Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-05-24

.I7 WONDER when In. the worio
Ml you're going to do anything
S Rudolf" said my Drotner
gg3J wife.
"Nv dear Rose" / answered, laying
down my egg spoon, "why in the worio
should I do anything? My position Is
a comfortable one. have an income
nearly sufficient for my wants inc
one,s income is ever quite sufficient
Won know. 1 enjoy an enviable sociai
nosjtion: am brother to Lord Burles.
don and brother-in-law to that most
charming lady, his countess. Behold II
Is enough
"You are nine and twenty" she OBJ
served land you've done nothing
but
"Knock about? 1t is true. Our faml
" doesn't need to do things"
This remark of mine rather annoyed
Rose for everybody knows-and there
fore there can be no harm in referring
TO the fact-that, pretty and accom-
plished as she herself is. her family Is
hardly of the same standing as the
Rassendylls. Besides her attractions,
she possessed a large fortune, ana my
brother Robert was wise enough not to
mind about her ancestry. Ancestry 49,
in fact. a matter concerning which the
next observation of Roses has some
truth.
Good families are generally worse
than any others,' she said.
Upon this 1 stroked my hair knew
quite we'll what she meant.
'I'm so glad Roberts is black! she
cried.
At this moment Robert, who rises at
Z and works before breakfast, came in.
He glanced at his wife, Her cheek was
slightly flushed; he patted it caress-
ingly.
whats the matter, my dear" he
asked
"She objects to my doing nothing and
having red hair" said in an injured
tone.
"Oh, Of course he can't help his hairv'
admitted Rose.
1T generally crops out once in gen.
Grafton" said my brother. $50 does the
nose. Rudolf has got them BOTH"
II wish they didn't crop out" said
Rose, still flushed.
= IL rather like them myself" said I,
and, rising, bowed to the portrait of
Countess Amelia.
My brothers wife uttered an ex-
clamation of Impotence.
II wish you'd take that picture
away Robert" said she.
"My dearr' he cried.
"Good heavens!' 1 added.
'Then it might be forgotten" she
continued.
Hardly, with Rudolf about" said
Robert, shaking his head.
'Why should it be forgotten?" ]
asked
"Rudolfr' exclaimed my brothers
wife, blushing very prettily.
laughed and went OH with my egg.
at least had shelved the question of
what, If anything, l ought to do. And
= by way of closing the discussion-and
also, I must admit, of exasperating my
strict little sister-in-law trife more
observed:
II rather like being an Elphberg N.Y.
self"
When read story, skip the ex-
plantations, yet the moment begin to
write one find that must have an
explanation. For it Is manifest that I
must explain why my sister-in-law was
vexed with my nose and hair and why
/ ventured to call myself an Elphberg.
For, eminent as, must protest, the
Rassendylls have been for many gen.
erations, yet participation in their
blood, Of course, does not at first sight
Justify the boast Of connection with
the grander stock Of the Elphbergs or
a claim to be one of that royal house.
For what relationship is there between
Ruritania and Burlesdon, between the
palace at Strelsau or the castle of
Zenda and 305 Park lane, W.?
Well, then-and I must premise that
am going perforce to rake up the
very scandal which my dear Lady
Burlesdon wishes forgotten = in the
year 1873 George H., sitting then on
the throne, peace reigning for the mo-
ment-and the king and the Prince Of
Wales being not yet at lOggerheads,
uthere came on visit to the English
court certain prince, who was after
ward known to history as Rudolf
III. Of Ruritania. The prince was a
tall, handsome young fellow, marked
(maybe marred; it is not for me to say
by a somewhat unusually long, sharp
and straight nose and a mass Of dark
red hair-in fact, the nose and the hair
(which have stamped the Elphbergs
thine out of mind. He stayed some
months in England, where he was
most courteously received; yet in the
kend he left rather under cloud, for he
fought duel lit was considered highly
well bred Of him to waive all question
of his rank with a nobleman well
known in the society of the day not
only for his own merits, but as the
husband of very beautiful wife. In
that duel Prince Rudolf received Sc
we're wound and, recovering therefrom,
was adroitly struggled off by the Ruri-
tanian ambassador, who had found
him a pretty handful. The nobleman
was not wounded in the duel; but, the
morning being raw and damp on the
occasion of the meeting, he contracted