West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-03-21

cy, ana WINE secrecy lasted i had n
fine game to play in strelsau. Michael
should not grow stronger for delay.
ordered my horse and, attended by
Fritz Won Tarlenhelm, rode In the
grand new avenue of the royal park,
returning all the salutes which 1 re-
celved with punctlllous pollteness.
Then / rode through n few OF the
streets. stopped N bought flowers Of
n pretty girl, paying her with a piece
OF gold. and then. having attracted the
desired amount OF attention for 1 had
n trail OF half a thousand people after
me-. l rode TO the residence of the
Princess Flavla and asked IL she would
receive me. This step created much
Interest n was met with shouts OF
approval. The princess was very Bop
ular. and the chancellor himself had
not scrupled 10 hint TO me that the
more I pressed my suit and the more
rapidly 1 brought II TO n prosperous
conclusion the stronger should I be IN
the affection OF my subjects. The
chancellor, OF course. did not under
stand h difficulties which lay I'm the
way OF following his loyal and excel
lent advice. However. | thought I
could do no harm by calling. and In
this view Fritz supported me with n
cordiality that surprised me until he
confessed that he also had his motive
for liking u visit TO the princess house.
which motive was no other than "A
great desire to see the princess lady In
waiting n bosom friend. the Coun.
tess Helga o Strofzin.
Etiquette seconded Frltz's hopes.
While / was ushered into the princess
room he remained with the I'm
the ~ontechamber. In spite Of the peo-
| pie n servants who were hanging
about j doubt not hat they managed
n tete-a-tete, but / had no leisure to
think of them, for / was playing the
most delicate move In NIL my difficult
game. / had TO keep the princess de-
voted to me-and yet Indifferent to me;
L had to show affection for her-and
not feel it. l had to make love for an
other, and that to n girl who, princess
or no princess, was b most beautiful
l had ever seen. Well, l bracsd myself
to the task, made no easier by the
charming embarrassment with which
1 was received. How l succeeded in
carrying out my programme will APP
pear hereafter.
You are gaining golden laurels." she
said. you are like the prince I'm
Shakespeare who was transformed by
becoming king. But I'm forgetting you
nre king, sire"
IL ask you to speak nothing but what
| your heart tells you and 10 call me
nothing but my name"
h looked at me for a moment.
Then I'm glad and proud, Rudolf"
said she. why. as l told you, your
very face is changed"
/ acknowledged the compliment, but
l disliked the topic. so l said:
MY brother is back, l hear. He
made an excursion. didn't hor"
yes, he is here" she said, frownlng
n little.
III can't stay long from Strelsau, IL
seems" l observed, smiling. well. we
are all glad to see him. The nearer he
is the better"
The princess glanced at mo with a
CLEAN Of amusement IN her eyes.
why, cousinE Is 1t that you cam
See better what he's doing? Per
haps.' said 1. And why are you
gladT"
Il didn't say 1 was glad" she an
swered.
Some people say so for YOU"
There are many insOlent people"
b said, with delightful haughtlness.
Possibly you mean that l am one?r
Your majesty could not be-" she
said, courtesying In feigned Difference.
u adding mischlevously after u
pause, unless. that ls'-
well, unless whatY"
Unless you tell me that / mind a
snap of my fingers where the Duke OF
Strelsau is"
Really 1 wished that l had been the
king.
you don't care where Cousin MI
chael"-
"Ah, Cousin Michael! 1 call him the
Duke Of S%trelsau."
You call him Michael when YOU
meet him."
"Hes-by the orders OF your father"
81 see. And now by miner
III those are your orders"
"Oh, decidedly! We must all be
pleasant to our lear Michael"
You order me to receive his friends.
too, / supposeT"
The SlxT"
You call them that toof'
ITO be In the fashion I dc. But I
order you to receive no one unless you
like"
Except yourselff"
Il pray for myself. / could not or
der"
As / spoke there came Il cheer from
the street. The princess ran TO the
window.
ut Is he" she cried. 1T is-the
Duke OF Strelsau!'
/ smiled, but said nothing She re.
turned TO her seat. For a few mo
ments we sat In silence. The noise
outside subsidized. but heard the tread
OF feet In the anteroOm. began to
talk on general subjects. This went on
Tor some minutes. I wondered what
had become OF Michael. but II did not
seem 10 be for me 10 interfere. All at
once. 70 my great surprise. FIavla.
clasping hor hands. asked In an agi-
tated voice:
Are you wise TO make him angry
"Whati Whof How am I making
him angryT'
why, by Keeping him waiting"
My dear cousin, I don't want TO
keep him
Wei. then, is be 90 CONT inf'
'Of course, n you wish IT,"
She looked at me curiOusIy.
How funny YOU are" she said. "Of
course no one could Doe answered while
] was with you"
Here was n charming attribute OF
royalty