The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-01-31
Continued from yesterday. )

ing from the manner OF his ministers
that the question was settled to his
liking. leaned forward and announced
to his uncle. the premier:
I'm tired, Uncle Caspar. How
| much longer Is it?''
| Count HaIfont coughed. "Ahem.
Just few minutes, your highness.
Pray be patient---er--my little man"
Prince Bobby flushed. He always
knew that he was being patronized
when any one addressed him as my
little man.
II have an engagement" he said,
with a stiffening of his back.
The Duke of Perse smiled grimly.
In his most polite manner he arose to
address the now harassed princeIing.
VINO shifted uneasily on the pile y.
lawbooks.
May your most humble subject pre-
sumo to inquire into the nature OF
your highness' engagement
fou may your grace, said the
prince.
The duke waited. A smile crep,
into the eyes of the others We'll,
what Is the engagement 2"
had date to ride with Uncle
JACK at II and to review the troops"
Count HaIfont interposed good hui
moredly: There Is nothing more to
come before us today. your grace. SO
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 eagerly:
Uncle Jack says I've Just got to be
interested In 'em whether / want to
or not. He says it's the only way 10
eaten on to things and become a
regular prince. You see. Uncle Cas-
par. I've got a lot to learn"
Yes, your highness. you have" SOL
EMMY admitted the premier. But I
am sure you will learn"
Under such an able instructor as
Uncle Jack you may soon know more
than the wisest man in the realm"
added the Duke of Perse.
Thank You. your grace" said the
COMPOUNDED. II know Uncle Jack will
be glad to hear that. He's--he's
afraid people may think he's buttins.
in too much"
'.Butting I'M" gasped the premier.
At this the Duke of Perse came
In his eyes MY lords. he Began
hastily. 1T must certainly have oc-
CURED to You before this that our
beloved princes English, which seems
after all to be his mother tongue, Is
not what II should be. Butting In.
Yesterday overheard him advising
your son. Puitz. to go chase himself.
himself-'pon my word he did--what
did our prince say? What did you
say. Prince Robin?''
II forget" stammered Prince
Bobby
You said 'Mice,' Or was it--er'.--
errn 4 ~
That's what l said That's what ali
OF us boys used to say IN Washing
ton"
God deliver us. Has 1t come to
this-that prince OF Graustark
should grow up with such language
lean has every one hynotized." ex-
ploded the duke. His influence ever
this boy is menace to our country
He Is making an oaf of him-a siangy.
impndent little
Your grace!" interrupted Baron
Dangloss sharply.
Uncle Jacks all right" declared
the prince. vaguely realizing that
defense should be Forthcoming.
He Is. eh?" rasped the exas-
perated duke hopping his brow.
He sure Is pronounced the
prince with, q finaiity that left no
room for doubt
AAc 40 uIouutepdNk, meQuIeT,
that's what he is,'' exclaimed the
overheated duke.
But the prince had slid down from
his pile OF books and planted himself
beside him 80 suddenly that the bit
ter words died away on the old
mans lips.
You awful old man. he cried. |
Don't you say anything agains.
Uncle Jack. Til--I'H Danish you
yes. sir--banish you like my moth |
er fired Count Marlanx out OF the
country. won't let you come back
here---never. And before you go I'll
have Uncle Jack give you good
licking. Oh, he can do it. all right!
The duke looked down in amaxe-
ment into the flushed, writing face
OF his little master. For a moment
he was stunned by the vigorous out
burst. Then the hard lines In his |
face relaxed. softer expression came |
into his eyes. and he smiled kindly |
on the boy.
But Prince. Bobby was still unap-
peased. II could have you behead-
ed. he said stubbornly. Couldn't |
/, Uncle Caspar?'
The Duke OF Perse suddenly bent !
forward and placed his bony hand /
upon the unshrinking shoulder of the
prince. his eyes cleaning kindly. his
voice strangely free from its usual
harshness. You are splendid lit
tie man. Prince Robin" he said. II
glory In you. ! shall not forget the
lesson In loyalty that you have taught
me-"
Bobby's eyes filled with tears. The
genuine humility OF the hard old man
touched his tempestuous little heart. /
"It's--it's all right. du---your grace. /
I'm sorry ! spoke that way, too"
As the prince strobe sober1y from |
the room of wrangles' every eye |
was upoE his sturdy little back. and /
there was kindly light In each OF |
them. bar none.
Later on the prince In his khaki !
riding suit loped gayly down the /
broad mountain road toward Gam
look beside the black mare which
carried John Tul9is. He had told |
Tullis Of his vain glorious defense |
Say. Uncle Jack. when are you
going 70 take Ele to the witch's how |
ELF" The thought abruptly banished /
all else from his eager little brain. |
Some day soon. said Tnflis. I
you see, I'm not sure that she's /
receiving visitors these days. a. witch
h very arbitrary person. Even
princes have 10 send up their carch. ? 1
The witch's hovel was Ia the noun I
tain across the most rueged-eof thai
canyona and was 70 Be reached only
after the most hazaFdous Of rides. |
Tha. old woman of the hills wa an !
ADc1nnt ch1Enctor About whom clu0u !