights, and as
shrewd little body, too. down at the
bottom. That is inconsistent, but
there's the woman of it. Oh, she's in
consequential to degree! I can't help
suspecting somehow that unless her
uncle has really killed and buried her
she will contrive by hook or crook to
come to her throne. For my part, I'm
sorry. should prefer to be ruled BY
Confad. But Would not bet my money
on him, all the same. Have you ever
seen him? He has the funniest, ugliest
squint in Europe.
That night was very long, though we
accomplished lot of talking; very cold
it seemed, too, though we were In mid
summer I dozed little, with the
stone wall of the castle for pillow. At
daybreak our guards were changed. At
six o'clock we were visited by dapper
little subaltern, a lieutenant, who looked
US over, asked our names and sundry
other personal questions, scratched his
chin for a moment. refiectively, and
finally, with an air Of inspiration, babe
us begOne.
The gates were thrown open, and We
issued from our prison free
Its been almost sensation" said
Sebastian Roch. well, so one can eX-
perience almost sensation, even in
Y! Live and learn"
You are not patriot" said I.
MY dear, dear sir, am patriotism
persOnif1ed. 1 am identified with my
country heart and soul. Only find it
dull. If that be treason, make the most
of it. / could not love thee, dear, so
well, loved 1 not dullness less. 1t is
not every night that am arrested and
sit on barrel smoking cigarettes with
an enlightened foreigner. The English
are net generally accounted lively
race, but by comparison with the in
habitants of X they shine like
diamonds"
Il dare say so," I acquiesced. But
I'm not English. I'm American.
so perceive from your accent, an
swered he, impertinently. But as I
told you once before, it amounts to the
same thing. You wear your rue with
difference, that is all.
Speaking of sensations" said I, L
shall die if 1 don't drink a cup OF coffee.
You'll find no public house awake at
this hour" said Sebastian.
Then I'll wake one up, vowed 1.
What! and provoke violation Of the
law? By law they're not allowed to be
open between midnight and o'clock"
"Oh. laws be hanged. must have
cup Of coffee.
Really, you are delightful" asserted
Sebastian, putting his arm through
mine.
Presently we came to beer nall, at
whose door began vehemently to bang.
My friend stood by, shaking with laugh
ter, which seemed to me disproportion-
ate to the humor of the event.
You are easily amused, said I.
oh, no; far from it; but this is such
lark, you know" said he.
BY and by We were seated opposite
each other at table, slipping hot coffee,
served to US by sleepy kellner in a
soiled white apron.
AS looked at Sebastian Roch. OBJ
served (. sterling phenomenon. The
apex Of his right whisker had become
o. |
II -dN-G~