Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-12

1VAYlrTH Fritz von Tarlenheim and I" Colonel Sapt close behind me,
 EiEl5 I stepped out of the buffet on
 to the platform. The last thing I did was to feel if my revolver were handy and my sword loose in the scabbard. A gay group of officers and high dignltaries stood waiting me, at their head tall old man, covered with medals and of military bearing. He wore the yellow and red ribbon of the Red Rose of Ruritania, which, by the way, decorated my unworthy breast also.
 Marshal Strakencz," whispered Sapt, and knew that I was in the presence of the most famous veteran of the Ru- ritanian army.
 Just behind the marshal stood a short, spare man in flowing robes of black and crimson.
 "The chancellor of the kingdom, " whispered Sapt.
 The marshal greeted me in a few s1oyal words and proceeded to deliver an apology from the Duke of Strelsau. The duke, it seemed, had been afflicted with sudden indisposition which made it impossible for him to come to i the station, but he craved leave to iRwait his majesty at the cathedral. I expressed my concern, accepted the marshal's excuses very suavely and ! received the compliments of large number of distinguished personages. i No one betrayed the least suspicion. and felt my nerve returning and the ! agitated beating of my heart subsid- s ing. But Fritz was still pale, and his hand shook like leaf as he extended :. 1t to the marshal.
 ! Presently we formed procession and took our way to the door of the station. Here mounted my horse, the marshal holding my stirrup. The civil dignita- ] ries went of to their carriages, and started to ride through the streets with the marshal on my right and Sapt, who, as my chief aid-de-camp, was entitled to the place on my left. The city of Strelsau is partly old and partly Z new. Spacious modern boulevards and residential quarters surround and en- brace the narrow, tortuous and pictur- esque streets of the original town. In the outer circles the upper classes live, in the inner the shops are situated, and behind their prosperous fronts lie hid den populous but wretched lanes and alleys filled with poverty stricken, turbulent and Qn large measure) crim- inal class. These social and local divi- sions. corresponded, as I knew from Sapt's information, to another division more important to me. The new town was for the king. but to the old town Michael of Strelsau was hope, a hero and darling.
 The scene was very brilliant as we passed along the Grand boulevard and on to the great square where the royal palace stood. Here I was in the midst ofmy devoted adherents. Every house was hung with red and bedecked with flags and notices. The streets were lined with raised seats on each side, and I passed along, lowing this way and that, under a shower of cheers, blessings and waving handkerchiefs. The balconies were full of gayly dress ed ladies. who clapped their hands and eurtsied and threw their brightest glances at me. A torrent of red roses fell on me. One bloom lodged in my horses mane, and took it and stuck 1t in my coat. The marshal smiled grimly. I had stolen some glances at his face, but he was too impassive ro show me whether his sympathies were with me or not.
 The red rose for the Elphbergs, marshall" said gayly, and he nodded.
 have written ''gayly." and a strange word it must seem. But the truth is that I was drunk with excitement. At that moment I believed-I almost be- lieved-that I was in very truth the king, and with a look of laughing tri- umph I raised my eyes to the beauty laden balconies. and then I started.
 
 handsome face and proud smile. was the lady who had been my fellow traveller, Antolnette de Mauban. and I saw her also start. and her lips moved. and she leaned forward and gazed at me. And I. collecting myself. met her eyes full and square. while again felt my revolver. Suppose she had cried aloud. That's not the king..'
 Well. we went by, and then the mar shal, turning round in his saddle waved his hand. and the cuirassiers closed round us. so that the crowd could not come near me. We were leaving my quarters and entering Duke MichaeIs. and this action of the marshal's showed me more clearly than words what the state of feeling fin the town must be. But if Fate made me q king the least I could do was to play the part handsomely. Why this change in our order. mar shsl:r said I.
 The marshal hit his white mustacLe.
 1t is more prudent. sire" he mur- 
 I drew rein. "Let those in front ride on' said I. 2 till they are fifty yanIs ahead But lo you. marshal. and Colonel Sapt and . my friends wait here till I have ridden . fifty yards. And see that no one is nearer to me. I will have my people zee that their king trusts them
 Sapt laid his hand on my arm isook him of. The marshal hesitated. Am l not un1erstocdr- said I. and. fling hiS rrlrrsrnnhe again he srare fls.