The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-18
For the accident offer. my deepest

placed her hand upon the Germans. as
II TO ask him to lead her from the
room. and added:
You wish for an introduction? Then
allow me TO present you TO each other
His eXcellency the Baron Won Elmur. -
She paused. and her eyes dwelt for a
moment on Rallywood's. "A gentleman
| of the guard" And before Hollywood
! could explain the mistake the curtain
! had dropped behind them, and he was
left standing alone.
| In Baron Won Elmur he recognized
the oblique carriage of the head and the
| hlsh-shouldered figure of the third
man he had seen with the newspaper
| correspondents in the Grand Square
that afternoon. Moreover, he knew
that the German had entered the ante
| room through no mistake, but with
some object in view. As for the girl,
who was she and where had she come
| from? She was not of Nassau. since
she had introduced him as belonging
to the guard. for not only was every
| officer of that favored corps individu-
ally known, but it was further impos-
sibie for a Maasaun to make the slight
est mistake with regard TO any uni
form. 1t was one of the boasts of the
country that even a child could tell at
a glance not only the special regiment,
bat the rank of the wearer of any uni
form belonging to the duchy
Hollywood had no time just then to
pursue the subject further. as he was
almost Immediately recalled to the
chancellor's presence.
Now. monsieur" began Selpdorf.
as though no break had occurred in the
conversation, you are in truth tired
of keeping our dreary marches; is it
not sou
There are better places-and worse.
your excellency."
Our gay little capital will be one of
the better places. | promise you con-
tinued the chancellor. "A position in
the guard of his highness has lust
become vacant. Am | right in believ-
ing that a nomination 10 that superb
regiment would tempt you to remain
with uS?"
RallywOod for once was a little taken
back.
"A gentleman of the guard" He re-
peated the girls words of introduction
mechanically: then, putting aside the
thought of her. he took up the prac-
teal view of the situation and an
Swered: Il am an Englishman, your !
eXcellency, and though / have taken |
the soldiers oath to the Maasaun |
standard, l have not taken the oath of |
nationality. 1 could not consent to be- !
come a naturalized citizen even of the /
duchy of Nassau
All. SOP" Selpdorf stroked his chin 1
Then. despatching the objection with a |
wave of his hand, he resumed: I'VE |
must overlook that in your case. You 1
have already served the duke for five /
years with as sincere a zeal as the |
truest Maasaun amongst u.s. We must |
remember that and overlook a draw
back which is far less important than
it seems"
He turned to a memorandum on the
table and consulted it.
You were engaged in the affair at
Xanthal. l see"
Three years ago. your excelIency,''
replied Rallywood in tone that i'm
piled his powers of usefulness had
become impaired by lapse of
time.
Seipdorf moved his shoulders Here
was man throwing difficulties i'm the
way of his own advancement. Yet he
could not possibly be so Indifferent to
sumo.
ITO be plain with you.'' SeIpdorf
said. with an air of candor. the young
er officers of the guard have little eX-
perience. The latest fashion in neck
ties or the most charming dancer at
the FOlie absorbs their attention to
the exclusion of more important mat
a certain admixture of French blood in
the veins of our most noble families"
he finished abstractedly.
Hollywood had no remark to offer
upon this. The officers of the guard
bore very distinct reputation. They
were said to be a pleasant set of fell
ows socially. unless one ran foul of
their prejudices. but they were cred
ted with good many prejudices. As
'Or his personal acquaintance with
hem, it was limited to acting second
n a hastily arranged duel fought out
n the yard behind a little country
'ailway station.
II should like to see a somewhat diff
erent spirit introduced, and To be as
'ured that / could always rely on the
presence of at least one cOol-headed
officer at the palace. Your experience
m the frontier has eminently fitted you
or the position. To you, therefore
will be allotted the quarters reserved
n the palace itself for the adjutant of
he guard. May l have the pleasure of
you as such?"
Rallywood hesitated. He foresaw
ertain difficulties. but they appeared
ather attractive than otherwise at the
He threw back his shoulders,
. light of laughter came into his eyes,
lie raised his head and looked into
'elpdorf's face.
II thank your eXcellency.
The chancellor understood more than
net the ear He approached the sub
ect delicately. i
Then you will allow me to congratu
ate you, Captain Hollywood he said, {
lending forward to shake hands with
lis visitor in English fashion. There
nay possibly be some trifiing difficult =
les at the outset. The first step in any
usually costs something.
nut you will not. 1 beg, permit yourself
o be drawn into. ahem, any shallow
uarrels. Our friends of the guard,
ou will understand are a little too
rome to pick up even a careless word
N the sword point"
NJ. Selpdorf paused and referred once
lore TO the memorandum.
There has been some small hitch
bout the pay on the frontier of late?"
e asked innocentiy.
"A serious hitch for the last eighteen
lonths or so. your eXcellency," replied
with q smile that did not
each his eyes.
Indeed? That must be remedied
he paymaster general shall have a /!
ote upon your affair Immediately.
aptain Rallywood. Good night"
Hollywood stepped out into the
indy, frozen night. and also out of his
Id life into the new. Above him the
tars. written in their vast. vague char
cters upon the night-blue vault of
ky, shone With Keen luster; below r
is feet, with scarce a break in the
reat circle, ii seemed as if they drew 1,
,gether in denser clusters and set
themselves in luminous tiers. These n