The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1910-02-11


''You make emp In surprise.
The old man Strengthened his bent
figure with sudden pride. 81 am ar
morer to the crown, sir. My blades
are used by the nobility-not by the
army, am happy to say"
81 say, Herr Spantz, or monsieur, I'd
like to have good long chat with you.
What do you say to mug Of that ex-
cellent beer over in the cafe garden?
Business seems to be a little dull.
Can't yOu-er-lOck up"
SpantZ looked at him keenly.
''May ask what brings you to Edel-
weissT p he asked abruptly.
II don't mind telling you, MIR. Spantz,
that Pm here because I'm somewhat
Of fool. False hopes led me astray.
I came here looking for romance-for
adventure"
81 see," cackled Spantz, his eyes
twinkling with mirth. you thought
you could capture wild and 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
ever produced-the beautiful Yetive-
but he was the only one"
"No. Pm not looking for princesses
I've seen hundreds of 'em i'm all parts
of the world
"You should see Prince Robin" went
on the armorer.
give heard of nothing but him, my
good Mr.. Spantz. He's seven years
old, and he looks like his mother, and
he's got jeweled sword and all that
sort of thing. T daresay he's a nice
little chap. Got American blood in
him, you see."
The old man retired to the rear Of
the shop and called out to some one
upstairs. A woman's voice answered
my niece will keep shop, sir, while
I am out" Spantz explained.
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 a stare
Of amaZement.
= A young woman of the most astound-
ing beauty, attired in the black and
red of the Graustark middle classes,
was slowly approaching from the shad-
owy recesses at the end Of the shop.
His heart enjoyed a lively thump.
Truxton King, you may be sure, did
not precede the old man into the street.
He deliberately removed his hat and
waited most politely for age to go be-
fore youth, in the meantime blandly
gazing upon the face Of this amazing
niece.
Across the square, at one of the ia
bles. the old man, over his huge mug
of beer, became properly grateful He
was willing to repay King for his lit
tie attention by giving him a careful
history of Graustark. past, present and
future.
The old man was rambling on. "The
young prince has lived most of his
life in Washington and London and
Paris, sir. He's only seven, sir. OF
course you remember the dreadful ac-
cident that made him an orphan and
put him on the throne with the three
wise men Of the east as regents or
governors-the train wreck near Brus-
sells, sir. His mother, the glorious
Princess Yetive, was killed and his
father, Mr.. Lorry, died the next day
from his injuries. That, sir, was a
most appalling blow to the people Of
Graustark. There never will be an
other pair like them, sir. God alone
preserved the little prince. The col
lision was from the rear, broken rail
throwing a locomotive into the prin-
cess coach. This providential escape
Of the young prince preserved the I'M
broken line of the present royal fam
ily."
"I say, Mr.. Spantz, T don't believe
I've told you that your niece is most
remarkably beau.
CAS- / was saying, SIR" interrupted
Spantz % pointedly that Tru4ton
flushed "the little prince - the idol
OF all the people. Under the present
regency he is obliged to reside in the
principality until his fifteenth year,
after which he may be permitted to
travel abroad"
Spantz was eying him narrowly.
You do not appear interested in our
royal family" he ventured coldly.
Truxton fastened to assure him that
he was keenly interested. Especially
30 now that + appreciate that the lit
tie prince - the last OF his race"
"There are three regents, sir, in
charge Of the affairs Of state-Count
Halfont. the Duke Of Perse and Baron
Jasto Dangloss. who IL minister OF po-
lice Count Ealfont is a granduncle
of tie prince by marriage. The Duke
OF Perse f. the father Of the unhappy
Countess Ingomede. the young and
beautiful wife Of the exiled Iron Count
Marlanx. No doubt you've heard OF
him.
III remember that Inc was banishel
from the principally"
"Quite true. sir. He was banished
fra 1901 and now resides on his estates