Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-04-27

l TIC Nils - ftA2 RO0a-
Then the lady with the pale face and
the glorious hair. her train held by two
pages. stepped FROM her place and
came 10 where ! stood. And herald
cried:
Her royal highuess the Princess
Flaviay
She courtesied low and put her hand
under mine and raised my hand aud
kissed It. And for an instant
thought what | had best do. Then
drew her to me and kissed her twice
on the cheek. and she blushed red, and
why. then his eminence the cardinal
archbishop slipped In front Of Black
Michael and kissed my hand and pre-
sented me with letter from the pope,
the FIRST and last which have ever re-
/ ceiyed from that exalted Quarterl
And then came the Duke OF Streisau.
His step trembled, ] swear. and he
looked to the right and TO the left. as
a ma0 looks who thinks on flight, and
his face was patched with red and
white. and his hand shook so that II
| jumped under mine, and felt his lips
! dry and parched. And l glanced at
Sapt, who was smiling again into his
beard. and. resolutely doing my duty
In that station OF life TO which had
been marvelously called. took my
dear Michael by both hands and kissed
him on the cheek. l think we were
/ both glad when that was overl
But neither In the face OF the prin-
cess nor In that OF any other did / see
the least doubt or questioning. Yet
had ! and the king stood side by side
they could have told us in an Instant
or at least on little consideration.
But neither they nor anyone else
dreamed or imagined that could be
other than the king. So the likeness
served. and for an hour I stood there.
feeling as weary and blase as though
I had been a king al my life. and ev-
erybOdy kissed my hand. and the am
bassadors paid me their respects,
among them old Lord Topham. at
whose house in Grosvenor square had
danced a score Of times. Thank heav-
en-. the old man was as blind IS a bat
and did not claim my acquaintance.
Then back we went through the
streets 20 the palace. aud heard them
cheering Black Michael. but be Fritz
told me. sat biting his nails like a man
In reveric. and even his own friends
said that he should have made a BRAY
er show. ] was ia carriage now. side
by side with the Princess Flavla. and a
rough fellow cried out:
And when's the wedding2" and as
he spoke another struck him IN the
face. crying. Long live Duke Nfichaelr'
and the princess colorcd-it was an adj
mirable tlnt-uud looked straight IN
front Of her
Now ! felt in q difficulty because 1
had forgotten 20 ask Sapt the state OF
my affections or how far matters had
gone between the princess and myself
Frankly. had ! been the king the fur
Their they had gone the better should I
have been pleased. for am not a slow
blooded man. and I had not kissed
Princess Flavia's cheek for nothing
These thoughts passed. through my
head: but not being sure OF my ground.
] said nothing. and in a moment OF two
the princess. recovering her eQuanim-
ity. turned 60 mo-
"Do You know. Rudolf" said she.
you look somehow different todayT
The fact was not surprising. but the
remark was disquictng
"You look" she went on. "more
sober. more sedate. You're almost
careworu, and declare you're thin
ner. Surely it's not possible that
you've begun 90 take anything serl-
ouslyy"
The princess seemed 70 hold Of the
king much the same opinion that Lady
Burlcsdon held Of nc.
bracel myself up 10 the converse
ton
would that please your" I asked
softly.
"Oh. you know my views" said she.
turning her eyes away.
whatever pleases YOU I try 10 do
l said. and as / saw her smile and
blush / thought that ] was playing the
kings hand very well for him. So /
continued, and what / said was per-
fectly true:
Il assure you. my dear cousin, that
/ nothing In my lie has affected me
more than the reception I've been
greeted with today"
She smiled brightly. but In an In
slant grew grave again and whisper
ed:
did you notice AIIchaelT'
yes" said l. adding. He wasn't
enjoying himself"
'Do be carefulr' she went on "You
dOn't-indeed you don't-keep enough
watch on him. You know
II know" said !, that be wants
what I've got"
Eyes. Hush"
Then, and I can't justify II. for I
committed the king far beyond what
/ had a right 10 do suppose she car
ried me of my feet-I went on:
And, perhaps. also something which
| haven't got yet but hope to win
some day"
This was my answer-had I been the
king ! should have thought it encour-
/ aging:
Haven't you enough responsibilities
on you for one day. cOusin?"
/ Rang bqnvf nHora hInrof W. ,~oro