The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-03-15

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went on my way, glad that poor
Black Michael, though he could not
have the throne or the princess, had
at least got as fine residence as
any prince In Europe.
Soon I entered the forest and walked
on for an hour or more In its cool, SON.
Der shade. The great trees enlaced
with one another over my head and
the sunshine stole through In patches
as bright as diamonds and hardly big
ger. was enchanted with the place
and, finding felled tree trunk, prop
ped my back against 1t and, stretching
my legs out gave myself up to undis-
turbed contemplation OF the solemn
beauty of the woods and to the COM
fort of a good cigar. And when the
cigar was finished and | had, sup
| pose, inhaled as much beauty as I
could went OFF into the most delight.
full sleep. regardless OF my train to
Strelsau and Of the fast waning after
noon. To remember a train in such q
spot would have been rank sacrilege
Instead of that fell to dreaming that
/ was married to the Princess FIavia
and dwelt in the castle of Zenda and
beguiled whole days with my love In
the glades Of the forest, which made a
very pleasant dream. In fact, I was
just impressing feryent kiss on the
charming lips of the princess when 1
heard land the voice seemed at first a
part OF the dream) some one exclaim
In rough, strident tones:
why, the devils in i'll Shave him,
and he'd be the king!'
The idea seemed whimsical enough
for dream. BY the sacrifice OF my
heavy mustache and carefully pointed
imperial was to be transformed into
monarch! / was about to kiss the
princess again when / arrived very
reluctantly at the conclusion that l
was awake
| l opened my eyes and found two men
regarding me with much curiosity.
Both wore shooting costumes and car
ried guns. One was rather short and
very stoutly built, with big, bullet
shaped head, bristly gray mustache
and small pale blue eyes, a trine blood
shot. The other was a slender young
fellow Of middle height. dark in COM
plexion and bearing himself with
grace and distinction. / set the one
down as an old soldier, the other for
a gentleman accustomed to move IN
good society, but not unused to mill
tary life either. IL turned out after
ward that my guess was good one.
The elder man approached me. beck
oning the younger to follow. He die
so. courteously raising his hat. i rost
slowly to my feet.
Hes the height, too!' / heard th'
elder murmur as he surveyed my si'
feet two inches Of stature. Then wiz
a cavalier touch of the cap, he ad
! dressed me:
MAY ask your nameT
"As you have taken the first step Il
the acquaintance, gentlemen, said
with a smile, suppose you give me
lead in the matter of names"
. The young man stepped forwar'
with q pleasant smile.
'This." said he, lis Colonel Sapt, an
am called Fritz Won Tarlenheim. w
are both in the service Of the king o
% Ruritania."
Ie I bowed and, barring my head, an
3 swered: ~
II OF am Rudolf Rassendyll. I am
q traveller from England, and once for
It year or two held commission fror
E. her majesty the queen"
q, Then we are all brethren Of III
& sword" answered Tarlenheim, holdin
of out his hand. which took readily.
10 'Rassendyll, Rassendyllr' muttere
ID Colonel sapt. Then a CLEAN Of INTEL
er gence fitted across his face. S..
Ut by heaven" he cried, you're OF q
o. Burlesdonsw
ID MY brother is now Lord Burlesdon,
a. said /.
e. Thy head bewrayeth thee" he chu
Ne killed., pointing to my uncovered POI
c "why, Fritz, you know the storyp
.. The young man glanced APOLOGIZE
10 ally at me. He felt dellcacy whic
10 my sister-in.law would have admire
To put him at his ease remarke
10 with q smile:
to "Ah. the story Is known here as we
ed as among us, IL seems"
In. Known cried sapt "If you sts
st here the deuce a man in all Ruritan
ny viii doubt Of it-or a woman either"
by I began to feel uncomfortable. Hi
he I realized what a very plainly writt'
de pedigree I carried about with me
&c should have thought long before / VI
nm tied Ruritania. However, was In Z
to IL now. ~
on At this moment a ringing vol
In sounded from the wood behind Us:
to "Fritz, Fritz Where are you. man
a Tarlenheim started and said hastil!
for 'Ifs the king!, -.
bt' Old sapt chuckled again.
no Then a young man jumped out fro
behind the trunk Of a tree and sto
Ing beside Us. As looked on him utt'
ell, ed an astonished cry, and he, sect
my me. drew back in sudden wonder. "a
bill Ing the hair on my face and mann
the OF conscious dignity which his positi
lis. gave him, saving also that, he lack
as perhaps half an inch-nay, less III
ys, that. but still somethIng-of my helg