Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-09-09
CHAPTER I.

Cl1n. 41C i1dO NdlhC0 AAlhy
miles that day. Ills peasant garb rath-
er enhanced his fine head. His eyes
were blue and clear and farseeing,
the eyes OF a hunter or woodsman.
The afternoon glow of the September
sun burned along the dusty white
highway. From where he stood the
road trailed off miles behind and
wound up 500 feet or more above him
to the ancient city Of Dreiberg.
Across lofty tumble Of barren rock
and glacial cleft. now purpling and
darkening as the sun mell0wed in its
decline, lay the kingdom of Jugend-
heit. By and by his gaze wavered,
and one particular patch in the val
ley. brown from the beating Of many
ironshod horses, caught and chained
hiS interest for space. 1t was the
military field, and it glittered and scin-
tillated with squadron after squadron
Of cavalry.
1.-THE philosophy Of war Is to pre-
pare for it," unused the old man, with
jerk of his shoulders. France!
So the mutter runs. There is Ma
poleon in France, but no Bonaparte."
He laughed ironically and cautiously
glanced at his watch, an article which
must have cost him many and many a
potato patch. He stepped forward. He
had followed yOnder goose girl ever
since the incline began. Oft the little
wooden shoes had Jagged, but here
they were, still hundred yards or
more ahead of him.
The little goose girl was indeed tired,
and the little wooden shoes grew heav-
Ter and heavier, and the little bare feet
ached duly, but her heart was light
and her mind sweet with happiness.
Day after day she had tended the
geese in the valley and trudged back
at evening alone, all told q matter of
twelve miles, and now she was bring
ing them into the city to sell in the
market on the morrow. After that
she would have little to do save an
hour or two at night in tavern called
the Black Eagle. where she waited on
patrons.
Presently there was a clatter of
horses, jingle Of bit and spur and
saber. Half a dozen mounted officers
trotted past. The peasant OH the. para
pet instantly recognized one Of the
men. He saluted with a humbleness
which lacked sincerity. 1t was the
grand duke himself. There was Cen
eral Ducwitz. too, and some Of his
staff, and a smooth faced. handsome
young man in civilian riding clothes,
who, though he rode like a cavalry
man, was obviously Of foreign birth,
an Englishman or an American.
When the cavalcade reached the
goose girl the peace of the scene van
ished forthwith. Confusion took up
the scepte-. The silly geese. instead
Of remaining On the left Of the road in
safety. straightway determined that
their haven of refuge was on the op-
posite side. Conf, gonk! Quack,
Quack! They scrambled. they blum
dered. they few. Some tried to &c
over the horses, some endeavOred to
go under.
The civilian looked casually at the
girl.
by Georgew he exclaimed in Eng
lish.
What is it," asked the duke, gath
ering up the reins.
THE girls face. 1t Is beautiful"
The duke, after glance. readily
agreed. you Americans are always
ohservant" F.
Pretty figure, too" said one Of the
aids, Il colonel. But his eye held none
Of the abstract admiration which
characterized the Americans.
The goose girl had seen this look in
other mems eyes. She knew A faint
color grew under her tan and waned.
The troop proceeded with dust and
small thunder ard shortly passed the
city gates: II traversed the lumcy
cobbles of the narrow streets, OTTER
crowding pedestrians. One among
those SO Inconvenience was youth
dressed as winner. He was tall,
pliantly built, blond as a viking, pos
sessing singular beauty of the mas
culine order. He was forced to fat
ten himself against the wall of a
house. his arms extended on either
side in kind Of temporary crucifix-
Ion. Even then the stirrup Of the
American touched him slightly. But it
was not the touch Of the stirrup that
startled him. 1t was the dark, clean
cut face Of the rider. Once they were
by the youth darted into a doorway.
HE? What can he be doing here?
No, it Is utterly impossible. 1t is mere
~ likeness
He ventured forth presently, none of
the perturbation, however, gone from
his face. He ran his hand across his
chin. Yes. he would let his beard
grow.
The duke and his escort turned into
the broad and restful sweep Of the
Konigstrasse. At the end was the
Ehrenstein -Platz, the great square
round which ran the palaces and the
royal and public gardens. The halt
was made in the courtyard and all
dismounted.
The American thanked the duke
gratefully for the use Of the horse.
You are welcome to q mount at all
times, Mr.-[armichael," REPLIED .fha