Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-03-06

lions with Ills wire, WHO aIter another
two months bore an heir TO the title
and estates of the family OF Burlesdon.
This lady was the Countess Amelia.
whose picture my slster-in-law wished
to remove from the drawing room In
Park lane, and her husband was
lanes. fifth earl OF Burlesdon and
twenty-second Baron Rassendyll. both
In the peerages OF England. and a
Knight of the Garter. AS for Rudolf,
he went back TO Rurltania. married
wife and assembled the throne, whereon
his progeny in the direct line have sat
from then till this very hour with one
short interval. And. finally, IL you
walk through the picture galleries at
Burlesdon. among the fifty portraits or
so OF the last century and half you
will find five or six. including that OF
the sixth earl. distinguished by long.
sharp. straight noses and quantity
OF dark red hair; these five or six have
also blue eyes. whereas among the
Rassendylls dark eyes are the com
moner.
That is the explanation, and | am
glad to have finished ii. The blemishes
on honorable lineage are delicate sub
jet. and certainly this heredity we
hear so much about is the finest scan
dalmonger In the world; IL laughs at
discretion and writes strange entries
between the lines of the "peerages.'
Ii will be observed that my sister-in-
law, with n want OF logic that must
have been peculiar 10 herself (since we
are no longer allowed TO lay II 10 the
charge of her SEX, treated my com
plexlon almost as an offense for which
was responsible, Fastening to assume
from that external sign inward quail
titles of which | protest my entire in
nocence, and this unjust Inference she
sought to buttress by pointing to the
uselessness Of the life had led Well,
be that as it may. l had picked up
good deal of pleasure and a good deal
of knowledge. ! hard been to n Ger
man school aud a German university
and spoke German as readily and per-
fectly as English; was thoroughly at
home in French; had a smattering OF
Italian and enough Spanish to swear
by. | was, / believe, strong, though
hardly fine. swordsman and good
shot l could ride anything that had
back TO sit on. and my head was as
cool a one as you could find, for all it
daming cover. III you say that ought
to have spent my time In useful labor
am out of court and have nothing to
say. save that my parents had no bust
ness to leave me $4,000 Il year and n
rowing disposition
THE difference between you and
Robert" said my sister-in-law, who Of
ten bless herb speaks on a platform
and oftener still as IL she were on one.
lis that he recognizes the duties OF his
position and you only see the opportun-
tiles of yours"
ITO a man Of spirit, my dear Rose
| answered. opportunities are duties"
"NonsenseT' said she. tossing her
head And after Il moment she went
on. "Now here's Sir Jacob Borrodaile
offering you exactly what you might
be equal to-"
"a thousand thanks | murmured.
Hes to have an embassy In six
months and Robert says he Is sure
that he'll take you rs an attache- Do
take II. Rudolf. TO please me"
Now. when my sISter-in-law puts the
matter I'm that way. wrinkTing her
pretty brows. twisting her little hands
and growing wistfuI in the eyes. an on
account OF an idle scamp like myself.
for whom she has no natural RESPONSE
bIlity, 7 am visited with conjunction.
Moreover. thought IL possible that !
could pass the time I'm the position surg
gested with some toIerabTe amuse-
ment. Therefore I said:
"My dear sister. IL IN six months
time no Unforeseen Obstacle has arisen
and sir Jacob invites me. hang me II
/ don't go with Sir jacob
"Oh. Rudolf how good OF yous I
am glad,"
Where's he going tor
"He doesn't know yet. but It's sure
10 be good embassy
Madam said 7. for your sake TIL
go il it's no more than beggarly Iega-
ton. When do a thing. don't DO II
by halves
My promise. then. was given. but six
months are six months and seem an
eternity and inasmuch as they stretch
cd between me and my prospective in
dustry Il suppose attaches are indus
trlous: but know not. for I never be
came attache TO Sir Jacob or to any
body else) cast about for some de-
flrable mode OF spending them. And
Il occurred 10 me suddenly that
would visit Ruritania. II may seem
strange that I had never visited that
country yet. but my father 0n spite OF
a sneaking fondneSs for the Elph-
bergs. which led him 10 give me. his
second son. the famous Elphberg
name OF Rudolf had always been
avcrse to my going. and since his death
my brother prompted by Rose. had ac-
cepted the family tradition which
taught that a wide berth was TO he
given to that country.
But the moment Rurltanla had come