Evening star., 1909-05-23
A GENTLE KNIGHT
OF OLD NDENB URG
Continue from
Continued from page 4

by the surrounding courtiers
Well, sir'" said the King. when Fritz Henry
approached We'll. sir"
Henry was about to bend his knee in salute,
but the KING said gruff1y
mo, no. man. Get up! Well, sir, l hear you
have behaved well on your journey. and that
you desire to enter our regiment.
"As to my behavior" responded Henry.
smiling broadly. Il refer your Majesty to the
men who conducted me to Berlin am not
aware that have expressed desire to enter
your Majestys regiment: but but Henry
paused. looked at the floor for a moment.
glanced toward the Princess Wilhelmina.
turned his face again toward the King. and
said-"but l now do make the request
wish to enter your Majestys Grenadier Regi-
ment"
the regiment. the Princess. who stood within
three yards of him. quickly turned and looked
at him with unfeigned surprise. Her eyes
seemed to be interrogation points. for, under
like conditions. she was accustomed to hear en-
treaty indignation. and threats from men her
father had kidnapped.
Henry returned the Princess gaze and an
swered the question asked by her eyes as If
speaking to the King Yes l wish to enter
the most famous regiment in the world under
the most famous King in Europe
No man was more disposed to shy at hattery
than hard Prussian Majesty. SO in reply to
Frtz's remark he said. What IS it you want.
that you hatter usf'
Fritz Henry unless you wish to give me COM
mission | was once Captain in the army OF
King Charles of Sweden and for two years |
bore Captains commission IN the English
army. | have served in Italy and France. but
If your Majesty has commission for me |
shall take my place in the ranks
What is your namef demanded the King
Il am known as Captain Henry Churchill
You are known as Captain Henry Church
i'll !" exclaimed his Majesty But what is
your nameS
II have given you the name that am
known by and perhaps If your Majesty will
take second thought you will not wish to
know any other | am over SIX feet tall and
IN good health I've been led to believe that
these facts are all your Majesty cares to know
about man who seeks enlistment in the regi
ment.
THE Kings lips emitted sound half grunt
and half snort that seemed to acknowl
edge the truth of what Prince Henry had said
and after moment 5 pause he asked Where
are you from''
Henry smiled. looked toward him and an
swered ! should suppose your Majesty would
not care to know too much about me. since YOU
have caused me to be kidnapped Too much
knowledge like little learning. may be dan
gerous thing
A low ripple of laughter came from the
courtiers who had heard Henrys words He
spoke English. intending to give the King a
hint that subject of King George of England
had been kidnapped His name Churchill. was
more than a hint of his nationality The
thought would hold terror for this rough old
King and might be of use to Henry later on
King Frederick William who loved SPICY
epigram tinged with wisdom looked at Fritz
Henry with the expression of baited bull and
if the young mans f1attery had alarmed him,
the blunt speech reassured him Desiring to
avoid further public conversation with the new
recruit he said
II see you at the barracks in half an hour.
and we will talk the matter over
Henry bowed took several steps backward.
and stopped beside the who had con-
Quoted him to the palace His Majesty turned
toward his Prime Minister Grumkow and
spoke in an undertone
Il believe the fellow is English If King
George knew that | had kidnapped him. we
might find ourselves in serious trouble: for
have hardly patched up the last incident of
that kind Come with me Grumkow and let
go to the barracks and talk with this man
He's fine. big fellow and want to keep him
if can: but don't want to have Hanover and
England swarming about my on his
count. Then he stepped up to Fritz Henry.
saying. Come. my man Come with Grum-
kow and me, and we shall see if we can find
commission for you
The King unceremoniously started to leave
the audience chamber. regardless of unfinished
business: for affair of state could. in his
mind, equal in Importance the acquisition of a
new Grenadier