The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-12-21

Just a few minutes, your high
ness. Pray be patient-er-my
little man.
Prince Bobby flushed. He al
ways knew that he was being pat
ronized when anyone addressed
him as my little man."
Il have an engagement" he
said, with stiffening of his back.
"Indeed?" said the duke dryly.
Eyes, your grace, a very i'm
portant one. OF course, I'll stay
If have to, but-what time is 1t,
Uncle Caspar?"
1T is half past eleven, your
highnes."
Goodness, 1 had a date for
eleven. mean an engagement
an engagement" He glanced
helplessly, appealingly from
Count Halfont to Baron Dan
CLOS, his known allies.
The duke of Perse smiled grim
ly. In his most polite manner he
arose to address the now har-
assed princeling, who shifted un-
easily on the pile of law books.
'May your most humble subject
presume to inquire into the ma
ture of your highness' engage
ment?"
"You may, your grace" said
the prince.
The duke waited. A smile
crept into the eyes of the others.
''Well, what is the engagement"
81 had a date to ride with I'm
Gle Jack at eleven"
"And you imagine that Uncle
Jack will be annoyed If hei is kept
waiting by such trivial matter as
a cabinet meeting, unfortunately
prolonged?"
al don't know just what that
MEANS" murmured the prince.
Then his face frightened. But
don't think he'll be sore after I
tell him how busy we've BEEN"
The duke put his hand over his
mouth. 81 don't think he'll mind
half an hours wait, do your"
He likes nae to be very
prompt"
Count Halont interposed, good
humoredly. There is nothing
more to come before us today,
your grace, so l fancy we may as
we'll close the meeting. To my
mind, it is rather a silly custom
which compels us to keep the
. prince with us-er-after the
opening of the session. OF course,
your highness, we don't mean to
say that you are not interested in
our grave deliberations"
Prince Bobby broke in eager
ly: Uncle Jack says I've Just
got to be interested in 'em, wheth-
er / want to or not. He says it's
the only way to catch onto things
and become a regular prince. You
see, Uncle Caspar, I've got lot
to learn"
Eyes, your highness, you have, ;"
solemnly admitted the premier
"But / am sure you will learn"
Under such an able instructor
know more than the wisest man
in the realm" added the duke of
Perse.
THANK you, your grace" said
the prince, so politely that the
duke was confounded; Il know
Uncle Jack will be glad to hear
that. He's-he's afraid people
may think he's butting in too
much"
"Butting in?" gasped the pre-
mier.
At this the duke of Perse came
to his feet again, an angry CLEAN
in his eyes. my lords" he be-
gan hastily, sit must certainly
have occurred to you before this
that our beloved princes English,
which seems after all to be his
mother tongue, is not what 1T
should be. Butting in! Yester-
day l overheard him advising your
son, Pultz. to go chase himself
And when your boy tried to chase
himself-'pon my word, he did
what did our prince say? What
did you say. Prince Robin?"
Ell forget" stammered
= Prince Bobby.
"You said -Mice!' Or was it
Err"
"No, your grace. Rats. I re-
member. That's what said.
That's what all of us boys used
to say in Washington"
"God deliver us! Has it come
to this, that prince of Grau-I
stark should grow up with such
language on his lips? ! fancy, my
lords, you will all agree that
something should be done about
:. IL. 1t is too serious matter. We
are more or less responsible to the
people he Is to govern. We can
not, in Justice to them. allow him
to continue under the-er-influ-
ences that now seem to surround
him. He'll-he'll grow up to be
barbarian. For heavens sake,
my lords, let us consider the
princes future-let us deal
promptly with the situation"
whats he saying, Uncle Cas-
par?" whispered the prince
fiercely.
"Shl" cautioned Count Halfont.
81 won't shi / am the prince.
And I'll say chase yourself
whenever ] please. It's god Eng
lish. I'll pronounce it for you in
our own language, SOS you can
see how 1t works that way. 1T
goes like"
"You need not illustrate, your
highness," the premier FASTENED
to say. Turning to the duke, he
said coldly: II acknowledge thel
wisdom in your remarks. your