The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-08-27

"what sort Of man is the king"
she asked.
"The king is most emphatically
very good sort Of fellow-a very good
old fellow. l only wish his son was
like himl The prince is Tartar. Has
he gone by yetr
"I don't think so. suppose he'd have
an escort, wouldn't he7 I don't know
him by sight yet. Does everybody call
the king q good fellowT
"some people are so extremely right
eousp pleaded Markart ruefully. "And,
anyhow, he has reformed now."
because he's oldT
"Fifty-nine. Is that so very old7 No;
I rather attribute It you're discreet,
hope2 I'm putting my fortunes in
your hands, to Nine. la Comtesse."
"The Countess Ellenburg2 Marie has
told me something about her"
"Ahl Nine Zerkovitch is friend of
hers7"
"Not intimate, l think. And is the
countess oppresslvely respectable, Cap
tain MarkartP
"Women In her position always are"
said the captain, with an affected sigh.
His round, chubby face was wrlnkled
with merrlment. "You see, morgan
attic marriage isn't such q well estab-
lished institution. here as In some other
countries. oh, It's legal enough no
doubt If it's agreed to on that basis, but
the Stefanovitches have In the past
often made nonroyal marriages.
their own subjects generally. Well,
there was nobody else for them TO mar
ryl Alexis got promotion In his first
marriage-an Italian Bourbon, which is
always respectable If not very brilliant.
That gave us position, and It couldn't
be thrown away. So the second mar
riage had to be morgaDatic. Only
well, women are ambitious, and she
has young son who bears the kings
name, boy twelve years old"
He looked reHectively at his polished
boots Sophy sat In thoughtful silence.
A Jingle of swords and the clatter Of
hoofs reused them. A troop of soldiers
rode by. Their uniform was the same
smart tunic OF light blue, with black
facings, as adorned Captain Markart's
shapey person.
"Ah, here's the princer' said Markart,
rising briskly to his feet. Sophy fol-
lowed his example, though more in
curiosity than in respect.
The young man at the head of the
troop returned Markart's salute, but
was apparently unconscious of the In
dividual from whom it proceeded. He
rode by without turning his head or
giving glance in the direction of the
cafe terrace Sophy saw a refined pro-
file, with a straight nose, rather short,
and a pale cheek. There was little
trace of the Bourbon side of the pedi-
gree.
"Ies on his promotion, too," con-
tinued the loquacious and irreverent
captain as he resumed his seat. "They
want a big fish for him-something
German, with resounding name.
Poor fellowr
"Well, it's his duty" said Sophy.
Somebody who'll keep the countess
in order, el?' smiled Markart, twirl-
ing his mustache. That's about the
size of 1t, expect though naturally
the general doesn't show me his hand.
only tell you common gossip"
81 think you hardly do yourself JUS
tice. You've been very interesting,
Captain Markart."
81 tell you what" he said, with an
engaging candor, 'T believe that some
how the general makes me chatter just
to the extent he wants me TO and then
stops me. ! don't know how he does
It. It's quite unconscious on my part.
seem to say just what likew
They laughed together over this puz-
>zle. "You mean General StenovicsT
asked Sophy.
"Yes, General Stenovics. All, here he
isp' He sprang up again and made a
low bow to Sophy. Eau revoir, made
moiselle. A thousand thanks"
He saluted her and hurried to the
side of the pavement. General Ste
movies rode up, with two orderlies be-
hind him. Saluting again, Markart
mounted his horse. The general brought
his to a stand and wait
MI ed the necessary mo-
WI ment or two with a good
~N humored smile. His
|. ]. 3 !" ] !. = ! ! !: T. !. !: !. !
eyes wandered from the
N young officer to the pre-
sumable cause Of his
T[ lack Of vigilance. Sophy
wITA, felt the glance rest on
WNf her face. In her turn,
MN she saw q stout, stumpy
MT figure clad in rather
vSS ugly dark green uni
60, form, and heavy, olive
US"S'ut S'0 tinted face adorned with