The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-02-10
"TRUXTON KING"
STORY OF GRAUsTARK, BY Geo Barr McCutcheon.

Ihim, Bobby; SO don't worry. Just
sit up there on the throne and lool
wise. The regents will do the
rest. Watch your Uncle Caspar
When he gives the signal, yor
arise. That ends the audience
You walk out"
81 know all about that, Uncle
Jack. But l bet l do something
wrong. This thing of receiving
grand dukes is no joke. Special
ly when we're so terribly upset
Really, ought to be looking after
the men who are wounded. at
tending to the funerals Of"
Now, Bobby, don't funk like
that! Be a mani"
Bobby promptly squared hi!
little shoulders and set his jaw
ooh, I'm not scared!" He wa!
thoughtful for a moment. But
I'm tell you, it's awful lonesome
up in that big chair, so far away
from all your friends. l wish I'm
Gle Caspar would let me sit dowr
with the crowd"
The Grand Duke, with all the
Arrogance of a real parsonage
was late. 1t was not for him tc
consider the conditions that dis
Itressed the Court of Graustark
Not at all. He was grand duke
and he would take his own time il
paying his respects. What earet
he that everyone in the Castle wa!
tired and unstrung and sad and
sleepy? Anyone but a grand duk,
would have waited a day or TIVE
before requiring a royal audience
When he finally presented himsel
at the Castle doors, sleep,
group of attendants actual.
yawned in his presence.
A somnolent atmosphere, still
touched by the smell OF guhpow
der, greeted him as he strobe ma
ljestieally down the halls. Some
how each person who bCwed t
! uiii oSSlbOu " w II Will tue
ancholy precision of one who ha
been up for six nights in success
sion and doesn't care who know
lit.
No one had slept during tn
night just passed. ExCitcmcn
and the suffering of others had dc
MED slumber to one and all ever
to those who had not slept fol
many days and nights. Now The
reaction was upon them. Roltxa
ton had succeeded tensenesS.
When the Grand Duke entered
the great, somber throne room
| he was confronted by a punctili
ously polite assemblage, but ever,
Ieyelid was as heavy as lead ant
as prone to sink.
The Prince sat far back in tn,
great chair of his ancestors, hi
sturdy legs sticking straight on
in front of him, utterly lost in tn,
depths of gold and royal velvet
|Two-score or more of his courtier!
and as many noble ladies of tht
realm stood soberly in the places
assigned them by the laws of prec
edence. The Grand Duke ad
vanced between the respectful
lines and knelt at the foot of the
throne.
arise. your highness," pipet
Bobby, with a quick glance a
Count Halfont. 1t was a yer,
faint, faraway voice that uttered
the gracious command. "Grau
stark welcomes the Grand Duke
Paulus. 1t is my plesure to-tC
to" a helpless look came into
his eyes. He looked everywhere
for support. The Grand Duk,
saw that he had forgotten the re
hearsed speech, and smiled be
Inignly as he stepped forward ant
kissed the hand that had been ex
tended somewhat uncertainty.
my most respectful homage tt
your majesty. The felicitation!
of my emperor and the warmes
lprotestations of friendship from
his people,"
With this as a prologue, he en-
gagged himself IN the ever-pleas
urable task of delivering long
congratulatory address. If there
was one thing above another tina
the Grand Duke enjoyed, 1t was
the making of speech. He prid
ed himself on his prowess as al
orator and as an after-dinnel
speaker; but, more than either o.
these, he gloried in his ability t
soar extemporaneously.
For ten minutes he addressed
himself to the throne, benignly
lcomfortably. Then he conde
scended to devote a share of hi:
precious store to the courtiers be
hind him. II he caught more
than one of them yawning wher
ihe turned in their direction, he
did not permit it to disturb him IL
the least. His eyes may have mar
rowed bit, but that was all.
After five minutes Of high
sounding platitudes, he agar
turned to the Prince. 1t was ther
that he received his first shock.
Prince Robin was sound asleep
His head was slipping side-wist
along the satiny back of the bis
chair. and his chin was very low
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