Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-11-30

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e""- Ardelsberg frol
the great corridor of the palace.
"See where his foot Slipped" whis
pered the Grand Chamberlain, point
ing with his white wand to a scratc
on the parquet floor. "He ran S
quickly he almost fell against til
door,"
The Grand Chamberlain was visibl
agitated; his badge of office tremble
on his tightly-buttoned coat beneat
his rapid breathing, and he perspire
profusely.
"Never! never!" he went on, "i
all the history of the House of Ardels
berg has its reigning sovereign beel
alone. This sudden desire for seclu
sion on the part of the Grand Duke il
inexplicable; more, it is irregular =
most irregular"
Discretly rapping at the door, b
called:
"Your Serene Highness!
There was no response.
''May it please your Serene High
ness |"
But still no answer came.
"The Grand Duke will admit me,
am sure" said young man, delicate
ly taking a pinch of snuff. "Allow
me, Baron!" and coming forward he
tapped with the tips OF his fingers
upon the panel.
"Altesse! 1t is I-Stronberg. May
/ be permitted to enter? A new bool
of French verses has arrived by cou
rier from Paris"
"Bahl" interrupted the Crane
Chamberlain.
Stronberg listened, his ear close to
the keyhole; then he shrugged his
shoulders and moved away, when like
silence foiled his attempt.
eff His Serene Highness will not
receive me, Baron" he said, lnsolent.
ly. leaning against the balustrade and
Ticking the snuff from his shirt frill
with lace handkerchief, crest as
sured that he will not see you. This
locking of doors aguinst his entour.
age is probably but his latest whim.'
The Chamberlain threatened ebul.
lition of wrath was averted by the ar
rival OF the First Minister.
"What is the matter?", no asked.
81 left His Serene Highness in the
Council Chamber not a quarter of an
hour ago. Is he ill?"
"He may be dead, Prince" an
swered the Cham berlain, miserably.
81 was conducting the Grand Duke to
his private apartments after your aud.
fence with him, when, as we reached
the door of the Throne Room, he hur.
ried in front of me and ran rapidly up
the staircase. And when I reached the
corridor I found the door locked"
The First Minister looked grave.
'"This is very serious" he said, every
serious. especially when it is remem-
bered that His Serene Highness signed
the necessary documents for his mar
riage with the Princess Wilhelminu
Sophia of Marsbach only this morn.
ing. This action is full of suggestion. ~
Then he, too, tapped al the door.
A shout of boyish laughter was the
the answer.
'Did you hear anything?" the Prince
asked, sharply, speaking to the Baron.
81 thought heard something"
'Tt was laughter. Baron. His Serene
Highness is laughing at us"
The Prince tried to stoop to the
vantage ground of the keyholc, but
the rigidity of his uniform compelled
him to delegate that delicate task to
the Grand Chamberlain. who lowered
his bulky form carefully.
81 regret to say" he stammered,
we'll nigh choking over his exertions,
"that His Serene Highness has stuffed
the keyhole with paper"
On the other side of the double doors
fair haired youth was roaming about
an apartment spacious and gorgeous,
with the careless inconsequence OF a
child.
1t was early summer and the young
sovereign's eyes grew wistful AS he
watched the dip of the branches sway
ing in the breeze with their garment
of pale green leaves, and saw the flow
ers nodding gayly in the sunshine
among the lush grass of the nearer
meadows.
eff could only get to the woods
for an hour, to be free with the sky
and the sun and the trees." be said,
bitterly, glahciug over hin pulder at
the door. "Why n6tas Why not ?"
he laughed, and threw open the French
window. He was about to spring over
the balconyywben' the sunlight caught
the star of an order on his breast, and
he drew back hastily intothe shadow
of the room. II shall be seen at once
and pursued" he muttered. 81 must
change my dress"
But the Grand Duke had never
dressed himself before in be life, and
when he reappeared on thesbslcony in
clothes of q simple brown, certain
hanging strings and odd buttonings
betrayed a struggle in his drsssin :,
room.
A leap, a sprawl upon the gravelled
walk, rush through shsdowy lilac
walk. and the reigning prince OF
Ardelsberg was in the woods chasing
butterflies, plucking flowers only to
throw them away, and singing joyous
~ like little child. A butterfly came
dancing by. and away sped the Grand
Duke in hot pursuit, till breathless
and exhausted. he flung himself on d
bed of moss at the roots of an oak.
at length, his head resting
on his clasped hand, he watched the
shifting shadows as they chased one
another across the vista, the hummiDg