Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-09

ill week. I was therefore about to re- turn an evasive answer when he saved my conscience by leaving me suddenly and darting across the platform. Fol lowing him with my eyes, saw him lift his hat and accost graceful, fash ionably dressed woman who had just appeared from the booking office. She was perhaps year or two over thirty, tall, dark and of rather full figure. As George talked I saw her glance at me, and my vanity was hurt by the thought that, mutfled ill fur coat and a neck wrapper Qfor it was chilly April Gay) and wearing soft travelling hat pulled down to my eyes, must be looking very far from my best. A moment later George rejoined me.
 You've got charming travelling companicn." he said. That's poor Bert Bertram's goddess, Antoinette de Mau- ban, and, like you, she's going to Dres- den--also, no doubt, to see the pictures. It's very queer, though, that she doesn't at present desire the honor of your ac- quaintance"
 T didn't ask te be introduced" ob- served, a little annoyed.
 Well, offered to bring you to her, but she said, Another time., Never mind, old fellow, perhaps there'll be a smash, and you'll have chance of res cuing her and cutting out the Duke of Strelsau."
 No smash. however, happened, either to me or tosMme. de Mauban. I can speak for her as confidently as for my self, for when. after nights rest in Dresden, I continued my joHrney she got into the same train. Understand ing that she wished to be let alone, avoided her carefully, but I saw that she went the same way as did to the very end of my journey, and I took op- portunities of having a good look at her when I could do so unobserved.
 As soon as we reached the Rurita- nian frontier (where the old officer who presided over the custom house favor ed me with such a stare that felt surer than before of my Elphberg physiognomy) bought the papers and found in them news which affected my movements. For some reason which was not clearly explained and seemed to be something of mystery the date of the coronation had been suddenly advanced, and the ceremony was to take place on the next day but one. The whole country seemed in stir about it, and it was evident that Strel- sau was thronged. Rooms were all let and hotels ove-fcwing. There would be very little chance of my obtaining a lodging. and I should certainly have to pay an exorbitant charge for 1t. I made up my mind to stop at Zenda, a small town fifty miles short of the cap ital and about ten from the frontier. My train reached there in the evening. I would spend the next day, Tuesday, in wander over the hills, which were said to be very fine, and in taking glance at the famous castle and go over by train to Strelsau on the Wednesday morning, returning at night to sleep at Zenda.
 Accordingly at Zenda I got out, and as the train passed where I stood on the platform I saw my friend. Mime. de Mauban, in her place. Clearly she was going through to Strelsau, hay ing. with more providence than I could boast. secured apartments there. I smiled to think how surprised George Featherly would have been to know that she and had been fellow travel CTS for so long.
 I was very kindly received at the hotel-it was really no more than an inn-kept by fat old lady and her two daughters. They were good. quiet people and seemed very little interest cd in the great doings at Strelsau. The old lady's hero was the duke, for he was now under the late kings will master of the Zenda estates and of the castle. which rose grandly on its steep hill at the end of the valley, a mile or so from the inn. The old lady, indeed, did not hesitate to express regret that the duke was not on the throne instead of his brother.
 "We know Duke Michael" said she. "He has always lived among us. Ev- cry Ruritanian knows Duke Michael. But the king is almost stranger; he has been so much abroad not one in ten knows him even by sight"
 And now," chimed in one of the young women. "they say he has shav- cd of his beard, so that no one at all knows him"
 Shaved his beard.' exclaimed her mother. "who says sof"
 Johann. the dukes keeper. He has seen the king"
 "Ah. yes. The king, sir. Is now at the dukes shooting lodge in the forest here; from here he goes to Strelsau to be crowned on Wednesday morning"
 was interested to hear this and made up my mind to walk next day in the direction of the lodge on the chance of coming across the king. The old lady ran on garrulously:
 "Ah, and I wish he would stay at his shooting-that and wine fand one thing morei are all he loves. they say and suffer our duke to be crowned on Wednesday. That I wish. and I don't care who knows it.
 Hush. mother~ urged the daugh- ters.
 "Oh, there's many folks to think as I dor cried the old woman stubbornly.
 threw myself back in my deep arm