The Marshall republican., 1909-06-11

Acute.
It a kick, walked in, followed by me.
The man attempted to arrest our prog.
ress, but Sir Peter said to him,
fiercely:
do you think, you damned lackey,
that you can be insolent to an admiral
in his majesty's service?" The man
apologized humbly and ushered us into
a large reception room on the first
floor, saying he would call the gentle
man OF the chambers.
We seated ourselves. Even In that
time Of agony, I noted the beauty of
the room-indeed, my senses seemed
preternaturally acute, and every in
cident Of that dreadful time is deeply
hxed in my mind. The ceiling was of
Gilt, while around the walls were paint
tngs OF Flora. A gilt chandelier
diffused light through the apartment,
and at n side was a pair OF large
folding doors.
After a long wait, a gentleman. Mr..
Digby, appeared. He received us pc.
iitely. but said 1t was impossible to dis.
turb the prince then as he was just SIT
ting down to piquet. Sir Peter re-
manned silent; he vas used to giving
orders, and the words, 1T is impossible
to see his royal higness," were Pc
culiarly disagreeable to him.
l then made M plea. I told Mr..
Disby that the life of a gallant officer
and gentleman was in jeopardy, and
that we begged to see his royal high
ness in the hope that the king might
be approached.
That, too, is impossible" coldly re-
piled Mr.. Digby. THE king is far from
WELL"
Just then come one on the other side
Of the folding doors opened n OF
them the least bit in the world, and
then closed it-but not before we had
seen streams of light pouring from it.
q long table brilliant with plate and
ornaments, and a company of about
20 gentlemen sitting around It, and
at one end sat a parsonage whom we
ct once recognized as the prince OF
Wales.
Without a word Sir Peter arose. and,
dartine toward the door-for he was
ever an agile man-threw 1t open, and
walked into the presence Of his royal
highness.
Sir" said he, marching up to the
prince, Il am Admiral Sir Peter Hawk
shaw, and / have boarded you, so to
speak, sir, in order to save the life OF
one of the gallantest officers in the
service Of his majesty"
had always heard that his royal
highness was a gentleman, and saw
then such an exhibition Of readiness
and good taste as l never saw before,
and never expect to see again. Every
one at the table, except the prince,
seemed astounded at the sudden en-
trance and stating address of a short,
active little man in an admirars uni
form. But the prince offered Sir Peter
his hand in the coolest name in the
world, saying:
Most happy to meet you, Sir Peter.
recollect well that you carried the
incompatible by boarding very success
fully. But how did you get past the
~watchdogs at the door, my dear sir?'
"By carrying sail hard, your royal
highness," responded Sir Peter, and
seeing this door open, falth, salu /, 10
myself, having risked my skin these
40 years for the king and his success
I sors, sure, / can risk 1t once mere by
walking in on my prince, and here /
am, sir, ready to state my case. That
bloody popinjay, Digby (Digby was
right behind him), wanted me to let
you alone because you were about %
go to piquet, but | think no prince OF
England would sacrifice a mans life to
a game of piquet."
Certainly not, Sir Peter" answered
his royal highness, rising, land now
have an hour entirely at your SER
vice."
"Sir," said Sir Peter, Il ask the
honor of shaking hands with you, not
as a royal prince, but as an honest
man aud good fellow