Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-11-10
''NorHERr' CRIED. TOWARD ROSE.

gone far to prevent such imprudeut
measures.
My mother has tortured as for eight
weeks" Clarimond at length said to
Erie. 81 wonder how much longer she
will insist upon making it crime for a
. man to be seen smoking cigarette
within twenty yards Of her. even eas
a,sei'ae air."
''What is the punishment for such q
crime?"o asked Eric, who had thus far
been simply repealed by the princess,
never presusnfng to cross the threshold
Of any chamber in which she chose to
enshrine her august presence
''Decapitation, believe" said the
king, tragi-conically. MY dear Erie -
he went on, sis not everything quite
spoIed?'
eve chad thought OF sham revolu-
ton, Lonz and T.. 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 storned by suggestions in
J surgents
Delightful" said Clarirnond. 'tWhat
"a lark, to speak your American slang!
We would give sanguinary orders to the
mai.re d. hotel. Plenty of blood, and
heads on pixies thrust in at the VIM
dows. Everybody would be mock ter
| rified until supper-tfme, and then it
| would all end in amicable beakers. Did
| your beloved Alonzo suggest that? No,
l need not ask, Eric. It is too dis
tinctly YOU
'sItais he, not To- replied Eric, fibbing
shamelessly. ''When you know him
better you will accredit him with the
originality of the idea"
81 know him well enough said the
king, Ito credit him with much invent
| iveness. But my mother
'Ah, yes, your majesty, L"
''Tut, tut, Eric. If you majesty me
I viii exile you from Saltravia.'
Pardon, monsieur; it was a Slip"
Don't let the slip occur again. But
| the princess would never consent to
such a fete. It would satirize too fierce
| ~ her well-known prejudices. I.
(, 'Lonz, as you call him, wills soon be
| back with some treasures?"
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
d Este was forever thrust at him, and
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
monotony- Winter in Saltravia was
never severe; snow fell and blasts
blew, but seldom with harsh results
Alonzo, 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-
| voted1y 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-1odger:
Il am positively jealous OF you. my
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 Ia the ear OF
Clarimond."
'sAs if you could, Ericr~said Alonzo.
] mo BE coNTNuED-l