Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-06-26

Rose lmpatfently. ''Now. you VIII go
won't your
Il don't know that care about H."
"Oh. you're too eXasperatngw
"And don't think / can go TO Strel
sau. My dear Rose, would IL be-sult
able?"
ooh. nobody remembers that horrid
old story now"
Upon this | took out of my pocket
portrait of the king Of Runtania II
had been taken a month or two before
full beard. Nevertheless she could not
miss my point when ! said. putting IT
into her hands:
"In case you've not seen or not no
tlced a picture of Rudolf v. there he
Is. Don't you think they might recall
the story II | appeared at the court of
Rurtania?"
My slster-ln-law looked at the por
trait and then at me.
Good gracious,' she said aud flung
the photograph down on the table.
What do you say. Bob?" | asked
Burlesdon got up. went TO a corner of
the room and searched I'm heap of
newspapers. Presently he came back
with copy of the Illustrated London
News. Opening the paper. he displayed
a double page engraving OF the corona
ton of Rudolf V. at Strelsau. The pho
tograph and the picture he laid side by
side. / sat at the table fronting them,
and as / looked / grew absorbed. My
eye Travelled from my own portrait TO
Sapt, to Strakencz, to the rich robes OF
the cardinal. to Black Michaels face, 10
the stately figure OF the princess by his
side. Long looked and eagerly. l was
reused by my brothers hand on my
shoulder He was gazing down at me
with a puzzled expression.
ITS remarkable likeness, you see"
said l. Il really think had better not
go TO Ruritania."
Rose, though half convinced, would
not abandon her position.
It's just an excuse" she said pet
tshly. You don't want to do anything
Why, you might become an ambassa-
DOR"
Il don't think / want to be an am
DdSSauOf, SAID 1.
ITS more than you ever will be-" she
retorted.
That is very likely true, but it is not
more than have been The idea OF
being an ambassador could scarcely
dazzle me. had been a king.
So pretty Rose left US In dudgeon,
and Burlesdon. lighting a cigarette.
looked at me still with that curious
gaze.
THAT picture in the paper he said
well, what Of it? 1t shows that the
king of Ruritania and your humble
servant are as like as two peas"
My brother shook his head.
Il suppose so,' he said. "But |
should know you from the man in the
photograph"
And not from the picture In the
paperT
Il should know the photograph from
the picture; the pictures very like the
photograph, but
"Well?"
ITS more like you" said my bro
Their.
My brother Is a good man and true,
so that. for all that he Is a married
man and mighty fond OF his wife. he
should know any secret Of mine. But
this secret was not mine, and l could
not tell IL 10 him.
IL don't think it's so much like me as
the photograph" said l boldly. But,
anyhow, Bob. | won't go TO Strelsau."
mo, don't go to Strelsau. Rudolf"
said he.
And whether he suspects anything or
has a glmmer OF the truth | do not
know. If he has he keeps II TO him
self. and he and / never refer TO il.
And we let Sir Jacob Borrodaile find
another attache.
Since all these events whose history
| have set down happened have lived
d very quiet life at small house
which | have taken in the country.
The ordinary ambitions and aims OF
men In my position seem 10 me dull
and unattractive. / have little fancy
for the whirl Of society and none for
the joste OF politics. Lady Burlesdon
utterly despairs of me. My nelghbors
think me an indolent. dreamy, unso-
clable fellow. Yet | am a young man.
and sometimes ! have a fancy-the SUI
perstitious would call IL a PRESENT.
ment-that my part in life Is not yet
altogether played: that. somehow and
some day. | shall mix again In great
affairs. shall again spin policies in
busy brain. match my wits against my
enemies brace my muscle TO fight
good fight and strike stout blows. Such
Is the tissue Of my thoughts as. with
gun or rod in hand. | wander through
the woods or by the side OF the stream.
Whether the fancy will be fulfilled |
cannot tell, still less whether the scene
that. led 10y memory. lay for my new
exploits will be the true one-for |
love TO see myself once again in the
crowded streets OF Strelsau or be-
neath the frowning keep of the castle
OF Zenda.
Thus led, my broodings leave the fti-
lure and turn back on the past. Shapes
rise before me I'm long array-the wild
first revel with the king. the rush with
my brave teatable. the night in the
moat. the pursuit In the forest. my
friends and my foes. the people who
learned to love and honor me, the des-
perate meE who tried to kill me- And
from amid these last comes one who
alone OF all OF them yet moves on
earth. though where I know not. yet
plans Cas | do not doubt wickedness.
yet turns women's hearts TO softness
and mems to fear and hate. Where Is
young Rupert OF IIentzau. the boy who
came so nigh to beating mei When his
name comes into my head feel my
hand grip and the blood move quicker