Gunnison news-champion., 1908-12-25

dukes keeper because b. dis
liked my cpmpsexion. and !
! had been his most civil and ebsigin.
conduct ,as 1t seemed 60 me to be, mex
morning would have disarmed me
Hearing that I was bound for Strelsau
he came TO see me while I was break
fasting and told me that sister o
his. who had married a well 10 D.
tradesman aud lived in the capital. ha,
invited him to occupy a room in h.
house. lie had gladly accepted. bu
now found that his duties would no
permit Of his absence. lie begges
therefore that IN such humble Ohough
as he added clean aud comfortable
lodgings would satisfy me would tax
his place. He pledged his sisters nc
guiescence and urged the iDconveD
icnce and crowding to which | shoul,
be subject in my journeys to and frol
Strclsau the next day.
accepted his offer without me-
mcnts hesitation. and he went OF I
telegraph to his sister. while I packe
up and prepared to take the next traiI
But I stlll hankered after the forcs
and the shooting lodge. and when m
little maid told me that could, b
walking ten miles or 50 through tn
forest. hit the railway ut a roadsid
station I decided to send my luggag
direct to the address which Johan
had given. take my walk and follow I
strelsau myself. Johann had gone Oi
and was not aware of the change
4. q
delay my arrival Mt his sisters for
few hours there was no reason fc
troubling to inform him OF II Doubi
less the good lady would waste
anxiety on my account.
took an early luncheon, and. haviD
hidden my kind entertainers farewell
promising to return to them on III
way home. I set out to climb the hi
that led to the castle and thence to tn
forest of Zenda Half an hours lei,
urely walking brought me 10 the cas
tie. u had been fortress in Old day.
and the ancient keep was still in goo
preservation and very imposing. 81
hind it stood another portion Of III
original castle, and behind that agaii
anu II bN a u''p uh
broad moat which ran all round tn
old buildings. was handsome moder
chateau. erected by the last king an
now forming the country residence
the Duke of Strclsau The old and tn
new portions were connected by
drawbridee. and this indirect mode
access formed the only passage k
tween the old building and the cute
world. but leading to the moder
chateau there was a broad and hano
some avenue. 1t was an ideal res
dence. When Black Michael desire
company he could dwell in his chateau
IL fit of misanthropy seized him b
had merely to cross the bridge an
draw il up after him Gt ran on rollers
and nothing short of a regiment an
train of artillery could fetch him ou
l went on my way. glad that poo
Black Michael, though he could n,
have the throne or the princess. ha
at least got as fine residence
any prince in Europe.
Soon | entered. the forest and wake
on for an hour or more in its COOL son
Der shade. The great trees enlace
with one another over my head an
the sunshine stole through In patcht
as bright as diamonds and hardly bi,
ger. was enchanted with the pla,
and. finding felled tree trunk. pro
ped my back against il and. stretchir
my legs out. gave myself up 10 undi
turbed contemplation of the solem
beauty of the woods and 10 the cor
fort Of a good cigar. And when Il
cigar was finished and | had. l su
pose. inl aled rs much beauty as
could ! went OF into the most deiigb
ful sleep. regardless of rly train
Strelsau and Of the fast waning afte
noon. To remember n train in such
spot would have been rank sacrileg
Instead of that | fell to dreaming tn
I was married to the Princess Flaw
and dwelt in the castle Of Zenda al
beguiled whole days with my love
the glades of the forest. which made
very pleasant dream. In fact, ".
just imPressing a fervent kiss on Il
charming lips Of the princess when
heard tand the voice seemed at firSt
part Of the dream eome one eHcfa
/ In rough. strident tones:
why. the DEVILS in IT, shave hi
and he'd n the king
C0tinped Next Week.