West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-03-21
II VIRGINIA, THURSDAY, MARCH o. 1907

/ Fluvia"'
she courtesied low and put her hand
/ under mine and raised my hand aud
| kissed IL, And for an instant
7 thought what had best do. Then 1
4 drew her 60 me and kissed her twice
I on the cheek, and she blushed rcd. and
/ why, then his cminence the cardinal
| archbishop slipped I'm front OF BLACK
Michael and kissed my hand and pro
sented me with a letter from the pope.
the FIRST and last which have ever re
| eoivod from that exalted quarter!
And then came the Duke OF Strelsau.
/ His step tremblcd l swear and he
looked TO the right and TO the left. as
n man looks who thinks ON flight. and
his face was patched with red and
white, and his hand shook SO that IL
/ jumped under mine. and felt his lips
dry and parched. And | glanced at
Sapt, who was smiling again into his
/ beard, and. rcsolutely doing my duty
ie that station Of lie TO which had
been marvelously called took my
dear Michael ly both hands ana kissed
him ON the cheek. l think we were
! both glad when that was over,
/ But neither In the face OF the prln-
cess nor IN that OF any other did see
the least doubt or questioning. Yet
had / ana the king stood side by side
they could have told us in au instant.
/ or at least on little consideration.
| But neither they nor anyone clse
| dreamed or imagined that l could be
| other than the king. SO the likeness
served. and for an hour stood there.
| feeling ms weary and blasc as though
! l had been king all my life. and ev-
| erybOdy kissed my hand, and the am
bassodors paid me their respects
among them old Lord Topham, at
whose house In Grosvenor square | had
danced score OF times. Thank henv-
en-. the old man was as blind as bat
and did not claim my acquaintance.
Then back we went through the
streets 20 the palace, and heard them
cheering Black Michael, but he. Fritz
| told me, sat biting his nails like Il man
I'm reyoric and even his own friends
said that he should have made BRAY
er show. ! was I'm carriage now, side
/ by side with the Princess Flavln, and a
rough fellow cried out
and whens the weddlngW and as
he spoke another struck him In the
| face crying Long live Duke Michnelw
! and the princess colorcd-it was an nd-
mlroble tlnt-and looked straight in
front OF her.
Now / felt I'm "A difficulty. because
had forgotten 10 ask Snpt the state OF
my affections or how far matters had
gone between the princess and myself.
/ Frankly, had | been the king the fur
ther they had gone the better should
have been pleased, for am not slow
bloOdcd man, ana / had not kissed
Princess Flavias cheek for nothing.
These thoughts passed through my
head; but, not being sure Of my ground.
j said nothing, and In a moment or two
the princess, recovering her equanlm-
ity, turned TO me.
"Do you know, Rudolf" said she,
you look somehow different todayT'
The fact was not surprising, hut the
remark was disqueting
you look" she went ON, more
sober, more scdate. You're almost
cnrcworn, and / declare you're thin
ner. Surely It's not possible that
you've begun TO take anything serl-
ouslyT'
The princess seemed TO hold Of the
king much the same opinion that Lady
Burlesdon held Of me-
! braced myself up 20 the conycrsa-
tion
would that please your" / asked
roftly.
"Oh. you know my views" said She
turning her eyes away.
whatever pleases you try to do"
/ / said, and as ] saw her smile and
blush thought that / was playing the
kings hand very well for him so
continued, and what / said was per-
fectly true:
81 assure you, my dear cousin. that
nothing IN my life has affected mo
more than the reception I've been
/ greeted with today"
She smiled brightly but I'm an In.
slant grew grave again and whisper.
ed.
Did You notice Mlchaelf'
Yes" said I. adding. lie wasn't
enjoying himself"
"Do be carcfulw she went on. "You
dOn't-indeed you don't keep enough
watch on him. You know
~ know said J. "that he wants
what I've got"
"Ycs Hush"
Then, and I can't Justify It. for
committed the king far beyond what
! had right to do suppose she car
ricd me of my fcet-I went on
"And. perhaps. also something which
! haven't got yet but hope TO win
some day"
/ This was my answer had / been the
/ king J should have thought it encour-
aging
Haven't you enough responsibilities
on you Tor one day. cousinT
Bang. bang Blarc, blarc, We we're
at the palace Guns were firing md
trumpets blowing. Rows OF inckcys
stood waiting and, handing the pr.n-
cess up the broad marble staircase. 7
I took formal possession 0s "a crowned
| king OF the house of my ancestors and
sat down at my own table. with my
/ cousin ON my right hand on her other
/ side Black Michael and on my lcft his
cm.ncnco the cardinal. Behind my
/ chair stood S0pt. and at the cul of the
| table J saw Fritz Won Tarlenhcim drain
20 The bottom his glass of champagne
rather sooner than he deceutly, should.
wondered what the king OF Ruri-
| tania was doing
CHAPTER VI.
! fNAYlE wore I'm the kings dressing
| w room-Fritz Won Torlcuhclm
/ 80 .L-L nul Nu--- ------LL