Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-04-03

II
5z75 l stepped out of the buffet on
ezexY to the platform. The last
thing did was to feel IL my revolver
were handy and my sword loose in the
scabbard. A gay group OF officers and
high dignitaries stood waiting me, at
their head tall old man. covered with
medals and of military bearing. He
wore the yellow and red ribbon Of the
Red Rose OF Ruritania, which, by the
way, decorated my unworthy breast
also.
Marshal Strakencz." whispered Sapt,
and | knew that | was in the presence
Of the most famous veteran of the Ru-
ritanian army.
Just behind the marshal stood q
black and crimson.
1.-The chancellor of the kingdom"
whispered Sapt.
The marshal greeted me in a few
loyal words and proceeded to deliver
an apology from the Duke of Strelsau.
with a sudden indisposition which
made it impossible for him to come to
the station, but he craved leave to
await his majesty at the cathedral.
expressed my concern, accepted the
marshal's excuses very suavely and
number of distinguished personages.
No one betrayed the least suspicion,
and felt my nerve returning and the
agitated beating of my heart subsid-
ing But Fritz was still pale, and his
hand shook like a leaf as he extended
Ii TO the marshal.
Presently we formed procession and
took our way to the door of the station
Here / mounted my horse. the marshal
holding my stirrup. The civil dignita-
ries went off TO their carriages, and
started to ride through the streets
with the marshal on my right and
Sapt, who, as my chief aid-de-camp.
was entitled to the place on my left. The
city of Strelsau is partly old and partly
new. Spacious modern boulevards and
residential quarters surround and en-
brace the narrow, tortuous and pictur-
esque streets OF the original town. In
the outer circles the upper classes live,
In the inner the shops are situated, and
behind their prosperous fronts lie hid
den populous but wretched lanes and
alleys filled with poverty stricken.
turbulent and On large measure) GRIM
lnal class. These social and local divi-
sions correspondent, as l knew from
Sapts information. to another division
more important to me. The new town
was for the king. but TO the old town
Michael OF Strelsau was hope. n
hero and a darling.
The scene was very brilliant as we
passed along the Grand boulevard and
on TO the great square where the royal
palace stood. Here | was I'm the midst
OF my devoted adherents. Every house
was hung with red and bedecked with
flags and notices. The streets were
lined with raised seats on each side.
and | passed along, bowling this way
and that, under shower of cheers.
blessings and waving handkerchlefs.
The balconies were full Of gayly dress
ed ladies', who clapped their hands and
curtsied and threw their brightest
glances at me. A torrent of red roses
fell on me- One bloom lodged In my
horses name. and l took 1t and stuck
1t in my coat The marshal smiled
grimly. / had stolen some glances at
his face. but he was too impasslye to
show me whether his sympathles were
with me or not
"The red rose for the Elphbergs,
marshal" said gayly. and he nodded.
/ have written "gayly." and strange
word it must seem. But the truth is
that | was drunk with excitement. At
that moment l believed almost be-
lieved-that / was i'm very truth the
king. and with n look of laughing tri-
umph | raised my eyes to the beauty
laden balconies. and then | started.
For. looking down on me. with her
handsome face and proud smile, was
the lady who had been my fellow
traveller, Antoinette de Mauban. and
saw her also start. and her lips moved.
and she leaned forward and gazed at
me- And /, collecting myself, met her
eyes full and square. while again | felt
my revolver. Suppose she had cried
aloud. That's not the kingr'
Well. we went 10y, and then the mar
shall. turning round In his saddle.
waved his hand. and the cuirassiers
closed round us, so that the crowd
could not come near me. We were
leaving my quarters and entering
Duke Michaers, and this action of the
marshal's showed me more clearly
than words what the state OF feeling
In the town must be. But II Fate
made me a king the least l could do
was TO play the part handsomely.
"Why this change in our order, mar
shalT' said I.
The marshal bit his white mustache.