West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-03-14

enjoy much. But Bert. old man. don't
despair. lie won't marry the fair An.
tolnette-at least not unless another
plan comes 60 nothing Sur, perhaps.
shc'- He paused and added. with a
laugh, Royal attentions are hard 10
resist You know that. don't you. Ru-
dolr9"
"Confound your said |, and, rising
l left the hapless Bertram In Georges
hands and went homo 20 bed.
The next day George Fcahcrly wcat
with me TO the station, where | took
a tic'yct for Dresden.
Going 60 see the picmrcsy" asked
George, with grin.
George l. nm inyetcratc gossip. and
had | told him that I was OF To Rurl
tanl1 the news would have been la
London I'm three days and Ia Park lane
In week. | wan therefore about 60 ro-
turn an cVasiyc answer when lac saved
my conscience 10y leaving me suddenly
ana dart-; across the platform. Fol
lowing hun with my eyes, | saw him
lit his hat ANA aCco>t n graceful fnsh.
ionahly dressed woman who had lust
appeared from the booking Office. She
was porhui.5 year or two over thirty.
tall. dark ANA OF rather fun figure. As
George talS,d saw her glance ut mo.
ANA my vanity wus hurt 10y the thought
th6J mumCl Ia a fUr coat and a nccl,
wrapper 0or il was chilly April dayl
ana wearing soft travelling hat pulled
down 10 my eyes. must be looking
very far from my best A moment
later George rejoned me.
You've got a charming travelling
companion" he said. That's poor Bert
Bertrnms goddess, Autonettc do Mau-
ban, and, like YOU, she's going 10 Drcs.
den also, no doubt, 10 see the pictures
It's very queer though that she doesn't
at present desire the honor OF your ac-
quaintancc."
i didn't ask 10 be introduced" I OBJ
served, llttlc annoyed.
We'll, | offered 20 bring YOU 10 her
but she said. Another time Never
mind, old fellow. perhaps thercn be n
smash. aud you'll have a chance OF res.
cClng her nnd cutting out the Duke OF
Strelsau"
NO smash, however, happened. either
TO mc or 20 Nine. dc Mauhan. can
speak FOR her as confidently as for my
SELF. for when, after nights rest I'm
Dresden, continued my Journey she
got Into the same train. Understand
ing that she wished to be Let alone. /
avoided hor carefully, but saw that
she went the same way ns did 10 the
very end Of my journey, and / took Oh.
portunitcs Of having good look at
InH NFsNt NtfaFa n
As soon Hs we reached the Rurita.
nlan frontier twherc the old officer who
presided over the custom house favor.
cd me with such stare that | felt
surcr than before of my Elphbcrg
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 or mystery the date
OF the coronation had been suddenly
advanced, and the ceremony was TO
take place OH the next day but one.
Tho whole country seemed IN n stir
about H. and II was evident that shel-
sau was thronged. Rooms were MI let
ana hotels overhowlng There would
he very little chance OF my obtaining
a lodging and l should certainly have
to pay m exorbitnnt charge for II. ]
mudc UP my mind TO stop at Zenda. a
small town fifty miles short OF the cap
ital mud about ten from the frontier
Ny train reached there I'm the evening
I would spend the next day Tuesday,
I'm wander over the hills, which were
said 10 be very fine, and In taking
glance at the famous castle and go
over 10y train 20 Strelsau on the
Wednesday morning returning at
night to sleep az Zendn.
Accordingly Ht Zonda got out. and
ns the train passed where stood on
the platform I saw my friend. Nine
de Maubsn. I'm her place Clearly she
was going through TO strelsau, hav-
ing, with more providence than could
bonst secured apartments there. /
tmIled TO think how surprised George
Featherly would have been 20 know
that she and ! had been fellow travel
crs for so long
/ was very kindly received AZ the
hotel-it was really 10 more than m
lnn-kept by n fat old lady and her
two daughters They were good. quiet
people and seomed very little interest
ed In the great doings st strclsau The
old lady's hcro was the duke. for he
was now under tho late kings win
master Of the Zenda estates aud Of the
| castle. which rose grandly OH its steep
hlll at the end Of the valley, % 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
1--WE know Duke Michael" said shc.
ole has always lived among us Ey-
cry Rurianlan knows Duke Michael
But the king Is almost a stranger he
has been 80 much abroad not one in
ten knows him oven by sight"
"And now" cblmed in ono Of the
young women. "they say hc hos shay.
cd on his beard, 30 that no ono nt All
knows him"
shaved his boardw exclaimed her
mother. "Who says soT
Johann, the dukes keeper. lie has
seen the king"
"Ah. yos The king. slr b. I. nt thc
duko's shooting lodge in thc forest
| I'll t