West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-03-14
By.
ANTHONY
HOPE

SsSeSsi Rudolfg" said my brothers
My dear Rose" I answered. laying
down my egg spoon. why In the world
should ! do anything? Ny position is
n comfortable ono. have an Income
nearly sufficient for my wants mo
ones income is over quite sufficient.
you know. ! enjoy an envinble social
position: 1 ann brother TO Lord Burlcs-
don and hrother-in-law TO that most
charming lady, his countess Behold. IL
Is enough"
You are nine aud twenty" she ob.
served, and you've done nothing
but
KNOCK about7 II is true. our fami-
ly doesn't need 10 do things"
This remark OF mine rather annoyed
Rose. for everybody llnows-and there
fore there can be no harm I'm referring
10 the fnct-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. and my
brother Robert was wise enough not to
mind about her ancestry. Ancestry Is,
In fact, matter concerning which the
next observation OF Roses has some
truth
Good families are generally worse
than nny others" she said.
Upon tiis | stroi,cd my hair knew
quite we'll what she meant
I'm so glad Roberts ia blaeiSw she
cried.
AZ this montnt Robert. who rises at
Z and work, bct)., breakfast. came Ia.
lie glanced az his wife Her check was
slightly flushed; he puttcd 1t carcss
lngly
WHAT'S ths mi,cr my doarY' he
nsici
"shc objects to my doing nothing ana
having rod hair sad 10 an injured
tone.
cob, Of course hc can't help his hair!
admitol Rose.
"It scEcsuiy crops out once in a gen.
ton said my brother 80 does the
nose. Rudolf has got them both"
81 wish they didn't crop out" said
Rose stil flushed.
81 rather like them myself" said I.
and rising. ] bowed 10 the portrait OF
COantea5 Amelia.
Ny brothers. wife uttered an cx-
claDation Of impatience.
81 wish you'd take that picture
awa, HoH..t" .aid sha.
'AiE deac!' he cried.
"Gsod Le91cus"' / added.
"Ihen II might he forgotten" che
continued
Hardy with Rudolf about" said
Kohvrt shaking his head.
why should 1T be forgottenY /
asked.
"Hudolf"' exclaimed my brothers
wife. llushlng very prettlly.
! laughed and went on with my egg
At leost had sholyed the question Of
what, II anything. / ought TO do. And
10y way Of closing the discussion
also, must admit. OF exaspcrating my
strict little slster-in.law a tribe more
! observed:
II rather Ike being nm Elphberg my
self"
When ! read a story. I skip the ex-
plantations, vet the moment I begin 20
write one I find that | must have an
explanation For II Is manifest that
must explain why my slstorIn-Iaw was
veXed with my nose and hair and why
ventured 10 call myself an Elphbere.
For, eminent as. I must protest. the
Rossendylls have been for many gen
erations, yet participation I'm their
blood OF course. does not at first sight
Justify the boast Of connection with
the grander stock Of the Elphbergs or
claim TO be one OF that royal house.
For what relationship IS there between
Ruritania and Burlesdon. between the
palace at Strelsnu or the castle Of
Zenda and 30j Park lane. w?
VOL then-and ] must premise that
am going perforce 20 rake up the
very scandal which my dear Lady
Burlesdon wishes forgotten in tho
year 1888 George IT,, sitting then on
the throne, pence reigulng for the mo
ncnt oud the king and the Prince Of
Wales being not yet Of loggerheads.
there came on visit 60 the English
court n certain prince. who was after
ward known 90 history as Rudolf
III. Of Ruritanio. The prince was a
tail. handsome young fellow. marked
fmayho marred; it Is not FOR me to say
by p somewhat unusually long. sharp
iu1 straight nose and n mass Of dark
red hsir--in fact the nose and the hair
which have stamped the Elphbergs
time ont OF mind He stayed some
months in England. where he was
most courjcOusiy received; yet 600 the
end hc left rather under q cloud. for no
fought % duel Gt was considered highly
7 well bred OF him 90 waive all question
OF h.s r0nlO with n nobleman well
I known m the society Of the day not
only for his own merits. but os the
husband OF n very beautiful wife. In
That duel Prince Rudolf received q Sc
vcrs wound and recovering thorcfrom.
was odroitly smuggled or by the Rurl-
tnnian ambassador. who had found
him q pretty handful The nobleman
was not wounded In the duel: but. the
morning being raw and damp on the
occasion ~ the meeting no contracted
I q severe chill, and failing 20 throw II
/ OF hn died some six months after the
/ departure Of Prince Rudolf. without
/ having found leisure to adjust hls rcla.
| tious with bis wife. who after another
| two months bore an heir 20 the title
/ aud estates of the family OF Burlesdon
/ This lady was the Countess Amelia
/ whose picture my sisterin-lew wished
/ TO remove from the drawing room in
| Park lame. and her husband was
\ James. 9th earl Of Burlosdon and
/ twenty tyscc0ud Baron Rassoudyll. both