Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-02-26

my custom is. The King noticed my
performance with approval.
We're all good trenchermen, we
Elphbergs," said he. "But WHAT
we're eating dry! Wine. Josef; wine.
man! Are we beasts to eat without
drinking? Are we cattle. JOSEF"
At this reproof Josef FASTENED to
load the table with bottles.
Remember tomorrow said Fritz.
AYE, tomorrow" said old Sapt
The king drained bumper to his
cousin Rudolf" as he was gracious
or merry-enough to call me. and
drank its fellow to the "Elphberg red
whereat he laughed loudly.
Now. be the meat what il might. tho
wine we drank was beyond all price
or praise and we did il ju 'tice. Fritz
ventured once to stay the kings hand.
WHAT" cried the king. Remember
you start before | do. Master Fritz
you must be more sparing by two
hours than -
Fritz saw that did not understand.
1.-The colonel and T. he explained.
leave here at 6. We ride down to
Zenda and return with the guard of
honor to fetch the king at 8. and then
| we all ride together to the station"
Hang that same guard growled
Sapt.
"Oh. it's very civil of my brother to
ask the honor for his regiment said
| the king. Come. cousin, you need not
start early. Another bottle. man.
| had another bottle. or. rather. 4
| part of one. for the larger half travelled
| quickly down his majesty's throat.
/ Fritz gave up his attempts at persua
sion. From persuading he fell to be
| ing persuaded. and soon we were all
| of us as full Of wine as We had any
right to be- The king began talking of
| what he would do in the future, old
Sapt of what b. had done in the past.
! Fritz of some beautiful girl or other,
| and | of the wonderful merits of the
Elphhcrg dynasty. We all talked ut
once and followed to the letter Sapt's
cxhOrtatioa II let the morrow take
| care of itself.
| AT last the king set down his glass
and leaned back in his chair
Il have drunk enough said he.
Far b. it from me to contradict the
| king said |.
| Indeed his remark was most ALSO
lutely true-so far as it went.
| While | vet spoke Josef came and set
| before the king a marvelo1s oil wicker
covered tiagon. 1t had lain 50 long in
some darkened cellar that it seemed to
blink in the clndlclight.
His highnesS the Duke of StrelSau
babe me set this wine before the king
when the king was weary of all other
wines and pray the king t. drink FOR
the love that he bears his brother
well done. Black Michael,' said the
king "Out with the cork. josef! Hang
him! Did he think I'd finch fr,m his
bottle?'
The bottle was opened. and Josef fill
ed the kings glass. The king tasted
it. Then, with Il solemnity born of the
hour and his own condition, he looked
round on us.
Gentlemen. my friends-I;udolf my
cousin Cts u scaudalous story. Rudolf
on my honor.-eyeryihing is yours 10
the half of RuritInia. But ask me not
for Il single drop of this divine bottle
which | will drink to the health of
that-that sly knave, my brother, Black
Michael"
And the king seized the bottle and
turned il over his mouth and drained
it and flung il from him and laid his
head on his arms on the tlble.
And we drank pleasant dreams to his
majesty and that is all | remember OF
the evening. Perhaps it is enough.