The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-20

of ridicule. Kings have been forced
to abdicate for less. During the short
time while | remained in power, l
would be every inch a king. | would
rescue Ernest Wilhelm from the ter
magant, and, at the same time, pre-
serve his secret. BY doing so | would
best protect myself, for, if the story
came out no one would be in more
danger from his resentment than |.
For | alone was privy to his absurd
misfortune, and l had, though unwit-
tingly and involuntarily, ascended the
throne from which he had been
Snatched
Hoffman now returned with the cata-
logue of the new royal wardrobe. 1t
was a good sized pamphlet of a dozen
pages, bound in strong board covers.
l took it from him, opened it and ran
ii over. Several pages We're taken up
with robes and gowns and mantles APP
propriate to different state occasions.
They did not take my fancy. There
We're then several pages of military
uniforms, masonic and other regalia
His majesty must have belonged to ev-
cry military company and secret socie-
ty in Europe. | would have none Of
these, either. What l wanted was a
good, plain, business suit Finally, /
came to a page of golf suits, and l
chose one of brownish gray mixture,
with stockings of rattlesnake design in
black and yellow. II was number us,
and | bade Gottfried bring it for me.
You will pardon me, your majesty,
for having to mention it, but, by some
error in the arrangements, some mis-
take in the hour, your majesty's ward
robe for the present month was or
dered for o'clock in the afternoon, and
it win not arrive at the palace before
then"
/ threw the catalogue at his head and
had the good fortune to strike him
Squarely upon the nose with it. He
picked it up from the floor and thanked
me for the attention.
"Will your majesty hold an audience
this afternoon?' he now asked.
DO | look like it, you rascal?' l
roared. "There will De no audience TO-
day, and l will see no one-absolutely
no one-With the exception of yourself.
Sirrah! KnaVe, do you mark me?"
Il do, your majesty. But your maj
esty will excuse me if | mention the fact
that your majesty's prime minister,
Count Won LoWenkopf, the near-sighted
little Odd man with the blue SpeCtacleS
and the brown wig, has been waiting in
the anteroom beyond the audience
chamber since a quarter past seven this
morning. He is stamping around in a
very impatient manner, and l heard him
declare that unless he saw your majesty
at once he would not answer for the
continuance of his majesty's dynasty"
His majesty's dynasty-but, stay,
my good Gottfried Johannes, what was
it that thou didst remark about the
near -sightedness of my prime minis
teri"
"Near-sighted, I said, your majesty;
but ! should have said purblind. FoI
the old gentleman can scarce see a yard
before his nose. l already knew ii
from hearsay, and as | passed him but
a moment ago, | found it out for my
self; for, seeing me pass by with the
catalogue, he mstook me for your ma
esty's confessOr and bade me shriVe
your majesty in a hurry, that your maj
esty's kingdom might not be meanwhile
lost"
Gottfried, we will also make an eX-
ception of our prime minister. and you
may admit him presently to my bed
room. But first tell me If there be 9TH
ers in waiting"
Surely there are, your majesty. A