Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-20
as among us. rf seems.,

known" cried Sapt III you stay
here the deuce a man in all Ruritania
will doubt OF it-or a woman either"
I began 70 feel uncomfortable. Had
I realized what a very plainly written
pedigree l carried about with me i
should have thought long before Wis
tied Ruritania. However, 1 was In for
ii now.
At this moment a ringing voice
sounded from the wood behind US:
"tritz, FRITZ Where are you. manTs
Tarlenheim started and said hastily;
"Its the klngr'
Old Sapt chuckled again.
Then young man jumped out from
behind the trunk OF a tree and stood
beside us. As looked on him utter
ed an astonished cry. and he. seeing
me, drew back In sudden wonder. saw
Ing the hair on my face and a manner
OF conscious dignity which his position
gave him. saving also that he lacked
perhaps half an inch-nny, less than
that, but still somethlng-of my height.
the king OF Ruritanla might have been
Rudolf Rassendyll and 1 Rudolf the
king.
For an instant We stood motionless.
looking at one another. Then I barred
my head again and bowed respectfully.
The king found his voice and asked IN
bewilderment:
"ColOnel-Frltz-wh is this gentle
manT'
I was about TO answer when Colonel
Sapt stepped between the king and me
and began to talk to his majesty In a
low growl. The king lowered over
Sapt. and as he listened his eyes now
and again sought mine. 7 looked az
him long and carefully. The likeness
was certainly astonishing. though I
saw the points OF difference also. Tho
kings face was slightly more neshy
than mine, the oval or It's contour the
least trihe more pronounced and. as I
fancicd, his mouth lacking something
OF the hrmneSs (or obstiuacy1 which
was 60 be gathered from my close shut
ting lips. But for all that and above
al minor distinctions the likeness rose
striking. salient wonderful.
Sapt ceased speaking. and the king
still frowned Then gradually the cor
ners OF his mouth began TO twitch his
nose came down (as mine does when I
laugh, his eyes twinkled. and. behold.
ne burst into the mcrrlest 10 OF IRE.
pressible laughter. which rang through
the woods aud proclaimed him a iovlaf
soul
We'll met. couslnr he cried. step
ping mp 20 me, clapping me on the
back and laughing still "Nou must
forgive me IL I was taken aback A
man doesn't expect 70 see double at
this time OF day. en-. Fritzg'
81 must pray pardon. sire. FOR my
presumption" said J. Il trust Il win
not forfeit your majesty's favor"
"By heaven. you'u always enjoy the
Ning's countenance." he laughed.
whether I Ike IL or not: and. sir. 1
shall very gladly add % Il what serv-
Ices l can. Where are you travelling
tor
ITO strclsau. sire-to the corona
tion"
The king looked az his friends. He
stlll smiled. though his expression
limited some uncasincss. But the h.
-norous side Of the matter caught him
again.
"Fritz. Tritzr' he cried. - thousand
crowns Tor a sight OF brother Mlchaers
face when he sees q pair OF us.' and
the merry laugh rang out again.
seriously" observed Fritz Won Tar
lenheim. Il question AR. Rassendylrs
wisdom Ia visiting Strelsau just now"
The king lit a cigarette
"Weu. SaptY' said he qucstionincly.
He mustn't so" growled the old fell
low.
"Come, colonel. you mean that I
should be IN Mr.. RasseudyUs debt
IT.
"Oh, aye, wrap It UP In the right
way" said Sapt. hauling n great pipe
out OF his pocket.
Enough. sire" said I. "Iu leave
Ruritania today"
"Now, by thunder. you shan't. and
that's sans phrase. as Sapt likes It.
For YOU shall dine with me tonight
happen what will afterward. Come.
man, you don't meet a new relative
every dayi
I'VE dine sparingly tonight" said
Fritz Won Tarlenhelm.
Not we, with our new cousin for a
guest" cried the king. and as Fritz
shrugged his shoulders he added. "Oh.
~ AS-AlchAbet our curly start. EFltL.
$50 viii Tomorrow morning." said
old Sapt pulling at his pipe.
"Oh. wise old SaptT cried the king.
"Come, Mr.. Rassendyr. By the way,
what name did they give your
Your majesty's," answered. bow
ing
"wen. 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 lends us q place OF his. and
Wen make shift to entertain you
there" And he put his srm through
mine and. signing to the others 20 ac~
company us, walked me or westerly
through the forest.
We walked for more than half an
hour. and the king smoked cigarettes
and chartered necessarily. He was fun
OF interest In my family. laughed
heartily when told him OF the por-