West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-05-16


its Inhabitants. institutions, scenery.
fauna, fora or other features7 Had
not wasted my time IN my usual friv-
olOus. good for nothing way? That
was the aspect OF the matter which, L
was obliged 10 admit, would present IL
self 10 my slster-ln-law. and against n
verdict based on such evidence had
really no defense TO offer. IL may be
Supposed. then. that / presented my
SELF In Park lane In shamefaced.
fheepsh fashion. On the whole. my
reception WAS not so alarming as /
had feared. 10 turned out that had
done not what Rose wished, but-the
next best thing she had prophe-
sled. She had declared that should
make no notes. record no observations,
gather no materials. My brother. on
the other hand. had been weak enough
20 maintain that n really serious re-
solve had at length animated me.
When / returned empty handed. Rose
was so occupied In trIumphlng over
Burlesdon that she let me down quite
easily, devotlng the greater part OF her
rcprOaches to my failure to advise my
friends OF my whereabouts.
We've wasted lot OF time trying
TO find you,' she said.
Il know you have" said l. Half
our ambassadors have led weary lives
on my account George Featherly told
me so. But why should you have been
0nXiousI / can take care OF myself"
"Oh, II wasn't that" she cried scorn-
fully, "but / wanted to tell you about
II n..Nn -
got an embassy--at least he will have
in n month-and he wrote to say he
hoped you would go with him."
where's he going to-"
Hes going TO succeed Lord Topham
at Strelsau." said she. "You couldn't
have n nicer place, short OF Paris"
"Strelsau! HIM" said 1. glanclng at
my brother
"Oh, that doesn't matterp exclaimed
Rose impatiently. Now, you will go.
won't your"
II don't know that l care about It,"
"Oh, you're too eXasperatingw
And don't think 1 can go to Strel-
sau. My dear Rose. would IL be-suit-
able|
"Oh, nobody remembers that horrid
old story now"
Upon this l took out OF my pocket a
portrait of the king OF Ruritania. 1t
had been taken month or two before
he ascended the throne. and he wore a
full beard. Nevertheless she could not
miss my point when / said. putting 1t
into her hands:
"In case you've not seen or not no
ticed picture of Rudolf ", there he
Is Don't you think they might recall
the story If 1 appeared at the court OF
RuritnniaY
My sister-in-law looked Mt the por-
trait and then at me.
Good gracious" she said and flung
the photograph down Oh the table
What do you say, Bobt" l asked.
Burlesdon got up, went to corner of
the room and searched in Il heap OF
newspapers. Presently lie came back
with copy of the Illustrated London
News Opening the paper, he displayed
a double page engraving Of the corona
ton OF Rudolf Y. at Strelsau. The pho
tograph and the picture lie laid side by
side ] sat at the table fronting them,
and as ! looked l grew absorbed. My
eye Travelled from my own portrait to
Sapt, 10 Strakencz to the rich robes OF
the cardinal, to Black NIichacls face. to
the stately figure of the princess by his
| side. Long 1 looked and eagerly. / was
| reused by my brothers hand on my
shoulder. He was gazing down at me
with Il puzzled expression.
ITS remarkable likeness, you see"
said l. Il really think | had better not
go to Ruritana"
Rose, though half convinced, would
not abandon her position.
ITS just an excuse" she said pet
tishly You don't want TO do anything.
Why, you might become an ambassa-
DOR
Il don't think want to be an am
bassador." said 1.
ITS more than you ever will be-" she
rctorted.
That Is very likely true, but It Is not
more than l have been. The idea OF
being an ambassador could scarcely
dazzle me. had been 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 ne said.
We'll, what of It? 1t shows that the
King Of Ruritanla and your humble
servant are AZ like as two peas"
My brother shook his head.
Il suppose So" he said But I
should know you from the man In the
photograph"
And not from the picture in the
paperY
Il should know the photograph from
the picture; the pictures very like the
Photograph but
| "WellT
ITS more like you" said my bro
ther.
My brother IS good man and true.
so that for all that he is married
man and mighty fond OF his wife. ne
should know any secret Of mine. But
this secret was not mine. and / could
not tell 10 TO him.
Il don't think it's so much like me as
the photograph" said l boldly. But.
anyhow, Bob / won't go 70 Strclsau."
no, don't go TO Strclsau. Rudolf"
said he.
Aud whether hc suspects anything or
has glimmer Of the truth I do not
know. II he has, lac keeps Il to him
self, and hc and I never refer to il.
And we let Sir Jacob Borrodallc find
another attachc.
Since oIl these events whose history
have set down happened have lived
very quiet life at "a small house
which have taken in the country.
1--WE ordinary ambitions and aims OF
Canadian Government