Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-08-16

of the king, who had lain III Lenua anu
fla shed for q moment before the dazeo
ewes of Duke Michaers servants on the
The metamorphosis hau
and the king, wounded al
most to death by the attacks OF the
iailers who guarded his friend, mad at
last overcome. them and rested now,
wounded. but alive, in Black Michaers
own room in the'castle. There he had
been carried. his face covered with q
cloak. from the cell, and thence orders
issued that if his friend were found he
should be brought directly and prl-
vately to the king and that meanwhile
messengers should ride at full speed 10
Tarlenheim to tell Marshal Strakencz
to assure the princess OF the KING
safety and to come himself with all
speed to greet the king. The princess
was enjoined to remain at Tarienhelm
and there await her cousins coming or
his further injunctiOns Thus the king
would come to his own again, having
wrought brave deeds and escaped al
most by a miracle the treacherOus as
sault of his unnatural brother.
This ingenious arrangement OF my
long headed old friend prospered In
every way save where it encountered
n force that often defeats the most
cunning schemes. / mean nothing else
than the pleasure of woman, for, let
her cousin and sovereign send what
command he chose Tor Colonel Sapt
chose for HIM, and let Marshal Stra-
kencz insist as he would, the Princess
Flavia was in no way minded to rest at
Tarlenheim while her lover lay wound
ed at Zenda, and when the marshai,
with small SUIT rode forth from Lar
lenheim Oh the way to Zenda the prln-
cess carriage followed Immediately be-
hind. and in this order they passed
through the town, where the report
was already rife that the king, going
the night before to demonstrate Win
his brother in all friendliness for tnat
he held one of the kings friends In
confinement in the castle, had been
most traitorously set upon, that there
had been desperate conflict, that the
duke was slain. with several OF his
gentlemen, and that the king, wounded
as he was, had seized and held the cas-
tie of Zenda. All of which talk made,
as may be supposed, mighty excite
ment, and the wires were set in mo-
ton. and the tidings came to Strelsau
only just after orders had been sent
thither to parade the troops and over
awe the dissatisfied quarters OF the
town with a display of force.
Thus the Princess Flavia came to
Zenda. And sershe drove up the hill,
with the -,arshal riding by the wheel
and IN imploring her to return in
,upedieuce to the kings orders, Fritz
Won Tarlenheim, with the prisoner OF
Zenda, came to the edge of the forest,
1 had revived from my swoon and
walked, resting on Fritz's arm, and,
looking out from the cover Of the trees,
l saw the princess. Suddenly under
standing from a glance at my compan-
ions face that we must not meet her,
/ sank on my knees behind clump OF
bushes. But there was one whom we
had forgotten, but who followed us
and was not disposed to let slip the
chance of earning smile and maybe a
crown, or two, and while we lay hidden
the little farm girl came by us and ran
to the princess, courtesying and cry
ing:
MADAME, the king Is herein the
bushes. May 1 guide you to him,
madame?"
Nonsense, child" said old Stra-
kencz. "The king lies wounded in the
CASTLE"
s'Yes. sir, he's wounded, know, but
he's there. with Count Fritz, and not
at the CASTLE" she persisted.
SIS he in two places, or are there two
kings?" asked Flavia, bewildered.
"And how should he be here?"
"He pursued gentleman, madame,
and they fought till Count Fritz came,
and the other gentleman took my IA
theirs horse from me and rode away.
But the king is here with Count Fritz
Why, madame, is there another man
in Ruritania like the king"
mo, my oiild," said Flavia softly q
was told it afterward), and she smiled
and gave the girl money. ~ will go
and see this gentleman" and she rose
to alight from the carriage.
But at this moment Sapt came riding
from the castle and, seeing the prin-
cess, made the best of a bad job and
cried to her that the king was well
tended and in no danger
"In the castleW she asked.
"Where else, madame?" said he,
bowling.
"But this girl says he Is yonder--
with Count Fritz"
Sapt turned his eyes on the child
with an incredulous smile.
every fine gentleman is a king to
SUCH" said he.
"Why, he's as like the king as one
pea to another, madame" cried the
girl q little shaken, but still obstinate.
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