Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-09
ehs !:!.s prlsoner By... or Hnd 1 HOPE
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
 ~kSYY WONDER when in the world
 IXllI you're going to do anything,
 |66esej Rudolf:" said my brothers
 @8 wife.
 My dear Rose" answered, laying down my egg spoon. why in the world should I do anything? My position is comfortable one. I have an income nearly sufficient for my wants (no one's income is ever quite sufficient, you know). enjoy an enviable social position: am brother to Lord Burles- don and brother-in-law to that most i. charming lady, his'countess. Behold, 1t is enough"'
 You are nine and twenty" she ob- served, land you've done nothin. but
 Knock about? It is true. Our fami. ly doesn't need to do things"
 This remark of mine rather annoyed Rose, for everybody knows-and there { fore there can be no harm in referring to the fact-that, pretty and accom- plished as she herself is, her family is hardly of the same standing as the Rassendylls. Besides her attractions. Ishe possessed large fortune, and my brother Robert was wise enough not to mind about her ancestry. Ancestry is, In fact, matter concerning which the next observation of Roses has some truth.
 Good families are generally worse than any others" she said.
 Upon this I stroked my hair. I knew quite we'll what she meant.
 "I'm so glad Roberts is black" she cried.
 At this moment Robert, who rises at q and works before breakfast came in. He glanced at his wife. Her cheek was slightly flushed; he patted it caress- dngly.
 Whats the matter, my dear?" he asked. .G.1
 .'She objects to my doing nothing and having red hair," said I in an injured tone
 "Oh, of course he can't help his hairw admitted Rose.
 Tt generally crops out once in gen. eration," said my brother. ''So does the nose. Rudolf has got them both.'
 T wish they didn't crop out" said Rose, still flushed.
 T rather like them myself" said I, and, rising, bowed to the portrait of Countess Amelia.
 My brothers wife uttered an ex- clamation of impatience.
 T wish you'd take that picture away, Robert" said she.
 My dcar!' he cried.
 Good heavens" I added.
 Then it might be forgotten" she continued.
 Hardly, with Rudolf about" said Robert, shaking his head.
 "Why should it be forgotten?" I asked
 "Rudolfr' exclaimed my brothers wife, blushing very prettily.
 laughed and went on with my egg. At least I had shelved the question of what, if anything. ought to do. And by way of closing the discussion-and also, must admit, of exasperating my strict little sister-in-law a trife more observed:
 T rather like being an Elphberg my self"
 When I read story, I skip the ex- plantations, yet the moment begin to write one I find that I must have an explanation. For 1t is manifest that must explain why my sister-in-law was vexed with my nose and hair and why I ventured to call myself an Elphberg. For, eminent as, must protest, the Rassendylls have been for many gen. eratlons, yet participation in their blood, of course, does not at first sight Justify the boast of a connection with the grander stock of the Elphbergs or a claim to be one of that royal house For what relationship is there between Ruritania and Burlesdon, between the palace at Strelsau or the castle of Zenda and 305 Park lane, W?
 We'll, ther-and I must premise that I am going perforce to rake up the very scandal which my dear Lady Burlesdon wishes forgotten - in the year 1T33 George IT.. sitting then on the throne, peace reigning for the mo- ment and the king and the Prince of Wales being not yet at loggerheads, there came on a visit to the English court certain prince. who was after ward known to history as Rudolf III. of Ruritania. The prince was a tall. handsome young fellow. marked fnaybe marred: it is not for me to say) by somewhat unusually long. sharp and straight nose and mass of dark eed hair-in fact. the nose and the hair which have stamped the Elphbergs time out of mind. He stayed some months ir England. where he was most courteously received: yet in the end he left rather under a cloud. for he fought duel lit was considered highly well bred of him to waive all question of his rank with a nobleman we'll known in the society of the day not only for his own merits. but as the husband of very beautiful wife. Tn that duel Prince Rudolf received a se- were wound and. recovering therefrom. was adroitiy sInuggled otf by the Ruri- fanian ambassador. who had found him q pretty handful. The noblemau was not wounded Tn the duel: but. the morning being raw and damp on the occasion Of the meeting he contracted a severe chill. and. failing to throw it of. he died some six months after the