Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-08-23

81 know you have" said l. "Half
our ambassadors have led weary lives
on my account. George Featherly told
me so. But why should you have been
anxious? can take care Of myself"
ooh, it wasn't that" she cried scorn-
fully, "but wanted to tell you about
Sir Jacob Borrodaile. You know he's
got an embassy--at least he will have
in a month-and he wrote to say be
hoped you would go with him."
"Where's he going to-"
"He's going to succeed Lord Topham
at Strelsau," said she. "You couldn't
have a nicer place, short of Paris"
"Strelsau! H'm!" said |, glancing al
my brother.
"Oh. that doesn't matterw exclaimed
Rose impatiently. ''Now, you will go,
won't your"
~ cont know that care about 1t"
"Oh, you're too exasperating!'
"And don't think can go to Strel-
sau. My dear Rose, would it be-suit-
able?"
"Oh. nobody remembers that horrid
old story now"
Upon this I took out of my pocket
portrait of the king Of Ruritania. II
had been taken month or two before
he ascended the throne, and he wore
full beard. Nevertheless she could not
miss my point when said, putting II
into her hands:
'In case you've not seen or not no
ticed a picture of Rudolf ", there he
is. Don't you think they might recall
the story If 1 appeared at the court OF
Ruritania?"
NY sister-in-law looked at the por-
trait and then at me.
"Good gracious she said and flung
the photograph down on the table.
"Nhat do you say, Bob" asked.
Burlesdon got up, went to a corner OF
the room and searched in a heap OF
newspapers. Presently he came back
with a copy of the Illustrated London
News. Opening the paper, he displayed
q double page engraving of the corona
ton Of Rudolf V. at Strelsau. The pho
tograph and the picture he laid side by
side. sat at the table fronting them,
and as I looked l grew absorbed. My
eye travelled from my own portrait to
Sapt, to Strakencz, to the rich robes OF
the cardinal, to Black MichaePs face, to
the stately figure Of the princess by his
side Long looked and eagerly. / was
reused by my brothers hand on my
shoulder. He was gazing down at me
with puzzled expression.
cts remarkable likeness, you see"
said 1. Il really think had better not
60 to Ruritania."
Rose, though half convinced, would
not abandon her position.
"It's just an excuse" she said pet
tishly. "You don't want to do anything.
Why, you might become an ambassa-
dorr'
Il don't think want to be an am
bassador," said l.
"Its more than you ever will be" she
retorted.
That is very likely true, but it is not
more than l have been. The idea OF
being an ambassador could scarcely
dazzle me. had been king!
So pretty Rose left us in dudgeon,
and Burlesdon, lighting cigarette,
looked at me still with that curious
gaze.
"That picture in the paper he said.
"Well, what Of it? 1t shows that the
king of Ruritanla and your humble
servant are as like as two peas"
My brother shook his head.
II suppose so,'' he said. "But
should know You from the man in the
photograph"
"And not from the picture in the
paper"
Il should know the photograph from
the picture; the pictures very like the
photograph, but
"Well?'
"Its more like you," said my bro
Their.
My brother is good man and true,
so that, for all that he is married
man and mighty fond Of his wife, he
should know any secret Of mine. But
this secret was not mine, and could
not tell it to him.
81 don't think it's so much like me as
the photograph" said boldly. But
anyhow, Bob, won't 60 to Strelsau."
mo, don't go to Strelsau, Rudolf"
said he.
And whether he suspects anything or
has q glimmer Of the truth do not
know. If he has, he keeps 1t to him
self, and he and I never refer to 1t.
And we let Sir Jacob Borrodaile find
another attache.
Since all these events whose history
1 have set down happened have lived
q very quiet life at a small house
which / have taken in the country.
The ordinary ambitions and aims Of
men in my position seem to me dull
and unattractive. / have little fancy
for the whirl Of society and none for
the jostle of politics. Lady Burlesdon
utterly despairs Of me. My neighbors
think me an indolent, dreamy, unso-
ciable fellow. Yet l am young man,
and sometimes l have fancy-the SUI
perstitious would call it PRESENT.
ment-that my part in life Is not yet
altogether played; that, somehow and
some day, shall mix again In great
affairs, l shall again spin policies in
busy brain, match my wits against my
enemies, brace my muscle to fight a
good fight and strike stout blows. Such
Is the tissue of my thoughts as, with
gun or rod in hand, wander through
the woods or by the side Of the stream.
Whether the fancy will be fulfilled