Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-06-26

let my mustache and imperial grow
again, and, as hair comes quickly on
my face. they were respectable. though
not luxuriant, by the time that / land.
ed myself in Paris and called on my
friend George Feathcrly. My inter.
view with him was chiefly remarkable
for the number of unwilling but nee.
essary falsehOods that | told. and raj
lied him numerically when he told
me that he had made up his mind that
had gone In the track of Nine. de
Mauban to Strelslu. The lady. il ap-
peared, was back in Paris. hut was
living IN great secuslon-a fact for
which gossip found no difficulty in az
counting. DID - all the world know
Of the treacheiy ana death of Duke
Michaelf Nevertheless George bade
Bertram Bertrand be Of GOOD cheer,
for" said he hlppantly. "a live poet
is better than dead duke" Then h.
turned on me and asked:
what have you been doing to your
mustache?"
'To tell the truth" ! answered, as
Stunning a sly air, "a man now and then
has reasons for wishing to alter his
appearance But it's coming on very
well again"
what? Then I wasn't so far out?
II not the fair Antolnette, there was
charmer."
There IS always a charmer." said
sententiously.
But George would not be satisfied till
he had wormed out of me Che took
much pride IN his ingenuity an abso-
lutely imaginary love affair, attended
with the proper soupcon of scandal.
which had kept me all this time in
the peaceful regions OF the TyrOl. In
return for this narrative George re-
called me with great deal Of what he
calico "insde information" (krown
only to diplomatists) as 10 the true
course Of events In Rurltania the plots
and counterplots. In his opinion. he
told me. with a significant nod, there
was more TO be said for Black Michael
than the public supposed. and he hint
ed at a we'll founded suspicion that the
mysterious prisoner of Zenda. concern
ing whom n good many paragraphs had
appeared. was not a man at all, but
(here | had some ado not TO smilel a
woman disguised as man. and that
strife between the king and his broth
er for this imaginary lady's favor was
AT the bottom of their quarrel.
Perhaps II was Nine. de Mauban
herself" | suggested.
"Nor' said George decisively. AN
toinette de Mauban was jealous of
for that reason. And. to confirm what
I say, It's well known that the Pi1n-
cess Flavia Is now extremely cold 10
the king after having been most ar
fectlonate."
At this point / changed the subject
and escaped from Georges INSPIRED"
delusions. But II dlplomatists never
know anything more than they had
succeeded In finding out In this in
stance they appear TO me to be some
what expensive luxuries.
While IN Paris wrote TO Antolnette.
though l did not venture 10 call upon
her | received in return very af-
fecting letter. in which she assured me
that the kings generosity and kind
ness. no less than her regard for me.
bound her conscience 10 absolute Sc
crecy She expressed the intention of
settling in the country and withdraw
ing herself entirely from society.
Whether she carried out her designs
I have never heard, but as | have not
met her or heard news OF her up TO
this time IL Is probable that she did.
There Is no doubt that she was deeply
her conduct at the time OF his death
proved that no knowledge OF the mans
real character was enough 10 root her
regard for him out OF her heart.
had one more battle left TO fight
a battle that would. knew. be severe
defeat Was I not back from the Ty-
rol without having made any study OF
/ its inhabitants. institutions. scenery.
/ fauna, fora or other features? Had /
not wasted my time in my usual friv-
olous. good for nothing way? That
was the aspect OF the matter which. |
was obliged 10 admit. would present IL
lef To my sister-in-law. and against a
Ferdict based on such evidence | had
really no defense TO offer. II may be
supposed. then. that | presented my
SELF in Park lane in a shamefaced.
sheepish fashion. On the whole. my
reception was not so alarming as
had feared II turned out that | had
done not what Rose wished. but-the
next best thing-what she had prophe-
sled. She had declared that | should
make no notes. record no observations.
gather no materials. My brother, on
the other hand. had been weak enough
10 maintain that really serious re-
solve had at length animated me.
When returned empty handed. Rose
was so occupied In trlumphing over
Burlesdon that she let me down quite
easily, devoting the greater part of her
reproaches TO my failure to advise my
friends OF my whereabouts
We've wasted a lot of time trying
to find YOU" she said.
| KNOW you nave, Sdlu 1. nun
our ambassadors have led weary lives
On my account. George Featherly told
me so. But why should you have been
anxious? ! can take care of myself"
"Oh. Il wasn't that" she cried scorn-
fully. "but wanted TO tell you about
Sir Jacob Borrodaile. You know he's
got an embassy-at least he will have
IN "A month--and he wrote to say he
hoped you would go with him"
where's he going to-
Hes going TO succeed Lord Topham
at Strelsau." said she. you couldn't
have nicer place. short OF Paris"
"Strclsau. I'mr' said /. glancing at