The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-04-04

Truxton King felt his chin in per
plexi.y. Its too much. l can't af
ford it, he said. disappointment in his
eyes.
! Il have modern blades of my own
make. sir, much cheaper and quite AZ
good" ventured the excellent Mr.
Spantz.
You make 'em?" in surprise.
The old nrln Strengthened his bent
figure with sudden pride. Il am ar
morer to the crown, sir. Ny blades
are used hy the nobiiity-not by the ,
army, l am happy TO say"
Il say. Herr Spantz. or monsieur, I'd
like to have Il coed long chat with you. .
What do you say to Il mug of that eX-
cellent beer over in the cafe garden?
Business seems to be little dull.
Can't you-er-lock up
SpantZ looked at him keenly
MAY l ask what brings you to Edel-
weiss:'' lie asked abruptly.
II don't mi:.d tcll.- yCn. NJ. Src,?tZ.
that I'm here because I'm somewhat
Of fool. False hopes led me astray.
:. l came here looking for romance-for
! adventure"
Il see.' cackled Spantz, his eyes
twlnkling with mirth. You thought
you could capture wild ard beautiful
princeSseS here just as you pleased.
= eh? Let me tell you, young man, only
= one American-only one foreigner, in
: fact-has accomplished that miracle.
!, Mr.. Lorry came here ten years ago
and won the fairest flower Graustark
fhA f,,l
y but he was the only one"
- mo. I'm not looking for princesses.
I've seen hundreds of 'em i'll al parts
of the world
l. you should see Prince Robin went
on the armorer.
. 1--we heard of nothing but him. my
y good Mr.. Spantz. He's seven years
1 old, and he looks like his mother, and
e he's got jeweled sword and all that
&c sort Of thing. l daresay he's a nice
I" little chap. Got American blood in
- him, you see
The old man retired to the rear of
&c the shop and called 1T to some one
~ upstairs. A woman's voice answered
- "NIy niece will keep sop, sir. while
le 1 am out" Spantz explained.
u They paused near the door until the
~ ~ old mans niece appeared at the back
~ ~ of the shop. Kings glance became
~ more or less in the nature of stare
of amaZement.
III A young woman of the most astound
oi ing beauty, attired in the black an(
us red of the Graustark middle classes
III was slowly approaching from the shad
re owy recesses at the end of the shop
ie. His heart enjoyed a lively thumI
az Truxton King. you may be sure. di
NE not precede the old man into the street
~ He deliberately removed his hat an
IL waited most politely for age to go be
ds fore youth, in the meantime blandl
NY gazing upon the face of this amazin
re niece.
ne Across the square, at one of the t;
bles, the OLD man, over his huge mu
of beer, became properly grateful L
! was willing tc repay King for his Ii
r tie attention by giving him a caref
history Of Graustark, past. present al
4 future.
III The old man was rambling OH. TT
Ill young prince has lived NEST Of h
i'll life in Washington and London al
4. Paris. sir. He's only seven, sir.
II ! course you remember the dreadful 4
cident that made him an orphan a.
put him on the throne with the thr
? wise men Of the east as regents
I governcrs-the train wreck near Eru
4 sells, sir. His mother. tie gloro
~ Princess Yetiye. was killed and
81 father, Mr.. Lcrry, died the reXt &
as from his injuries. That. sir. was
q most appalling blow to the people
!. Graustark There never will be &
sa other pair like them. sir. God ale
* preserved the little prince. The c
lision was from the rear, broken +
throwing locomotive into the pr
cess coach. This providential esca
of the young prince preserved the /
1lne broken line of the present royal fl
gen. ily"
II say, Mr. SpantZ, l don't belle
Aare I've told you that your niece is IL
op- remarkably beau
lean "Ae was sayirr sir, interr1,n-
us Spantz so pointedly that TruX
pc flushed 1.-The little prince is the i
MIN / of all the people Under the pres
ana regency he is obliged to reside in
ne principality until his fifteenth ye
lno- after which he may be permitted
SUI travel abroad"
Sc Spantz was eying him narrow
You do not appear interested in
en- royal family he ventured coldly.
the TruXton fastened to assure him
not he was keenly interested. "Especi;
lurs- so now that / appreciate that the
ld TO tie prince is the last Of his race"
'oad- There are three regents. sir,
pJect charge of the affairs Of state-Co
lnlo Halfont, the Duke Of Perse and Ba
lsthy Jasto Dangloss, who is minister of
lice Count Ealfont is grandu,
}, an Of the prince by marriage. The D
him of Perse is the father Of the unha
arch Countess InromeGe the Young
n. hoa,,tif,,l uifa IF tho oyiad Iron o.