The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-26
:6zs Prisoner:
of Zerlda
By ANTHONY HOPE
Copyrighted, 1921, 1898, by Henry Holt q !
Company
*94
CONTINUED

We've wasted a lot of time trying
to find you," she said. .'.t
Il know you have" said I. "Half
our ambassadors have led weary lives
on my account. George Featherly told
me so. But why should you have been
anxious? 1 can take care of myself"
''oh, it wasn't that" she cried scorn-
fully, ''but l wanted to tell you about
Sir Jacob Borrodaile. You know he's
got an embassy--at least he will have
in month-and he wrote to say he
hoped you would go with him."
where's he going to-"
Hes going 10 succeed Lord Topham
at Strelsau," said she. You couldn't
have a nicer place, short of Paris"
"Strelsau! HIM" said I, glancing at
my brother.
"oh, that doesn't matterr' exclaimed
Rose impatiently. Now, you will so.
won't your
II don't know that care about it."
"0h. you're too exasperating"
"And | don't think l can go to Strel-
sau. My dear Rose. would it be-suit-
able:"
"oh, nobody remembers that horrid
old story now"
Upon this / took out OF ny pocket a
portrait Of the king of Ruritania. 1t
had been taken a month or two before
he assembled the throne, and he wore a
full beard. Nevertheless she could not
miss my point when I said, putting it
into her hands:
''In case you've not seen or not no
tieed a picture Of Rudolf v. there he
Is. Don't you think they might recall
the story If / appeared at the court of
Ruritania?"
Ny sister-in-law looked at the por.
trait and then at me.
Good gracious she said and flung
the photograph down on the table.
"What do you say. Bob!" asked.
Burlesdon got up, went to a corner Of
| the room and searched in a heap Of
newspapers. Presently he came back
with a copy of the Illustrated London
News. Opening the paper. he displayed
a double page engraving Of the corona
ton Of Rudolf V. at Strelsau. The pho
tograph and the picture he laid side by
side. / sat at the table fronting them
and as / looked / grew absorbed. My
eye Travelled from my own portrait Il
Sapt, to StrakencZ, to the rich robes oil
the cardinal. to Black AIichaers face, t
the stately figure Of the princess by hi'
side. Long looked and eagerly. wai
reused by my brothers hand o. my
shoulder. He was gazing down at mC
with a puzzled expression.
"It's a remarkable likeness, you see,'
said l. Il really think had better no
90 to Ruritania."
Rose, though half convinced, wOult
not abandon her position.
Its Just an excuse" she said pet
tlshly. :You don't want TO do anything
Why, you might become an ambassa
dorr'
:. Il don't thiuk want to be an am
bassador," said /.
ITS more than you ever will be-" sh,
retorted.
That is very likely true, but Il is no
more than have been. The idea o
being an ambassador could scarcel.
J dazzle me. had been a king!
So pretty Rose left rs in dudgeon
and Burlesdon, lighting a cigarette
: looked at me still with that curiou
gaze,
THAT picture in the paper he said
"weIl, what Of IL! 1t shows that ID
king Of Ruritanla aud your humbl
; servant are as like as two peas"
Ny brother shook his head.
Il suppose so,' he said. But
shouId know you from the man in III
+: photograph"
"And not from the picture In I'll
paperY'
: Il should know The photograph fror
; the picture; the pictures very like th
photograph. but
"WellY'
"Its more Ike YOU" said my brC
{ Their.
Ny brother Is a good man and true
70 that, for all that he Is a marie
= man and mighty fond Of his wife. h
should know any secret Of mine. Bu
this secret was not mine, and coul
not tell lt 10 him.
) Il don't thlRk it's so much like Inc q
; the photograph" said I boldly. "Bu
anyhow. Bob, I won't 90 TO strelsau
NO, don't 80 TO streIsau, Rudolf,
said be.
q And whether he suspects anything (
. has a glImmer Of the truth I do M
know. II lie has, he keeps II 10 hin
J self, and be and I never refer %
4 And we let sir Jacob BorrOdalle fln
:, another attaelIe.
Since all these events whose bIstor
. I have set down happened have live
3 a very quiet life ut o small hous
which I have taken i'm the countr.
The ordinary ambitions and aims I
r men IN my position seem 20 me du
. and unattractive. I have little fame
! for the whlrl Of society and none II
the j0stie Of politics. Lady Burlesdd
t utterly despalrs Of rne. Ny neighb0i
4 think NE on indolaEt, dreamy, Nns
cable fellow. Yet I nm young ma