Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-07-30
A That"
Bv CLINTON DANGERFlELD


'sSire" whispered an aglIaCed atIeHu-
ant, quite unmoved by the beauty OF
the landscape lying SO placidly in the
evening sunshine, Sire, your majesty
tcrrifies me by this familiarity with
an unknown American, even though
you think he does not guess your rank
For a week your majesty has met
him here on this shore and compelled
me to leave you-yet who knows but
he may be an anarchist "a murderer?
His country is most impossible.
AND who knows" interrupted the
king angrily, "but that the moon may
be made of green cheese? or the cup
of coffee had this morning OF poison?
One is as much worth specializing on
is the other. Kindly withdraw, my
lord. he is coming. Console yourself
by the knowledge that this is the last
time | meet him, for tomorrow l go
back to" he hesitated second and
then added-"to the usual damned
routine!"
The courtier, he was duke with an
income worthy of his rank, looked SIN
cerely shocked, but he went away.
1T is certainly touch OF madness
in him." he muttered to himself, this
desire to meet a commoner on the
mans own level! We all know In
sanity has been in his family"
Meantime Hollingsworth, frank-eyed
and smiling, had Joined the king.
10 niY,
American gayly as he came up. Hear
how my accent improves, in spite OF
the complications of your tangled
tongue. But you are solemn this
evening. You should have gotten ur
at dawn, as l did, and have had diI
with me in the ocean. Everything
looked as fresh as new-mown hay
His companion looked at him curl
ously.
How have you managed to keep al
that enthusiasm? Is life so easy
on a-what do you call it?-ranch?"
The American stared. well, 20,
don't know much of life!" he said
laughing. 'Is life easy on a ranch?
reckon not! But what's the use of go
ing over past troubles now? You see
l actually made something over ex
| penses last year, SO here l am, taking
the first vacation ever had. Grea
country this" Then, irrelevantly, NJ
added: "Odd we two should hav'
struck up a friendship, isn't it? ! sup
pose it's because we are opposites
You have kind of melancholy abou
| you that l seem to like, l don't know
why!" He threw himself on the SAM
and the other sat down beside him
while in the distance the courtie
watched them surreptitiously by tn
aid of a powerful glass.
| Hollingsworth was lazily throwing
pebbles into the surf, trying to max
them skim the feathery line. with tn
same suggestion of resolute and merry
GUS force which shone through all h
did.
do you know" said his frien
slowly, chat this is our last meeting
Tomorrow 1 must 90 home"
II wish you could have another wee
here, but l suppose your business
imperative?"
81 am told So" said the other dryl.
IT don't want to be inquisitive," sal
the American hesitatingly, but I nj
,ticed yesterday, and again to-day, tha
you were looking pretty serious. N
offence, but is business all right wit
your"
1T is. mott" said his companio
gloomily, visions of an argumentativ
premier and a clamorous people risin
before him. st never is! AS soon q
get one snarl Strengthened out ther
is another ready"
"Just sol" said Hollingsworth chez
fully, but with kindly sympathy in HI
voice. "Know how it is exactly. Bee
there myself, many a time! On m
place in Texas l found that each fe
low, from the foreman to Hung Cham
the cook, had his pet particular grie
ance ready at all hours-and tn
changes in the market were the devil
81 suppose So" admitted his frien
little absently, then suddenly becor
ing aware of a warm, strong hand lai
on his shoulder.
"See here, old fellow" said Holling
worth, plunging in, Il told you I mac
little haul before / left home-wis
for your sake it was bigger. Nov
you mustn't get too blue-all of us g.
it in the neck occasionally. And so
that isl mean-oh, hang it! If ye
; want a check for a couple of hundre
t say the word and it's yours"
His friend, who had finally lain
, ease on the sand, now sat up so su
denly and with such a flush on h
: cheek that the Texan feared he hi
given mortal offence.
Perplexity succeeded dismay wi
the American when he saw how pier
ingly the other was gazing at him.
. You know ALL" said his companit
accusingly, land you think that
this you will"
Stop" said the American imper
!. lively eff you've done anythil
wrong I don't want to hear it. VIII
!, you use the money for is no affair
mine. / like you, and that's enou,
1 for me. I shan't miss the check; Il
s only means skipping Monte Carlo, al
g l reckon I've no business there an
!, way. AS to the check, I-er-that is
i l made it out for you this morning"
He drew the slip of paper awkwal
l ly from his bill-book and quick
J. slipped it into the others pocket.
l. "You mean," said his new-fou
friend little hoarsely, that you gi
me this expecting no return? Y
have really done it because you lik
!. me, and not because you hoped for
exchange?"
The American looked liz sheer
constituent into the others eyes.
saw tears there, and they embarrass
, him, but he said frankly:
Look here, Ehrenfeld, the nal
| given nv his cOmnanjOn was that