The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1901-09-26

Seacamp's best, when mighty tiunkey
or something bore down upon LIE and
bade me appear before the queen.
Well, I appeared. 1 have been ap-
pearing off and on ever since. And as
I get q good salary for appearing, clad
in this gorgeous rig, L shall continue
to appear. Ridiculous, though, isn't
it,"
had never heard Gordon say so
much at one time before. He laughed
as he finished, and lounged easily In
the saddle.
II was on my way to The Ccrals,
he continued, "to tell you about 1t.
Seriously, wouldn't you have accepted?
I saw no chance of doing anything
else for some time at least. My money
wouldn't hold out foreve-. And this
is about rs easy and lazy life as one
couid wish. Just about right for
lazy man. am not exactly a lazy
bones. I would, of course, prefer
career that promises something besides
gold lace and huge epaulets. But
took it, and here I am.
why you are simply magnificent, "
7 said. "You look fit to be in COM
mand of an armv. Accept? Ofcourse
you did right in accepting. You saved
the queens life, now let her give you
a living. It seems odd for an Ameri-
can to be serving a queen, though,
doesn't it?"
"That's just it. 1t is against all my
principles.
We'll, I wouldn't lie awake nights
over the injury to your principles.
You have evidently got soft thing
with the queen, and I'd keep it. But
You were going to The Corals. / will
go back with you. [ must be there
when Uncle Tom and Win see this
magnifcence.
We started back through the valley,
and had gay ride to the plantation.
Gordon was now different per@on
than Gordon before. He grew in bril-,
lance, in unison with the brilliance OF
his gold lace trappings, and ha1
mary q good laugh over his accounts
Of the tip-toe dignity preserved IN the
palace.
why, do you know" he said,
nlancing around to make sure that his
attendant and a1rGe were out Of hear
ing, "that when the steward, or Com
missioner of Grub, or whatever he Is
called, goes and asks her the royal
wishes for dinner, our queen receives
nm IN great state, and after great
to-do over nothing informs him that
her page will convey the important in
formation later. Then she consuit<
with the prineea4 and her private
secretary writes out the menu. The
page then takes it to the kitchen, and
eventually her royal highness gets hel
dinner"
NY! What it is TO be a queen, !
said, laughing. "But the princess
seems of different type"
"She is part English"
$50 Uncle Tom tells me. That OF
course accounts for the tenderness the
English here have for the royal
house"
"Yes. have a fellow officer who
is au Englishman. [ have already
taken q dislike to the fellow. His
name is Jobbs-Pericles Jobbs."
His name almost condemns him.
"And his appearance iustifies this
verdict. He is cad"
SO we talked until we reached The
Corals. The entire household seemed
10 know that somebody out of the or
linary was coming, for out of every
window came head. Uncle Tom and
Winnie came out on the porch, and
stood gazing in astonishment and
wonder at our approach. When we
were near enough for Gordon to he
recognized, Winnie threw up he:
hands and laughed gieefully. Uncle
Tom looked little stern, thought,
FOR the occasion.
Captain Gordon, good folks" l
! Said.
why, Captain Gordon, how gGano
you iook!" exclaimed Win, still laugh
| inc. 81 had no idea You were SOL
dier"
"Nor was I until yesterday" he re-
piled, removing his plumed cap, anc
| resting easily against the pillars OF the
porch. Winnie eyed him from head
to foot mischievously, and he laugh.
ingly posed for the inspection. He
could stand it we'll. lie was very
handsome.
81 am not sure that I can honestly
congratulate you," said my uncle, half
smiling; "we have long found fault
| -, - 4.-.,,,,os of tho court