Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-03-05

"Your majesty could not be- she
said, CONTRASTING in feigned Difference,
but adding mischievously after
pause. unless, that is''-
''Well, unless what?"
UNLESS you tell me that l mind Il
snap of my fingers where the Duke of
Strelsau is
Really l wished that l had been the
king
You don't care where Cousin Mi
chaer'-
"Ah. Cousin Michael. call him the
Duke of Strelsau."
You call him Michael when you
meet him.
"Ycs-by the orders of your father"
Il see. And now by mine!"
I IF those are your orders"
ooh. decidedly. We must all be
| pleasant 10 our dear Michael
You order me to receive his friends.
too. l SUPPOSE
1.-THE Six
You call them that too?"
''To be in the fashion l do. But l
order you to receive no one unless you
! like"
Except yourseif:'
Il pray for myself l could not orr
der"
As | spoke there came Il cheer from
the street. The princess ran to the
| window
1T is he" she cried 1T is-the
| Duke of Strelsau."
| l smiled. but said nothing. She re-
| turned TO her seat. For few mo-
ments we sat in silence The noise
outside subsidized. but | heard the tread
| of feet in the anterOom. | began to
| talk on general subjects. This went on
for some minutes. l wondered what
had become of Michael. but it did not
seem to be for me to Interfere All at
once, TO my great surprise, Flavia.
! clasping her hands. asked in an agi-
| tated voice:
Are you wise to make him angry"
"What? Who? How am l making
him angry
'Why, by keeping him waiting"
"My dear cousin. don't want to
keep him
] W Ell. llLel. IL III 10 COilit III
"Of course. if you wish it,
| She looked at me curiOusly
How funny you are. she said. "Of
course no one could be answered while
l was with you
Here was charming attribute of
royalty.
AN excellent etiQuettew l cried.
| INT 7 haI II
| were alone with some one else
couldn't you he announced:"
You know as we'll a~I do could
be, because ] am of the blood" And
she still looked puzzled.
II never cous! remember all these
silly rules" said | rather feebly as |
inwardly cursed Fritz for not posting
me up. But I'll repair my fault"
| jumped up, flung open the door and
advanced into the anteroom. Michael
was sitting at table. 4 heavy frowT
on his face. Every one else was stand
ing. save that impudent young dog
Fritz. who was lounging easily i'll AZ
armchair and flirting with the Coun
| tess Helga. He leaped ND as I en-
tered with deferential elasticity thai
lent point to his former nonchalance
had no difficulty in understanding
that the duke might hot like young
, Fritz.
Il held out my hand. Michael took
, it. and l embraced him. Then | drew
a him with me into the inner room.
Brother" l said, IF l had known
q you We're here you should not have
waited moment before | asked the
7 princess to permit me to bring you to
her"
He thanked me. but coldly The mar
. had many qualities, but he could moi
hide his feelings. A mere stranger
could have seen that he hated me an(
, hated worse to see me with Princes.
: Flavia. Yet l am persuaded tlat ht
Il tried to conceal both feelings and. fur
Their, that he tried to persuade me tina
he believed | was verify the king.
;. did not know, of course. but unles:
the King were an impostOr, at one,
Il cleverer and more audacious than
land | began to think something of my
: self in that role, Michael could not be
lieve that. And if he didn't. how h
y must have loathed paying me defer
y ence and hearing my Michael ant
II my "Flavia."
"Your hand is hurt, SIRE" he oh
served. with concern
YES; l was playing a game with
mongrel dog Il meant to stir HIM. an
. you know. brother, such have uncertai
- tempers.'
He smiled sourly, and his dark eye
=, rested on ME for moment
But is there no danger from tn
bite:" cried Flavia anxiously.
"None from this" said l. eff cav