The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-10-14

utter brutality ] am astouiHhcd Lhat
he is not here tO-uighti l. vould be so
like him 70 come after the dreadful way
In which he has treated Us But bear
him no in VIII. I was prepared, indeed,
to almost Overvhelm him with my sym
Pathy."
But Aionzo. far from appearing at
Delmonico's that evening, was absorbed
in preparations for his departure.
Events that were chiefly of d financial
sort and had 70 do not only with the
settlement Of his own and Mrs. Van
SantvOord's wrecked patrimony but
with the closing up on his and on his
UEcle CFawford's part of a business
hopelessly MANNED and soiled, kept de
laying him until beyond the early
weeks of spring. When at last he sailed
for Europe It was after having received
from Eric ThaEter new assurances Of
most cordial welcome. elm other days"
ran one Of Eric's letters, ''rny request
that you would come and accept the
court position you have now consented
to I'll was prOHered in mood rather of
Jest than earnest Yet circumstance
has conspired in more ways than one 70
make bright reality of what was then
but a rosy dream ] shall have you
here In Saltravia, my friend, and that
unhappy loss OF your fortune is not the
sole reason have secured you. The
king has for some time reposed in my
hands Those hands which have had the
luck so to please him as regards their
architectural plan drawiHgs) all power
of appointing the art superintendent OF
his realm I gave this Office not very
long ago to one Of our fellow country
men, an artist Of no mean talent and Of
apparently the coolest head But no
sooner had he donned, so to speak, his
insignia, than arrogance and enrontery
were mild names for him. What could
halls of our beautiful museum with a
carriaga you would have called immOd-
est in a peacock. Unless ] greatly err,
the poor king was the only one of us
whom he did not presume to patronize-
How to get rid Of Mr.. birmingham was
for some time a battling problem,
could not discharge him, as no actual
Offense could be laid at his door. But
finally hit upon @ way OF necessity
he would be absent for days at "a time,
and I cleared my throat augustiy one
afternoon and informed him that in
these absences a cosuPerintendent must
be appointed to take his place He
bristled at this, just as I had expected,
and asked me why a superintendent
should be created and not an officer of
lower status than his own. I endeav-
ored to explain precisely why, and in so
doing am afraid that with intention ]
reused his lordiy wrath, Tor a disguised
resignation followed, and it came just
in the nick of time. During that same
/ week your letter reached me, telling OF
[ that fateful suicide. The position was
ready for you, and waits now your gra-
/ cious occupancy. Meanwhile JCrning-
/ ham, still a resident of Saltravia, poi
/ sons the air with mulign tales about
/ my jealousy OF his success at winning
| royal countenunce. A withered sister
/ who adores him, helps to spread these
/ silly reports. They don't injure me. J
I am not, after all, half so unpopular in
/ Saltravia as MIR. and Miss birmingham
/ would try to make out. But feel it
/ my duty, dear AlOuzO, to warn you that
I you viii find in these people two ready
made foes. And yet their enmity is
harmless as a Sleeps bleat, and, I regret
/ to add, hardly more amusing or dra-
matte"
! On reaching Saltravia, after a brief
! stay in Paris, AlOnzO Glighted from the
/ train just at suufan. His journey had
been long and firing, but toward the
latter part of it soft hills, green as en-
erald, had gradually greatened, affect
ing him from the window at which he
| sat like giant spirits of wOOdlawn hos
/ pitality, that linked their g0dlilze hands
/ in continual increase Of greeting. But
| the ight-built station, shaped with
/ ARREST delicacy, brought him a. greeting
dearer still. Eric Thazter grasPed his
! hand before he had taken ten steps.
Dear old Eric!" he said; you look
just the same. Big and handsome and
| yellow-bear as ever
Eric smiled, and pressed his friends
hand with a vigor that brought back
the atelier days in Paris, not TO mention
hours of merry abandonment in the
boulevard Saint Michel.
Don't think of your luggage" said
Eric. IAN viii be attended to-" He
caught from his friends hand the
vouchers held there. Come" he con
tinued, after fleeing converse with two
liveried servants. In another instant
he had thrown an arm about Alonzo's
neck, while they walked onward to
together.
''It seems so natural to meet you here
in Saltravia," he said SIT Is like hav
ing the moon rise, or the breeze blow
For 7 am sure you VIII like It here, IN
less the weather becomes rebellious-"
zone would say" rnurmured AIonzo
looking about him, f'that the skies werD
always kind 70 so enchanting spot q.
, this"
$50 you like it?" flashed Eric Thaz
ter II was sure you would"
Like it2 Are we near a railway sta
tion?"
Eyes, my friend; but did you obssrv
the tunnel as you approached 1t
three miles long"
/ You call it tunnel2'
well, eauseway, IL you prefer. il
any case, our trains plunge through tn
valley with kind of sleepy hsrceness
/ 1t is the kings doing. And if you vii
e cast your eye backward along tn
! / route Of the railway by which you hsv
just come, You viii see nothing but
E series OF undulant green embanlunent.
Z ablazs with spots Of the choicest hoW
{ ers."
s "Ezquisitel' said AIonzo. But on
e has lovelier things to look at here "a
t added, throwing his gaze to the RICH
p and left, and then letting it dwell i
4 quiet ecstasy on the prospect tina
), fronted him.
d shall we drive to your lodgings, G
/ shall we valiz?'' sounded Eric's voice.
4 ''Drive2 vaIlz7' fell from his heGrel
j. In dHZed monotone
After all it's but step" pursued th
a guide And you really like Saltravil
then2 I was sure You Vyould.''
4 Like it!' faltered Alouzo-