The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-02
A STORY OF GRAUSIARK
-B
GEORGE BARR MCCUTCHEON
Copyright. 1909. by George Barr
McCutCheon.
Copyright. 1909 by DOdd Mead & Co.

Of his precious store 10 the courtier'
: behind him. II ne caught more thar
I one of them yawning when ne turned
/ in their direction he did not permit i
| to disturb him in the least. His eyes
may have narrowed a Bit but that was
all.
| After five minutes OF hlgh-soundine
! platitudes. he again turned to the
! prince. II was then that he received
| his first shock.
! Prince Robin was sound asleep. His
| head was slipping sidewise along tho
satiny back of the big chair, and his
neck. The grand duke coughed en-
| phatiCaIy, cleared HIS throat and grew
/ very red in the face.
The court of GraustaTk was distinctly
dismayed. Here was a shocking state
: OF affairs. The prince going TO SLEEP
while the grand duke talked.
His majesty appears to have--ahem
gone to sleep" remarked the grand
duke. tartly, interruptinE himself TO ad-
l dress the prime minister.
He is very tired. your eXcellenCy,'
I said Count HalfoHt. very much dis
1 tressed. Pray, consider what ne has
I Been through during the"
An, my dear count, do not apologize
Tor him. / quite understand. Ahem.
Ahem, Still he was very red I'm the
face. Some one had laughed softly be-
hind his back
u will awaken him. your excelIency. "
said the prime minister, edging toward
the throne.
Not at all, sirr' protested the visi-
tor Permit him to have his sleep
out, sir. J will not have him disturbed.
Who am I that Il should defeat the
claims OF nature2 IL is my pleasure to
wait until his maJestys nap is over
For a while they stood in awkward
silence, this notable gathering Of men
and women Then the prtrle minister,
I'm hushed tones. suggested that n
would be eminently proper. under the
"A
seated He was under the impression
that his serene highness would sleep
| long and soundly.
StiT-backed and uncomfortable, the
court sat and waited. No one pretend
ed to conceal the bIssful yawns that
would not be denied. g. drOwsy, inef-
fabIy languid feeling took possession
Of the entire assemblage. Here and
there a noble head nodded slightly
eTelids fell in the silent wa against
the god Of slumber, only to revive again
with painful energy and ever-weaken-
ing courage.
The prime minister sat at the foot
OF the throne and nodded in spite OF
himself. The minister Of the treasury
was breathing so heavily that his
Z aighbOr nudgcd him just in time to
iating. John Tullis, far back near the
wall. had his head on his hand, brave
Prince Dantan OF Dawsbergen was
The grand duke was wide awake He
saw It all and was equal to the occasion.
After all, he was a kindly old gentle
man, and, once his moment Of mortifca-
ton was over, he was not above char
ity-
BObby's poor little head had slipped
over to a most uncomfortable position
against the arm OF the chair Put
tttg his finger TO his lips, me grand
duke tiptoed carefully UP TO the throne.
with very gentle hands ne lifted Bob
by's head. and Infinitely tender. stuffed
a throne cushion behind the curly head.
Still with his finger TO his lips, a SPLEEN
did smile in hts eyes, he tiptoed back
20 his chair.
AS he passed Count Halfont. who had
risen, he whispered.
Dear little man, 7 do not forget. my
lord. that ! was once a boy. God bless
him."
Then ne sat down. conscious Of a fine
feeling Of goodness, folded his arms
across his expensive chest, and allowed
his beaminE ey es 10 rest upon the sleep
ing boy far back IN the chair Of state
Incidentally. he decided TO delay a few
days before taking up the bond cues
ton with the ministry. The grand duke
was not an ordinary diplomat
In cue Of the curtained windows. far