Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-05-31
.g @: prisoner
81: : :;;: Ct q Zenda
HOPE
Copyrighted 1894 1898, by Henry Holt {, Company
$1,000 {

threw myself back in my deep arm
chair and laughed at her zeal.
''For my part" said the younger and
prettier of the two daughters, fair,
buxom, smiling wench, Il hate BLACK
Michael! A red Elphberg for me, moth
err! The king, they say, is as red as q
fox or as
And she laughed mischievously as
she cast a glance at me and tossed her
head at her sisters reproving face
"Many man has cursed this red
hair before now" muttered the old
lady, and l remembered James, nlth
earl of Burlesdon.
"But never woman" cried the girl.
"Aye, and women, when it was too
late" was the stern answer, reducing
the girl to silence and bushes.
"How comes the king here?' l asked.
to break an embarrassed silence 1t
is the dukes land here, you say"
'9The duke invited him, sir, to rest
here till Wednesday, The duke is at
Streslau, preparing the kings recep-
ton"
"Then they're friends"
"None better" said the old lady.
But my rosy damsel tossed her head
again She was not to be repressed for
long, and she broke out again.:
"Aye, they love one another as men
do who want the same place and the
same wife,"
The old woman glowered. but the
last words pricked my curiosity, and l
interposed before she could begin
scolding:
"What, the same wife too! How's
that, young lady,"
"All the world knows that Black Mi
chael-well, then, mother, the duke
would give his soul to marry his cOu-
sin, the Princess Flavia, and that she
is to be the queen"
upon MY word,'' said 1, Il begin to
be sorry for your duke. But if q man
will he younger son, why, he must
take what the elder leaves and be as
thankful to God as he can" and, think
Ills VI oCl1, Sui SSCN NY OlAONioOio
and laughed And then thought also Of
Antoinette de Mauban and her journey
to Strelsau
'Il's little dealing Black Michael has
with began the girl, Drawing her
mothers anger, but as she spoke
heavy step sounded ON the floor and
gruff voice asked in threatening tone:
"Who talks of Black Michael in his
highness' own burg?'
The girl gave little shrek, half Of
fright-half, l think, of amusement.
you'll not tell Of me, Johann she
said.
."See where your chatter leads said
the old lady.
The man who had spoken cane for
ward.
eve have company, JOHANN" said
my hostess, and the fellow plucked off
his cap. A moment later he saw me,
and to my amazement he started back
a step, as though he had seen some
thing wonderful.
"What ails you, Johann" asked the
elder girl. 'This is gentleman-on his
travels, come to see the coronation"
The man had recovered himself, but
he was staring at me with an intense,
searching, almost fierce glance.
Good evening to you," said 1.
"Good evening, SIR" he muttered,
still scrutinizlng me, and the merry
girl began to laugh as she called:
"See, Johann, it is the color you love!
He started to see your hair, sir. It's
not the color we see most of here in
Zenda."
81 crave your pardon, sir" stammer-
ed the fellow, with puzzled eyes. II
expected to see no one."
"Give him glass to drink my health
In, and I'll bid you good night and
thanks to you, ladies. for your cour-
tesy and pleasant conversation"
So speaking / rose to my feet and
with a slight bow turned to the door.
The young girl ran to light me ON the
way, and the man fell back to let me
pass, his eyes still fixed on me. The
moment l was by he started step
forward, asking:
spray, sir, do you know our king?"
81 never saw him." said I. II hope
to do so on Wednesday,"
He said no more, but 1 felt his eyes
following me till the door closed be-
hinu me. My saucy conductor, look
Ing over her shoulder at me as she pre-
coded me upstairs, said:
'"There's no pleasing Master Johann
for one Of your color, sir"
'He prefers yours, maybeT sug-
gested.
81 meant, sir, in man." she answer |
ed, with coquettish glance.
'What," asked 1, taking hold Of the !
other side. Of the candlestick, "does col
or matter in manT'
NAY, but love yours-it's the Elph-
berg red"
"Color in man." said 1, sis mat
ter of no more moment than thatw and
[ gave her something of no value.
God send the kitchen door be shutw
said She
"Amenw said and left her.
In fact, however, as l now know,
,olor is sometimes of considerable mo-
nent to man.
CHAPTER III.
81 ri WAS not so unreasonable as to
XI1I be prejudiced against the
SSnsoi dukes keeper because he dis
SsEsg liked my complexion, and If