Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-03-21

his birth nor indeed even to Europe,
although one day there came to his
mansion on the Chesapeake the Va
lerian minister to America and with
many bows and genuflections present
ed a letter from his brother Frederick
announcing the death of their royal
father and his own accession and offer
Ing to restore to Hugo his rank and
estates If he would return to court.
The offer had been courteously re-
| fused.
And this letter, like his sword, his
order of the Cincinnati, his commits
slons and the miniature, has been the
heritage Of the eldest son. In his sol
der days his nearest comrade had
been Armand, Marquis de la Rouerie,
and for him his first born was christen-
ed, and hence my own queer name for
an American, Armand Dalberg.
think was the first of the family
to set foot within Valera since Hugo
left 1t. Ten years ago during sum-
mers 1dling in Europe 1 had been seiz-
ed with the desire to see the land of
my people. Nor was that the only
time. However, had the grace-and
| possibly the precaution-to change my
name on such occasions. In the king
dom OF Valera 1 was that we'll known
American Mr.. John Smith
l did the ordinary tourist visited the
places of interest and put up at the
regular hotels. Occasionally / was
stared at rather impertinently by some
officer of the guards, and 1 knew he
| had noted my resemblance to the ma
honal hero. never made any effort
to be presented to his majesty nor to
establish my relationship. / should
have been much annoyed had anything
led to it being discovered.
One day while riding along a seclud-
| ed bride path some miles from Dorm
lltz i came upon woman leading q
| badly limping horse She was alone,
no groom i'll sight, and, drawing rein,
| dismounted and asked if | could be
Of service. Then l saw her face and
| stepped back in surprise. Her pic
| lures We're too plentiful in the capital
for me to make mistake. 1t was the
| Princess Dehra.
| | bowed low. "Your royal highness'
pardon" / said. II did not mean to
presume"
She measured me in a glance. elm
deed you are most opportune," she
said, with frank smile. 81 have lost
the groom-his horse was too slow
and I've been punished by Lolita pick
ing stone I cannot remove"
by your leave" l said and lifted
the mares hoof. Pressing back the
frog, l drew out the lump of sharp
gravel.
May / mountT'
l bowed.
Without hurting Lotta?" she asked.
L turned the mare about and drop
ped my hand into position. For
moment she hesitated. Then there
was the swish of riding skirt, the
CLINT of patent leather boot, an arch
ed foot in my palm, and without an
ounce of lift from me she-.was in the
saddle.
| stepped back and raised my hat.
lou are d SOlulGI-uu american OIL
ficer!" she said suddenly.
your highness has guessed most
shrewdly," l answered in surprise.
Are you staying at the embassy"
she asked.
NO." said 1; ST am not on the staff.
AIN only d bird Of passage"
II am very grateful for your courte-
sy," she said
at is for the stranger to be grateful
for your trust" answered.
She smiled. That smile was getting
into my poor brain. "a woman usual
ly knows gentleman" she said.
l bowed.
"And under certain circumstances
she likes to know his name" she
added.
For moment I was undecided.
Should tell her and claim my cousin