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

k<S7z,oNy duke : keeper because ne ulS-
lSHsS liked my complexion, and if
l had been his most civil and obliging
conduct (as it seemed to me to be- next
morning would have disarmed me-
| Hearing that was bound for Strelsau.
| he came TO see me while / was break
fasting and told me that sister of
his, who had married q well to do
tradesman and lived in the capital, had
invited him to occupy a room in her
house. He had gladly accepted, but
now found that his duties would not
permit of his absence. He begged
therefore that IL such humble Though.
as he added, clean and comfortably
lodgings would satisfy me would take
his place He pledged his sisters ac-
quiescence and urged the inconven-
fence and crowding to which | should
be subject in my journeys to and from
| Strelsau the next day.
accepted his offer without a mo-
| ment's hesitation, and he went Off to
| telegraph TO his sister, while l packed
up and prepared TO take the next train.
But / still hankered after the forest
and the shooting lodge and when my
| little maid told me that l could, by
walking ten miles or so through the
| forest, hit the railway at roadside
station | decided TO send my luggage
direct to the address which Johann
had given. take my walk and follow to
Strelsau myself. Johann had gone OF
and was not aware OF the change in
my plans, but as its only effect was to
delay my arrival at his sisters for a
few hours there was no reason for
troubling TO inform him of It, Doubt
less the good lady would waste no
! anxiety on my account
took an early luncheon, and. having
hidden my kind entertainers farewell,
promising to return TO them on my
way home, | set out to climb the hill
that led to the castle and thence to the
forest of Zenda. Half an hours leis-
urely walking brought me to the cas-
tie. 1t had been fortress in old days.
and the ancient keep was still i'm good
preservation and very imposing. Be
hind Ii stood another portion OF the
original castle. and behind that again,
and separated from IL by deep and
broad moat which ran all round the
| old buildings, was handsome modern
chateau, erected by the last king and
now forming the country residence OF
the Duke of Strelsau. The old and the
new portions were connected by a
dra wbridge, and this indirect mode Of
access formed the only passage be-
tween the old building and the outer
world. but leading to the modern
chateau there was broad and hand
some avenue. 1t was an ideal resi-
dence. When Black Michael desired
company he could dwell in his chateau;
IL At of misanthropy seized him he
had merely TO cross the bridge and
draw IL up after him OF ran on rollers),
and nothing short OF a regiment and
a train OF artillery could fetch him out
/ went on my way. glad that poor
Black Michael, though he could not
have the throne or the princess. had
at least got as fine a residence as
any prince in Europe.
Soon entered the forest and walked
on for an hour or more in its cool. SOM
Der shade. The great trees enIaced
WIN OhC VNtl NY ntuu unu
the sunshine stole through In patches
as bright as diamonds and hardly big
ger. | was enchanted with the place
and. finding felled tree trunk. prop
ped my back against IL and. stretching
my legs out. gave myself up to undis-
turbed contemplation OF the solemn
beauty Of the woods and To the com
fort OF good cigar. And when the
cigar was finished and l had, sup
pose, inhaled as much beauty as I
could l went Off into the most delight
ful sleep. regardless OF my train to
Strelsau and OF the fast waning after
noon. To remember train In such a
spot would have been rank sacriIege.
Instead of that I fell To dreaming that
! was married to the Princess Flavia
and dwelt In the castle of Zenda and
begulied whole days with my love In
the glades OF the forest which made a
very pleasant dream. In fact. was
Just lmpressing a fer.-ent kiss on the
| charming lips OF the princess when I
heard land the voice sesmed Mt first a