West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-03-28

II find this first" he said: ".Hls
hlghness the Duke OF Strelsau left the
city $50 FAR as IL appears. suddenly,
accompanied by several OF his house
hold. His destination Is believed 10 be
the castle OF Zenda, but the party
Travelled by road and not by train.
NM. De Gautet, Bersonin and Detch-
ard followed an hour later, the last
named carrying his arm I'm n sling.
The cause OF his wound Is not known,
but IL IS suspected that he has fought
a duel, probably incidental 20 a love
affair"
That Is remotely true" / observed,
very well pleased 10 find that / had
left my mark on the fellow.
Then we come 20 this pursued
Sapt: "Alme. de Mauban, whose move
mcnts have been watched according
to instructions, left by train at mid
day. She took a ticket for D~resden'"-
ITS an old habit Of hers said 1.
1.-THE Dresden trains stop at Zen
da.' An acute fellow, this. And final
~ listen 20 this: The state OF feeling
I'm the city Is not satisfactory. The
Mus - hAhNh NlAAl'Anth OOu huOh
he's told to be quite frank for taking
no steps about his marriage. From in
quiries among the encourage Of the
Princess Flavia her royal hlghness Is
believed 20 be deeply offended by the
remissness OF his majesty. The com
mon people are coupling her name
with that OF the Duke OF Strelsau,
and the duke gains much popularity
from the suggestion. / have caused
the announcement hat the king gives
n ball tonight In honor OF the princess
to be widely difrused, and the effect
Is good"
THAT is news TO me-" said l.
"Oh, the preparations are all made!"
laughed Fritz. 1--WE seen TO that"
Sapt turned to me n said in n
sharp, decisive voice:
you must make love TO her tonight,
you know"
81 think IT very likely I shall If / see
her alone said |. "Hang II, Snpt, you
don't suppose | find II dlhicult?"
Fritz whistled n bar or two; then he
said: you'll find II only too easy.
Look here, l hate telling you this, but /
must. The Countess Helga told me
that the princess had become most at
tnched TO the king. Since the corona
ton her feelings have undergone n
marked development. It's quite true
that she is deeply wounded by the
kings apparent neglect"
Here's a kettle of fish, l groaned.
Tut, TUT said Sapt. 81 suppose
you've made pretty speeches TO a girl
before now. That's all she wants"
Fritz, himself n lover, understood bet
ter my distress. He laid his hand on
my shoulder, but said nothing.
81 think, though" pursued that cold
blooded old Sapt, that you'd better
make your offer tonight"
Good heavens!'
"Or, at any rate, go near TO II, and /
shall send n semioflclal to the papers"
"Tll do nothing of the sort-no more
will your said 1. 81 utterly refuse to
take part in making a fool of the prin-
| cess"
Sapt looked at me with his small
keen eyes. y slow, cunning smile pass
ed over his face.
"All right, lad; all right said he.
I'VE mustn't press you too hard.
Soothe her down n bit, II you can. you
know. Now for Mlchael!"
"Oh, hang Michael!' said l. Hell
10 tomorrow. Here, Fritz, come for n
stroll I'm the garden"
Sapt at once yielded. His rough
manner covered n wonderful tact and,
as 1 came to recognize more and more,
n remarkable knowledge OF human ma
ture. Why did he urge me so little
about the princess? Because he knew
that her beauty and my ardor would
| garry me further than all his argu-
hents and hat the less l thought
about the thing the more likely was !
TO do it. lie must have seen the un-
happiness he might bring on the prin-
cess, but that went for nothing with
him. Can ! say confidently that he
was wrong? If the king were rcstor-
ed, tie princess must turn to him,
either knowing or not knowing the
change. And if the king were not re-
stored TO usl IL was a subject that
we had never yet spoken OF. But
had an idea that in such n case Sapt
l CT ~ HNhA AAAN OA NAt vi
Ruritania for the term OF my life. He
would have set Satan himself there
Foone than that pupil OF his, Black
Michael.
The ball was a sumptuous affair. ]
opened II 10y dancing n quadrille with
Flavia. Then I waltzed with her
Curious eyes and eager whispers at
tended us. We went in TO supper, and
halfway through /, half mad by then
for her glance had answered mine and
her quick breathing met my stammer
cd sentences. / rose in my place before
all the brilliant crowd and, taking tn,
red rose that I wore, flung the rlbbor
with its jeweled badge round her neck
In a tumult Of applause / sat down
saw Sapt smiling over his wine an(
Fritz frOwning. The rest OF the mea
passed In silence; neither Flavia MOI
/ could speak. Fritz touched me or
he shoulder. and / rose. gave her my
arm and walked down the hall into d
little room. where coffee was served t
us. The gentlemen and ladies I'm at
tendance withdrew, and we were
alone.
The little room had French windows
opening ON the gardens. The night
was fine, cool and fragrant. Flayia
sat down, ana stood opposite her.
was struggling with myself. n She
bad not looked no me. / believe that
even then { should have won my fight
but suddenly ~inyoluuturily Size gave
me Do hrI.f giuuac-a rlancc Of qucs.
ton. hurr.clIy turned aside a blush
that thc question had overcome spread