The Washington herald., 1909-04-29


time. my lord Pleasant fer myself. being
also Of noble birth; and pleasant, we
trust, for you. Common people. unless
OF considerable means. are apt TO pail
upon Us: they lack interest And this
other. he queried, Looking toward the
king
NY servant. quickly responded Sir
! Mornus.
And the lady?"
My niece and ward.
Yves mused Sawk-nose All very
satisfactory sincerely crave pardon
for the hardship 10 which, of necessity.
/ have subjected you, my lord, and mad
em0iseiie- madernoiselle, is il notE Yes2
your charming niece. You see, fine
estate, but somewhat remote. As for the
lcoach-impossible, in the present condi-
tion Of the road. impossible: and one
must observe the law against obssruct-
Ing the highways Permit me-" and he
textended a snuff-box toword Sir Momus,
who politely accepted therefrom-
Hawk-nose took a pinch for himself,
ldelicately eievatinE his free fingers as he
applied the particles TO his nOstris.
a mementO-the only one. I regret 70
say, vOGehsafed Us, beyond the recoilec-
ton Of this fascinating presence-of the
late Duke OF Bae. who was our guest
[ for a few days" explained hawk-nose.
contemplating the box IN the palm of his
hand before restoring IL 70 his sash.
/ Poor duke-this altitude did not agree
With him. and ne failed to obtain the
simple remedy that We suggested. He
died"
Hswk-uose tucked the box away.
All. he resumed, looking frankly
upon Sir Momus- Hugo. Lord OF Banly
and Of Witte But ] have been under
the unfortunate impression that the line
Of Banly Wss extinct. lie waved hiS
/ hand. You see. even up here. so apart
from the world, news Of current events
reach us
The line OF Banly will be extinct with
my death" stated Sir Momus quietly
I I am the last
! Presumably you have been under an
alias. suggested hawk-nose- That would
explain my most iameutable ignorance"
/ He paused. as il for reply. None coming,
/ ne proceeded. 1T is melancholy TO be
the last OF d distinguished race. I. too.
am In that position. Grant me 70 present
myself Rollo, Count OF HeItenfahr,
I house somewhat known by history, but
latterly in eclipse"
| The last count OF that title WAS hanged
! for robbing q sanctuary. The estate was
| lconfscated. and the name Heltenfahr was
erased from heraldic records. spoke the
king. sharply. his cheek Teddening.
| True as 70 the part draWIed hawk
nose My good lord your servants
/ tongue runs too fast for accuracy. Il is
a great fault NY father. I have heard.
did indeed lose his life by reason OF 4
collar o'er-tight for him. superinducing
/ apopieNy; but I am his son, therefore.
I by evidence Of the fact, successor 10 the
hOno-s- The man was thTOttled. but not
( the title I observe II to be a favOrite
theory OF princes that shutting of peo-
( pies breath proves them % have no
night 10 breathe Some time I shall eX-
| pertinent with q king, and in Ike manner
prove that he has no right 10 reign. 'Tis
a poor rule that does not work two
WAYS.
Your mother was-?" inquired the
king. with a sc0rnful smile.
Exactly" responded hawk-nose. hts
voice dangerously even MY mother was
else had not been horn She was. and
| possibly she IS; n so. let her be. have
q genealogy relating to our nobility. care
fully revised by myself as 20 deaths. a.
we'll as births. which would recommend
YOUR servant 10 read while he is here.
my lord. he may somewhere meet Uer-
sons who are even more tenacious Of
Z title than l. As for myself. I am con-
tent. in ny remoteness from the great
world, 20 bear the modest name Del orc:
merely De- OrO.
He looked suddenly fun upon the king:
then shot a glance at Sir Aiomus From
behind that r1ien of smooth urbansty
blazed Up. for just a second. through the
eyes a glimpse Of the cruel spirit actu-
sting.
The name, however. may not be
wholly unfamiliar 10 y0u7~ he pursued
his tone A covert threat. like the iron
gauntlet beneath the silken glove.
IT IS rivaling. in repute. the name OF
Heltenfahr,' answered Sir Momus. with
a faint smile
Very good, responded hswk-nose.
himself. perforce. smiling And now
you viii pardon mel am intensely curl
Gus. Ny IieUtenant-0r. 7 should say. my
steward. for he IS an adept in managing
my finances; twas he who was our guide
from hel0w-you remember him2-in-
forms ne that when your coach was so
happily encountered. the blue was on the
box and the brown was in the inside with
the lady. I do not understand Fashions
must have changed Very likely 7 am
again ignorant.
Sir MOmus heSiJated- Hawk-nOSe mild
y coughed. and waited
The situation was not exactly OF our
choosing, you must recollect." asserted
Sir NIOnus. bluntly. Your lieutenant
was d little late upon the scene. 4 bar
rier in the road-myself and NY servant
OF the ground 20 examine sudden on
sIagght. and we being without weapons. !
myself neatly trussed and pitched upon
the box. my servant flung, bonds lacking, /
into the coach. where was my terror /
stricken nieee-and away were we thus /
conveyed. wiily-nilly."
He spread his hands. with an effective |
shrug.
Just So" nuTmured haTk-nose. MY
ignorance again" He was most self /
depreciative. He arose 1t must be l
noon. ne said. ElanCing at the sun. He
consulted jewei-studded timepiece. so /
SAYS my watch lie flashed the case. /
nonchalantiy. a pretty thing. is It not? 4
Like the snuf-box. a menentO from a 4
departing guest" He returned It. with 4
your perm ission, I viii go and see what /
my cook IS doing. so that We may dine
together. Be good enough 20 present my
humble respects. Sir Hugo. to medemoi- /
seile. your niece Certainly she IS charm /
ing. crave her better acquaintance. |
Should you not have appetite enough I
and should choose 10 walk. pray consider 4
this estate your Own BUt-iust a word 4
OF caution ] would not 60 far in that 1
direction. toward the mountain; miser-
able morass lies there. quite innpassable /
unless one knows the path very accurate
", 1t Is bottomless. And as for east
and west-there is positively nothing 1
worth the seeing. rocks and thickets
sTaTming with the black blow-adder and 4
.
ing around 70 cut one OF, at last. in case
one gets through 10 H. or course. as
You know, 10 the immediate south We I
have that deep ehasm- The only bridge I
that have Yet been able 20 put over il /
is NOT ~ I'll safa and nnnst beg Of vo., 1