Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-04-06
The Salute of a Friend.

Courtney had long ago become famil-
lar with it all, and 1 in my details and
travels had seen enough to make me
indifferently easy at least. We had tar
ried overtime with the king, and
were the last to reach the hall. Scarce
| ly We're we there when his majesty
and the princess royal We're announced
| and between the ranks of bowling
guests they passed to the throne.
| My whole attention was given to the
princess. 1t was my first good view of
her since the day 1 had acted as substi-
| tute groom. For the bad few min
utes lately passed had been given over
to labial and mental sensations to the
exclusion of the ocular She was lit
tie changed from my lady of the for
est; only a bit more roundness to the
figure and maturity in the face, par
! ticularly about the set of the mouth
when in repose. Otherwise she was
the same charming woman who had
smiled me into subsection six years be-
fore.
When it came our turn the king
seemed to make it point to greet me
with marked cordiality. 1t was noticed
| to the court that 1 had the royal IA
vor.
explained" he passed me over to the
princess.
She was talking with Courtney, and
turned and met me with a smile.
Let us shake hands and be friends,
cousin she said.
The graciousness of the gesture was
plain enough to the whole room, but
the words reached only Courtney and
me.
Il don't deserve it, cousin I said.
but took her hand. none the less.
Then, after word more we gave
place to those that followed us. But,
as L bowed away she said low: 1.-The
sixth dance, cousin.'e
And so 1 knew my peace was made
looked for some banter from Court
ney, but there was none; only a bit of
a smile under the gray mustache.
What he said was:
Come: let us circle the room and
see whom we know"
I'VE know none. if I'm to do the
knowing" 1 said.
Queer state of AFFAIRS he reflected;
1.-The true heir presumptive, yet
stranger in the court"
"Oh, drop that nonsenser' 1 said.
Don't be an ass, Courtney, and don't
play me for one, either"
A lift of the eyebrows was his an
swer. but Courtney could say much
that way.
ITS not a bad sort of occupation
being a king" he reflected.
1 ignored him.
"And you could fill the place quite
as well as Ferdinand of Lotzen." he
went on.
You will be offering presently to
wager that I'll be the next king of
Valeria," 1 scoffed.
with the proper odds I'd risk it,
Name them"
mo, not yet" he said. but I'll go
you five thousand even, now, that you
marry the princess royal
''This court atmosphere seems to go
to your head
THAT has nothing to do with the
wager he insisted.
I'll not take you said.
All this talk as we made our way
through the crowd was interrupted at
intervals while Courtney greeted those
he knew and presented me. They We're
mainly of the diplomatic corps, and if
they noted the coincidence of my name
and Dalberg features they were adopts
enough not to show it, not so, however.
with some of the elderly Valerian dig
nitaries and army officers They we're
very evidently surprised and curious,
and very shortly it was plain 1 was
the object of their discussion and care
full observation
Then the band blared out into a
waltz and the crowd drew away from
the center of the floor. 1 expected the
real heir presumptive to lead out the
princess 1 admit / was curious to
see him. Report made him a very able
young fellow. and his pictures showed
goodly figure. Instead. however,
some one in a coloners uniform was
her partner to open the dance turn
ed to Courtney interrogatingly-
at is Prince Charles. Lotzen's broth
err" he explained
And the duke?- 1 asked
s.Still with the army, 1 suppose
danced the next number with
Lady Helen, the youngest daughter of
Lord Radnor. the British ambassador.
We were old friends after the modern
fashion / had met her IN Washington
some four or five years before while on
staff duty, and we had danced and
dined ourselves into each others re-
J gard Then Lord Radnor was trans