The Glenwood post., 1909-07-24

ings of Flora. A gilt chandelier
diffused light through the apartment.
and at one side was pair of large
folding doors.
After long wait, gentleman. Mr..
Digby. appeared. He received us po-
litely, but said it was impossible to dis.
turb the prince then as he was Just sit
ting down to piquet. Sir Peter re-
mained silent; he was used to giving
orders, and the words, 1T is impossible
to see his royal higness." were pc
culiarly disagreeable to him.
l then made my plea. I told Mr..
Digby that the life of gallant officer
and gentleman was in jeopardy, and
that We begged to see his royal high
ness in the hope that the king might
be approached.
That, too, is impossible" coldly re-
piled Mr. Digby THE king is far from
we'll"
Just then some one on the other side
of the folding doors opened one Of
them the least bit in the world, and
then closed it-but not before we had
seen streams of light pouring from It,
long table brilliant with plate and
ornaments, and company of about
20 gentlemen sitting around it, and
at one end sat a parsonage whom We
at once recognized as the prince of
Wales.
Without word Sir Peter arose, and,
darting toward the door-for he was
ever an agile man-threw it open, and
walked into the presence of his royal
highness.
Sir" said he. marching up to the
prince, 81 am Admiral Sir Peter Hawk
shaw, and | have boarded you, so to
speak, sir, in order to save the life OF
one OF the gallantest officers in the
service of his majesty"
| had always heard that his royal
highness was a gentleman, and l saw
then such an exhibition of readiness
and good taste as | never saw before,
and never expect to see again. Every
one at the table, except the prince,
seemed astounded at the sudden en-
trance and stating address Of short,
active little man in an admiral's uni
form. But the prince offered Sir Peter
his hand in the coolest manner in the
world saying:
Most happy to meet you. Sir Peter.
l recollect well that you carried the
Indomptable by boarding very success
fully. But how did you get past the
watchdogs at the door, my dear sir?"
81 by carrying sail hard. your royal
highness," responded Sir Peter, "and
seeing this door open, faith, said l, to
myself. having risked my skin these
40 years for the king and his success
sors, sure, can risk it once more by
walking in on my prince, and here
am, sir, ready to state my case. That
bloody popinjay, Digby (Digby was
right behind him), wanted me to let
you alone because you were about to
go to piquet, but l think no prince of
England would sacrifice mans life to
a game OF piquet."
Certainly not, Sir Peter" answered
his royal highness. rising, land now 1
have an hour entirely at your SER
vice"
Sir" said Sir Peter, 81 ask the
honor of shaking hands with you, not
as a royal prince, but as an honest
man and good fellow"
think the prince was ever suscep-
tible to honest praise, for he was no
fool, and he was undoubtedly pleased
when Sir Peter wrung his hand. He
then led the way into another room,
and the door was closed.
The rest of the party behaved very
civilly to me, and l accepted thankful
ly an invitation to have something to
eat and drink. They were merciful to
me, seeing my distress of mind, and
did not plague me with questions, but
resumed their conversation with one
another.
CTo BE CoNTINUED)