The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-08-20

country"
"Yes; used to see him-when !
was a boy" remarked Armitage.
/ Mrs. Sanderson glanced at Armitage
sharply. She had dined at his ranch
house in Montana and knew that he
lived like a gentleman; that his house.
Its appointments and service were un-
usual for western ranchman. And
she recalled, too, that she and her hus-
band had often speculated as to Armi-
tage's antecedents and history without
| arriving at any conclusion in regard to
! him
The room had slowly filled, and they
strolled about, dividing attention be-
tween distinguished personages and
the not less celebrated works of art.
| "Oh. by the way. Mr.. Armitage
there's the girl have chosen for you
to marry. / suppose 1t would be just
as well for you to meet her now.
though that dark little foreigner seems
to be monopolizing her."
Il am wholly agreeable" laughed
Armitage. THE sooner the better and
be done with it,
| 'DOnt De so frivolous. There, you
can look safely now. She's stopped to
speak to that bald and pink justice of
the supreme court-the girl with the
brown eyes and hair Have a carer
| Shirley and Chauvenet left the VEN
erable justice, and Mrs. Sanderson in
tercepted them at once
ITO think Of all these beautiful
things in our own American exclaimed
Shirley. And you. Mr.. Armitage"-
Among the other curios. Miss Clai-
borne" laughed John. taking her hand
But l haven't introduced you yet
began Mrs. Sanderson. puzzled.
mo; the King Edward did that. We
crossed together. Oh, NJ. Chauvenet.
let me present Mr.. Armitage." said
Shirley, seeing that the men had not
| spoken.
| The situation amused Armitage, and
he smiled rather more broadly than
was necessary in expressing his pleas
| ure at meeting NJ. Chauvenet. They
regarded each other with the swift in
tentness of men who are used to the
sharp exercise of their eyes, and when
Armitage turned toward Shirley and
Mrs. Sanderson he was aware that
Chauvenet continued to regard him
with fixed gaze.
! Miss Claiborne is a wonderful sail
or. The Atlantic is little tumultuous;
at times In the spring. but she reported
to the captain every day."
Miss Claiborne is nothing if not ex-
! traordinary," reclared Mrs. Sanderson
with frank admiration.
THE word seems to have been coin
ed for her." said Chauvenet, his white
! teeth showing under his thin black
mustache.
"And still leaves the language dis
tinguished chiefly for it's poverty"
added Armitage, and the men bowed
to Shirley and then to Mrs. Sanderson
and again to each other. 1t was like
rehearsal of some tri1e in comedy.
How charming! laughed Mrs. San
derson. And this lovely room is just
the place for it."
They were still talking together as
FranZel, with whom Armitage had
spoken below, entered hurriedly. He
hCiu Il hOtS, "AOSC SOhlChlo
it seemed had shaken him out of his
habitual melancholy composure.
us Baron Won Marhof in the room?'
he asked of Armitage. fumbling nerv-
ously at his monocle.
The Austrian ambassador, with sew
eral ladies and led by Senator Sander
son, was approaching.
The attache hurried to his chief and
addressed him in low tone. The am
bassador stopped. grew very white
and stared at the messenger for a mo-
ment in blank unbelief.
The young man now repeated i'm
English, in tone that could be heard
in all parts of the hushed room:
"His majesty the Emperor Johann
Wilhelm died suddenly tonight in vi
enna." he said and gave his arm to his
chief.
1t was a strange place for the deliv-
cry of such a message, and the strange
ness of it was intensified to Shirley by
the curious glance that passed between
John Armitage and Jules Chauvenet
Shirley remembered afterward that as
the attaches words rang out in the
room Armitage started, clinched his
hands and caught his breath in man
ner very uncommon in men unless they
are greatly moved. The ambassador
walked directly from the room with
bowed head, and every one waited in
silent sympathy until he had gone.
The word passed swiftly through the
great house. and through the open win
dows the servants were heard crying
loudly for Baron Won Marhof's car
riage in the court below.
1.-The king is dead. Long live the
kingv murmured Shirley
Long live the kingw repeated
Chauvenet and Mrs. Sanderson in uni
son. And then Armitage. as though
mastering phrase they were teaching
him. raised his head and said, with an
unction that surprised them: Long
live the emperor and king! God save
Austrian
Then he turned to Shirley with .
smile.
Continued Next Week