Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-02-18

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. II know Uncle Jack will
be glad to hear that. He's-he's afraid
people may think he's butting in too
much"
"Butting I'M" gasped the premier.
At this the Duke Of Perse came to
his feet again, an angry CLEAN in his
eyes. my lords" he began hastily,
1T 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! Yes
terday I overheard him advising your
son, Pultz, to go chase himself. And
when your boy tried to chase himself
pom 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 ter
mo, your grace; rats. remember.
That's what said. That's what all of
US boys used to say in Washington"
God deliver us! Has 1t come to this
that a prince Of Graustark should
grow UP with such language on his
lips? That confounded American has
every one hypnotized!" exploded the
duke. His influence over this boy Ia
menace to our country. He is max
ing an oaf of him-a slangy, impudent
little"-
Your grace!" interrupted Baron
Dangloss sharply.
Uncle Jacks all right" declared the
prince, vaguely realizing that de-
fense should be forthcoming.
He is, eh?" rasped the exasperated
duke, mopping his brow.
He sure is," pronounced the prince
with a fnality that left no room for
doubt.
He is a mountebank, a meddler,
that's what he Isl" exclaimed the over
heated duke.
But the prince had slid down from
his pile Of books and planted himself
beside him so suddenly that the bitter
words died away on the old mans
lips.
You awful old mani" he cried, trem-
bling all over, his eyes blazing. Don't
IN
Tll-Tll Danish you-yes. sir-banish
you like my mother fired Count Mar
lanx out Of the country. I won't let
you come back here-never. And be-
fore you go I'll have Uncle Jack give
you a good licking. Oh, he can do it,
all right! IL nate you!"
The duke looked down in amazement
into the flushed, writhing face Of his
little master. For moment he was
stunned by the vigorous outburst.
Then the hard lines in his face re-
laxed, a softer expression came into his
eyes, and he smiled kindly on the boy.
But Prince Bobby was still unap-
peased, Il could have you beheaded," !"
he said stubbornly. Couldn't I, Uncle
Casper?"
The Duke of Perse suddenly bent
forward and placed mis- bony hand
upon the unshrinking shoulder Of the
prince, his eyes cleaning kindly, his
voice strangely free from its usual
harshness. You are a splendid little
man, Prince Robin" he said. Il glory
in you. I 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.
"Its-it's all right, du-your grace.
I'm sorry I spoke that way too"
AS the prince strode soberly from
the room Of wrangles" every eye was
upon his sturdy little back, and there
was a kindly light in each Of them,
bar none.
Later on the prince in his khaki rid
ing suit loped gayly down the broad
mountain road toward Ganlook beside
the black mare which carried John
Tullis. He had told Tullis Of his vain
glorious defense In the antechamber.
Say, Uncle Jack, when are you 60
ing to take me to the witch's hovel|'
The thought abruptly banished all else
from his eager little brain.
Some day soon," said Tullis. You
see, I'm not sure that she's receiving
visitors these days. A witch Is a very
arbitrary person. Even princes have
to send up their cards.
The witch's hovel was In the noun
tain across the most rugged OF the
canyons and was to be reached only
after the most hazardous of rides. The
old woman Of the hills was an ancient
character about whom cluns thou
sand spookish traditions, but who, In
the opinion of John Tullis, was moth
ing more than a wise fortune teller
and necromancer, who knew every trick
in the trade Of hoodwinking the super
stitious.
AS they rode back to the castle after
an hour, coming down through Castle
avenue from the monastery road, they
passed tall, bronzed young man
whom Tullis at once knew to be an
American. He was seated on a big
bowlder at tine roadside enjoying the
shade. At his side was the fussy,
we'll known, figure of Cooks inter-
prefer eagerly pointing out certain i'm
portant personages to him as they
passed. OF course the approach Of the
prince was the excuse for consider.
able agitation and fervor on the part
of the man from Cooks. He mounted
the bowlder and took off his cap to
wave 1t frantically.
Its the prince!" he called out to
Truxton King. stand up! Hurray!
Long live the prince!
The man from Cooks came to Srief.
He slipped from his perch on the rock
and came fioundering to the ground.
The spirited pony that the prince was
riding SHE'D and reared in quick af-
fright. The boy dropped his crop and
ol,po volioptlv to tho reins A guards