The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-19

This conversation took place in the drawing room one evening after dinner not long after the arrival of Bulbo at court and Giglio, the good-natured fel- low, signed the document without read ing it. as the designing old Gruffy knew he would. She had ambitious plans for
 Giglio and herself, did old Gruffy, and that night sat up late practising such signatures as "Griselda Pafiagonia,' signatures as "Griselda Patagonia" /" Pf. Reg.," and ever so many more varia- tions of the same thing, from all of which it may be seen that old Gruffy had designs upon the throne as well as upon Giglio. In fact. the Countess was so pleased with herself and her pros . pect that when Betsinda came that night to put her hair up in curl papers she said: My dear girl, I have long prom ised you present for attending me here are shillings-no, this is better, here is a nice ring I picked up in the garden The stingly old Countess! She would give poor Betsinda only a ring, which was a cheap-looking affair at best, and had cost her nothing. Yet 1t was The Ringi
 Of course, now that Betsinda had the ring all the gentlemen fell in love with her. She needed it's aid less than any other person at court, but, beautiful and modest as she was, even the mosv perfect of us and the most beautiful can stand a little outside aid when it comes to making us still more fascinat- ing than nature intended.
 Prince Giglio and Prince Bulbo both declared their love for Betsinda and fought over her. Giglio got the better of the encounter. It was rather date at night and the gentlemen had been dining generously. Betsinda had been coming from her duties and had warming pan in her hand when she en- |countered the warning princes who were fighting over her. His majesty the King heard the noise and came out to see what was going on. When he saw Betsinda he cried out Charming chambermaid; never mind these young men. Turn your eyes upon middle aged autocrat who has been consider ed not uncomely in his time" "Oh, sir" cried Betsinda. what would her ma jesty say?" Her majesty" laughed the King-he had, as stated, been dining Her majesty be hanged! Am I not autocrat of Pafinogio. Nay, have l not blocks, axes, racks? Runs not a river by my palace walls? Say but the word and you shall be my queen and your mistress sewed up in a sack straightway."
 When Giglio heard these atrocious words he grabbed Betsinda's warming pan and smote the king mighty blow over the head, knocking him down as flat as pancake. There was pretty row in the royal palace. as may be imagined. The king was furious and shouted for He'd zoff, his captain of the guard. "Hedzoff," said his majesty, "seize upon the prince. Thou wilt find him in his chamber, two | flights up Away, no more; the villain dies who has dared with sacrilegious hand | to floor me with a warming pam
 l Captain Hedzoff was much affected, for
 he loved Giglio like q son. Poor Gglio, ,
 he moaned when the king had disap-
 peared; "and it is my hand that must
 conduct you to the scaffold' Conduct
 him to fddlestcks!" exclaimed female voice. 'Ihe King Sdlu you were 10 exc cute the prince. Well, execute him. It
 was the voice of Gruffanuff, who had no
 mind to lose young and royal husband
 just to satisfy the whim of old valoroso
 XXIV. q don't understand said He'd
 zoff. You gaby; he didn't say which
 prince, did hep retorted Gruffy. "No. he did not" well then, take Bulbo and
 kill him." Hezdoff danced for joy and
 went and arrested the surprised Bulbo
 early the next morning, handing him over
 to the sheriff with an order to cut off his
 head forthwith.
 But old Gruffy knew that she had only
 temporarily saved Giglio and went to see
 him early the next day, about the time
 Bulbo was arrested. She found him walk
 ing in the garden, trying to find a rhyme l for Betsinda and doing no better than ''tinder' and "winder." "Oh darling"
 cried the countess. you must escape at
 once from the country Glgo had T
 rather hazy idea of all the events of the
 preceding night, but at the words of the
 countess the past began to rush upon him.
 and he remembered that things had