Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-06-21
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could do no harm by calling, and in
this view. Fritz supported me with q
cordiality that surprised me until he
confessed that he also had bis motive
for liking a visit to the princess house,
which motive was no other than
great desire to see the princess lady In
waiting and bosom friend, the Coun-
tess Helga Won Strofzin.
Etiquette seconded Fritzs hopes.
| While was ushered into the princess
room he remained with the countess In
the antcchamber. In spite Of the peo-
ple and servants who were hanging
about | doubt not that they managed
O tete-a-tete, but / had no leisure to
think Of them, for / was playing the
most delicate move in all my difficult
game. had to keep the princess de-
voted to me-and yet Indifferent to me;
| / had to show affection for her-and
not feel 1t. had to make love for an
| other, and that to girl who, princess
| or no princess, was the most beautiful
| l had ever seen. Well, braced myself
to the task, made no easier by the
charming embarrassment with which
I was received. How l succeeded in
carrying out my programme Will ap-
pear hereafter. as
"You are gaining golden laurels.' she
said. "You are like the prince In
Shakespeare who was transformed by
becoming king. But I'm forgetting you
are king, SIRE"
81 ask you to speak nothing but what
your heart tells you and to call me
nothing but my name"
/ She looked at me for moment.
"Then I'm glad and proud, Rudolf"
said she "Why, as l told you, your
very face is changed"
1 acknowledged the compliment, but
! disliked the topic, so l said:
"AIy brother is back, hear He
made an excursion, didn't he!"
eyes, he is here" she said, frowning
q little.
"He can't stay long from Strelsau, 1T
seems" observed, smiling. "Well, we
are all glad to see him. The nearer he
is the better"
The princess glanced at me with
CLEAN of amusement in her eyes.
"Why, cousin? Is it that you cam
"See better what he's doing? Per-
haps," said 1. "And why are you
glad?"
II didn't say 1 was glad" she an
swered
"Some people say SO for YOU"
''There are many insolent people"
she said, with delightful haughtiness.
POSSIBLY you mean that l am One?
| "Your majesty could not be-" she
said, cOurtesying in feigned Difference,
but adding mischievously after
pause, unless, that is
''Well, unless what"
"Unless you tell me that mind
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
chael"-
"Ah, Cousin Michael. l call him the
Duke of Strelsau."
"You call him Michael when you
meet himY'
"Yes-by the orders of your father."
81 see. And now by mine?"
| 'If those are your orders"
ooh, decidedly! We must oil be
Nf;nhoa1
"You order me to receive his friends,
too, i SUPPOSE"
1.-THE SlxY'
"YOu call them that too%
ITO be in the fashion 1 do. But
order you to receive no one unless you
like"
Except yourself?"
II pray for myself. could not or
| DER"
As 1 spoke there came cheer from
| the street. The princess ran to the
! window.
at Is her' she cried. ut is-the
Duke of Strelsauw
smiled, but said nothing She re-
| turned to her seat For q few mo-
ments we sat lin silence. The noise
outside subsidized, but / heard the tread
of feet in the anteroom. l began to
talk on general subjects. This went on
for some minutes. l wondered what
had become Of Michael, but 1t did not
seem to be for me to interfere. All at
once, to my great surprise, Flavia,
claspng her hands, asked in an agi-
tated voice:
"Are you wise to make him angry"
"What? Who? How am I making
him angry?"
"Why, by keeping him waiting"
"My dear cousin, I don't want to
keep him
"Well, then, is he to come int"
"Of course, II 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 a charming attribute Of
royalty.
can excellent etiquettew cried.
"But had clean forgotten 1t, and II
were alone with some one else
couldn't you be announcedW
"You know as well as do. could
be. because / am of the blood And
she still locked puzzled.
~ never could 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
odroooad into tho ontprnOm Michael