The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-03-12

"fMI WONDER wnen IN the Wurlu
Ml you're going to do anything,
E1e Rudolf" said my brothers
g4 wife.
MY dear Rose" answered, laying
down my egg spoon, why in the world
should l do anything? My position is
comfortable one. l have an income
nearly sufficient for my wants (no
ones income is ever quite sufficient, |
you know. l enjoy an enviable social
position: / am brother to Lord Burles |
don and brother-in-law to that most |
charming lady, his countess. Behold, il |
is enough
"You are nine and twenty" she OBJ
served. "apd you've done nothing
but
KNOCK about? 1t is true. Our fami'
" doesn't need to do things"
This remark of mine rather annoyed
Rose. for everybody knows-and there
fore there can be no harm in referring
to the fact-that, pretty and accom-
plished as she herself is, her family is
hardly of the same standing as the
Rassendylls. Besides her attractions.
she possessed u large fortune. and my
brother Robert was wise enough not to
mind about her ancestry. Ancestry Is,
in fact, a matter concerning which the
next observation of Roses has some
truth.
Good families are generally worse
than any Others" she said.
Upon this / stroked my hair. / knew
quite we'll what she meant.
I'm so glad Roberts Ia black" she
cried.
At this moment Robert, who rises at
Z and works before breakfast. came in.
He glanced at his wife. Her cheek was
slightly flushed: he patted it caress-
ingly.
whats the matter, my dearY' he
asked.
'.She objects to my doing nothing and
having red hair" said in an injured
tone.
"oh, Of course he can't help his hairr'
admitted Rose.
1T generally crops out once in gen.
Grafton" said my brother. $50 does the
nose. Rudolf has got them botI."
II wish they didn't crop out" said
Rose. still flushed.
81 rather like them myself" said !,
and, rising. bowed to the portrait of
Countess Amelia.
My brothers wife uttered an ex'
eIamation of Impotence.
II wish you'd take that picture
away. Robert" said she.
"My dear" he cried.
"Good heavens I added.
"Then II might be forgotten" sht
continued.
Hardly, with Rudolf about" SAID
Robert. shaking his head.
"why should II be forgotten?"
asked.
: "RudoIfr' exclaimed my brother'i
wife. blushing very prettily.
, laughed and went on with my egg
At least I had shelved the question o
what, IL anything. I ought to do. AM
Z by way Of closing the discussion-ant
also. must admit. Of exasperating m.
strict little sister-in.law a tribe more
observed:
81 rather like being an Elphberg my
self"
When I read a story. skip the Ell
plantations. yet the moment begin (
D write one I find that I must have al
q explanation. For II IN manifest that
must explain why my sistrr.in-law wa
Z yexed with my nose and hair and VIII
G ventured to call myself an Elpbberi
h For. eminent az. must protest. iii
RagseDdvIis have been for many ger
Z craftous. yet participation in thci
: blood. II course. does not at frst sigh
}. Justify the boast NJ q connection wit
the grander stock II tire Elphhergs {
% y claim 10 he one NJ that royal b0us
For what relationship Is there betwee
Rurftanla an1 Fwlesdon letween III
n palace at strelsau Or tie castle
~. Zenda and no Park lane. "?
S Well. then-and I must premise thi
y am going perforce to rake up Il
# very scandal which by dear LAD
= Burier4on wishes forgotten -- I'm q
- year 1888 George IT,. sitting then (
" the throne, peace reigning fur tue 10
Ie ment and the king and tie Prince
b, Wales being not yet at loggerbead
~ there came on a visit to the Engli
'e court a certain prince. who was aft'
re ward known 20 history ne Rude
~ III. Of Ruritania. The prince was
. tall. handsome young fellow, mark
" (maybe married: II Ia not for me to "a
IS By O somewhat unusually long, sha
n, and straight nose and q mass Of da
red haIr-in fact, the nose and the hi
10 which have stamped the Elphber
IL time out Of mind. lie stayed sof
1e months in England. where he "
10 most courteousIy received; Jet In I
i'll end he left rather under a cloud, for
- fought duel dt was considered higi
~ well bred Of him TO waive ell questi
r OF bis rank with O nobIeman "
I'D known in the society Of the day :
only for his own merits, but ~
husband Of q very beautiful wife.
a. that duel Prince Rudolf received
AZ we're wound and. recovering therefro