Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-20
CHAPTER !
By.
ANTHONY
HOPE

A you're going TO DO anything.
fS7S-r9i Rudolf" said my brother
60 wife.
"Aly dear Rose" 7 answered. laying
down my egg spoon. "why I'M the world
should I do anything? Ny position is
a comfortable one. I have an income
nearly sufficient FOR my wants (no
ones income IS ever quite sufficient
you know. / enjoy an euviable social
position: / am brother 20 Lord Burles-
don and brotheriu-law 70 that most
charming lady, his countess. Behold. II
IS enough
'Hou arc nine and twenty" she OBJ
served, "and you've done nothing
but
KNOCK about1 II IS true. Our FAINT
~ doesn't need 10 do things"
This remark OF mine rather annoyed
Rose for everybody knows-and there
fore there eau be no harm in referring
60 the fact-that. pretty and accom-
plisled as she herself IS. her family is
hardly OF the same standing as the
Rossendv,ls. Besides her attractions
she possessed q large fortune. and my
brother Robert was wise enough not to
mind about her ancestry. Ancestry S.
in fact q matter concerning which the
next observation Of Roses has some
truth
Good families are generally worse
than any others" she said.
Upon DIS I strokcd my hair. knew
quite wcI what she meant
'l'm so glad Roberts ls blackr' she
cried
AT this moment Robert. who rises al
Z and works before breakfast. came Ga
He glanced at lis wife. Her cheek was
Slightly flushed; he patted IL caress-
3ngiy.
What's the matter. my dearT' be
asked.
"shc objects TO my doing nothing and
having red hair" said in an injured
tone.
"oh. OF course he can't help his hairr'
admitted Rose.
1T gcncraIy crops ont once IN a gen
Grafton said nay brother. $50 does the
nose Rudolf has got them both"
Il wish they didn't crop out" said
Rose. suu flushed.
81 rather Ike them myself" said I.
and. rising bowed 20 tho portrait OF
Countess Amelia.
eiamat.oa or Impotence.
Il wish you'd take that picture
away. Robert" said she.
"Afy dear-' be cried
GOOD hoavcns"' ! added.
"Then 81 might be forgotten" she
continued
Hardly. with Rudolf about" said
Robert, Shaking bis head.
"Why should it be forgottenT" I /
asked
Rudolf" exclaimed my brothers
wife. blush.rc very nvettuy.
laughed ana went ON with my crc.
At least ! had sholvOI tie question OF
what II anything. ] ought 20 DO And
by way OF closing The Discussion
also. must admit. OF cxasnc-atir- my
strict lttie sister-in-law trlGe moro
] observed:
self"
Whom I read n story. 7 skip the OK
plantations. yet tho moment 7 horfn 70
write one l0d That must have an
explanation. For 10 is manifest that I /
must explain why my sister-inI1w was I
vexed with my nose and hair ana WHY /
] ventured 20 call myself au Erlnc~g |
For. eminent as. ] mr.t protest tic /
RasserdyIis have been f1r many gone
eratons. yct participation n thoir
blood. or corr.e. docs NOT NJ FIRST ef.-lt !
Justify TIE boast of connection with |
the crardcr stock ~ TIE Elnlherrs or /
claim % Pc one Of that royal house.
For what relationship is there between .
Ruritania md Emlesdon. between the
palace at Strelsau OF tie castle or
Eenda and 3o5 Park lane. w?
Well, thcn-and I must premise that
i am going perforce 10 rake up the
very scandal which my dear Lady
BurlesdOn wishes forgotten in the
year 1888 George H.. sitting then on
the throne, peace reignlng for the mo-
ment and the king and the Prince OF
Wales being not yet at loggerheads.
there came on visit TO the English
court "A certain prince. who was after
ward known 70 history as Rudolf
III. OF Rurtania. The prince was a
TALL. handsome young fellow. marked
(maybe marred; II Is not for me 10 say)
by somewhat unusually long, sharp
and straight nose and a mass OF dark
red hair-in fact. the nose and the hair
which have stamped the Elphbergs
time out OF mind. He stayed some
months in England, where he was
most courteously received; yet I'm the
end he left rather under a cloud. for he
fought duel CT was considered highly
well bred OF him TO waive all question
Of his rank with a nobleman well
known in the society OF the day not
only for his own merits but as the
husband Of very beautiful wife. In
that duel Prince Rudolf received n Sc
we're wound and. recovering therefrom,
was adroitly struggled or by the Ruri-
tanian ambassador, who had found
him pretty handful The nobleman
was not wounded In the duel: but. the
morning being raw and damp on the
occasion OF the meeting he contractec
q severe chill. and, failing 10 throw II