Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-03-13

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back ana laughing still. You must
forgive me IL | was taken aback. A
man doesn't expect to see double at
this time OF day. ell. Frltz?"
Il must pray pardon, sire. for my
presumption" said l. II trust IL will
not forfeit your majesty's favor"
by heaven, you'll always enjoy the
kings countenance." he laughed.
whether | like ii or not; and, sir, /
shall very gladly add to it what serv-
ices 4 can. Where are you travelling
TOP
ITO Strelsau. sire-to the corona
ton"
The king looked at his friends He
still smiled, though his expression
limited some uneaslness. But the hu.
morous side OF the matter caught him
again.
Fritz. Fritz he cried. "a thousand
crowns for n sight of brother Michaers
face when he sees a pair Of u.s. and
the merry laugh rang out again.
Seriously" observed Fritz Won Tar
lenheim, II question Mr.. Rassendylps
wisdom in visiting Strelsau just now"
The king lit cigarette.
well, SaptT said he questioningly.
"He mustn't CO." growled the old fel-
low
"Come, colonel. you mean that
should be in Mr.. Rassendylrs debt
if
"Oh, aye, wrap it up in the right
way" said Sapt, hauling a great pipe
out of his pocket.
Enough. SIRE" said I. "Ill leave
Ruritania today"
"Now, by thunder, you shan't, and
that's sans phrase, as Sapt likes il.
For you shall dine with me tonight.
happen what will afterward. Come,
man. you don't meet new relative
every day."
1--WE dine sparingly tonight" said
Fritz Won Tarlenheim.
Not we, with our new cousin for q
guestr' cried the king. and as Fritz
shrugged his shoulders he added. "Oh.
I'll remember our early start. Fritz"
80 will Tomorrow morning" said
old Sapt. pulling at his pipe.
"Oh. wise old Sapt." cried the king.
"Come, Mr. Rassendyll. BY the way.
what name did they give you?"
'Your majesty's," l answered, bow
ing.
'well. that shows they weren't
ashamed Of u.s." he laughed Come.
then, cousin Rudolf I've got no house
OF my own here. but my dear brother
Michael le>ds us a place OF his. and
We'll make shift to entertain you
there" And he put his arm through
mine and, signing to the others to ac-
company us. walked me Off westerly
through the forest.
We walked for more than half an
hour, and the king smoked cigarettes
and chartered necessarily. He was full
OF interest In my family, laughed
heartily when l told him Of the por-
traits with Elphberg hair in our gal
leries and yet more heartily when he
heard that my expedition to Ruritania
was secret one.
'You have to visit your disreputable
cousin on the sly, have your" said he.
Suddenly emerging from the wood.
we came on a small and rude shooting
lodge. 1t was a one story building. a
sort OF bungalow, built entirely of
wood. AS we approached IL a little man
in a plain livery came out to meet us.
The only other person l saw about the
place was fat, elderly woman. whom
| afterward discovered TO be the moth
or OF Johann, the dukes keeper.
"Well. is dinner ready. josef" asked
the king
The little servant Informed us that il
was. and we soon sat down TO plentl-
full meal. The fare was plain enough.
The king ate heartily. Fritz Won Tar
lenheim delicately, old Sapt voracious
". / played a good knife and fork. rs
my custom is. The king noticed my
performance with approval.
Were all good trenchermen, we
Elphbergs." said he. But what?-
we're eating dry. Wine. Josef; wine.
man! Are we beasts to eat without
drinking? Are we cattle. JosefY'
At this reproof Josef fastened TO
load the table with bottles.
Remember tomorrow said Fritz
AYE. tomorrow" said old Sapt.
The king drained bumper 10 his
cousin Rudolf" as he was gracious
or merry-enough to call me. and
drank its fellow to the "Elphberg red"
whereat he laughed loudly.
Now. be the meat what it might, the
wine we drank was beyond all price
or praise and we did 1t justice. Fritz
ventured once to stay the kings hand.
"Whatg' cried the king. Remember
you start before do. Master Fritz
you must be more sparing by two
hours than l."
Fritz saw that did not understand.
"'rhe colonel and /" be explained.
leave here at 6. We ride down 10
Zenda and return with the guard OF
honor to fetch the king at 3. and then
we all ride together to the station"
"Hang that same guardr' growled
Sapt.
"Oh. it's very civil of my brother to