The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-24

"a girl is a girl the world over. She
may be the daughter Of a rich man, or
she may work in a factory, but she
wants romance. She has read about
cavaliers and chevaliers and million
aires going around in disguise, and she
Is expecting to find one in every
stranger. She began TO question with
this end in view, and 50 after q little
I said.
Miss, I am not exactly what
seem. and should you care to hear my
story I VIII tell il to YOU
ftShe answered that she would be de-
lighted and after making ready I
started on as follows.
% z am now known over a great part
Of the United States as sloppy sam
but there was time when I Was called
Fitzhue Fftz5ames. and had a right to
the name
g" 7 knew there was a romance in
your life as soon as I sat eyes on you,'
she interjected.
90 Tor years my father was one Of
the richest men in America. while nay
York. was reared in the lap Of lux
ury had every advantage that
wealth could bring, and after I had
passed through college and arrived at
the age of twentg-one my father sent
me to the Orient to learn the ways and
manners of q chevalier Of old.
4 was sure OF it=perfectIy surei
said the schoolma' am. as her eyes glls-
" went to Bagdad,' I continued. I
heard that about q. hundred chevaM erB
who had been reduced to poverty had
taken up their residence in that famous
city and had gone to weaving imitation
Bagdad lounge covers for the American
market In order to support themselves.
My heart burned with Indignation at
the thought OF their humiliation
or course It didi she exclaimed,
as her cheeks Redeemed. Think OF a
ehevalter who had rescued a dozen
damseis In distress having to come
down to weaving rugs Oslt OF old ragsl'
I reached Bagdad to find 1t all too
true. The ohsTaliers were working
fourteen hours a day for three dollars a
week, and e one Of them stopped for a
moment to tell how he had met the
MamaluEes In a doray and decapltated
three or four OF them he was dis
charged on the spot. Their wages were
so small that they had to subsist mostly
on prunes and water and not one of
them had a clean shirt oftener than
once In four weeks
" Shameful shameful exclaime ed
the schoclEua am i know that YOU at
once let st be known that You had come
3D. to succor them2
II surely did, Miss. Ny first move
was 20 call them all out and give them
money TO buy new garments and arms
and horses Within two weeks each
one had a squire and was riding around
IN the pride and panop3y Of other AaVs
The sight was a glorious one to looh
upon, and you VIII not WonasF that mas
heart swelled with pride as the cavaf.
cade paraded before me with rfpplins
banners and huttering pennons
How noble! How grandi' she Wilis-
pered
Having got my chevallers toreth-
er, the next step was to 60 on 8 cru
SADIE by father had told me that ms
mission should be to rescue the true
faith from the infidels, and as & side
Issue to succor any damsei who Fslghs
be IN distress Just at that 9fEas wa
heard Of a damsel who had been carried
of by the inffdels. and one morning we
Get off amidst the blare Of trumpets
and the jingling OF steel
Go on-gO on!' said the girl, as
paused to think Of the rest Of the lie
u would have given my life to have
been there! You were at the head Oh
the cavalcade with drawn sword. q
plume IN your hat and mounted on &
-gteed as dark as nlght2'
Twas so, fair ladye-'twas so
Never shall I forget the picture. Ny
steed ambled and snorted- and my
sword cut the air as If anxious for the
blood of the inf1dels. and all up an6
down the cavalcade came cheers an6
huzzas for Fitzhue Fitzjames. The
days OF chivalry had been revived. Lit
kie did I think at that moment that