The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-02

OF state. '''''' III '''e iooes
answer en-" said his best friend.
But supposin' / can't? Then what?''
! lie won't ask questions. Bobby
/ People never do when a pofent9fe Is
I on his throne. It's shoclSingIy bad
- hope ne won't stay long prayed
] topbN' a grave quicker between his
/ oruWs. He was a very tired little boy.
/ MS eyes We're heavy with sleep and his
! lps were nos. very firm.
Ro SSS9unt II ial lion! viii look, after him,
! mere on Inc throne ad look wise The
/ regents VIII do the rest Watch yOur
4 Gacle Caspar. When he gives YOU the
snro SOV a[ise. Ihat ends the audi
know all about that, Uncle Jack.
BUT bet L do something wrong. This
| mug or receiving grand dukes is no
Joht. Specially when were so terribly
/ upset Really ] ought to be looking
! ell'I Ine men who are wounded attend
4 ms 20 the funerals Of"
- Now, Bobby, don't funk like that,
Bobby promptly squared his little
shoulders and set his jaw "Oh. I'm
not seated He was thoughtful for
I lonesome up I'm that Dix chair. so far
away from all your friends Z wish
/ Uncle Caspar would let me sit down
with the crowd.
The grand duke. with az the AFRO
gance of real parsonage. was late. Ii
was not for him to consider the cOndi-
/ tions that distressed the court of Grau-
stark. Not at all. He was a grand
duke and ne would take his own time
i'm paying his respects. What cared he
, that every one in the castle was tired
and unStrUng and sad and sleepy ANY
one but a grand duke would have wait
ed day or two before recurring royal
audience. When he finally presented
I himself at the castle doors, q sleepy
group Of attendants actually yawned
In his presence.
a somnolent atmosphere. still touched
by the small OF EuHpOwdcr, greeted him
as he strobe majestically down the
halls. somehow each person who bowed
20 him seemed TO do ~ with the mel
[ anchOiy precision or one who has been
UP for six nights In succession and
doesn't care who knows g.
No ore had slept during the night
Just passed. Excitement and the suf-
fering OF others had denied slumber 20
one and all-evcn TO those who had not
slept for many days and nights. Now
/ the reaction was upon them. RelaNa-
tiun had succeeded tenseness.
When the grand duke entered the
great, sOmber throne room he was con-
I fronted by a punctiliously polite assem-
blage but every eyelid was as heavy as
/ lead and as prone 20 sink.
The prince sat far back I'm the great
chair Of his ancestors, his sturdy legs
sticking straight out in front Of him,
utterly lost IN the depths OF gold and
royal velvet Two-sCOre or more Of his
COurtiers and as many noble ladies Of
| the realm stood sOberly IN the place as
{ signed them by the laws OF precedence.
| The grand duke advanced between the
respectful lines and knelt at the foT OF
the throne.
Arise. your highness," n ped Bobby.
I with q quick glance at Count HalfOnt
l To was very faint, faraway voice that
uttered the gracious comma nd. "Grau-
stark welcomes the Grand Duke Paulus.
I IT is my pleasure-tO-tO--'' a helpless
/ look came into his eyes He looked
everywhere for support The grand
duke saw that he had forgotten the re-
hearsed speech, and smiled benignly as
I he stepped forward and kissed the hand
that had been extended somewhat UNI
4 certainly.
Ny most respectful homage 10 YOUR
majesty. The calculations Of my en-
peror and the warmest protestatiOns OF
friendship from his people
With this as a prologue. he engaged
himself I'm the -pleasurable task OF
delivering a long cOnEratulatOry ad-
dress II there was one thing above an
other that the grand duke enjoyed, n
was the making OF a speech. He Drided
I himself on his prowess as an orator
! and as an after-dinner speaker: but,
I more than either Of these. he gloried I'm
/ his ability 20 soar eXteupOraneOusly.
/ For ten minutes he addressed himself
I 70 the throne, benignly, comfortably.
! Then he Condescended 70 devote a share
Q