Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-04-27
SCOTT

and found her fingers. You meant
your note. Dehra, truly?' asked
She released her fingers and placed
| both hands on the cloth. of course
I meant it when 1 wrote it," she said.
That's quite as much as I've any
right to expect" 1 answered.
A footman handed the king a card.
received a message and withdrew
Then the corridor door swung back,
and n voice announced:
His royal highness the Duke of
| Lotzen."
The princess caught her breath in
surprise and glanced quickly at the
| king.
Does his highness always grant
your wishes so promptly" l asked.
She watched the duke as he advanc-
ed to the king and bent knee.
And 1, too, watched him and with in
terest-this man. with whom 1 propos-
ed to mike contest for the throne.
| He had the grace of one reared in
courts and the ease of one. born to
high command. He made me feel awk-
ward even as l sat. His height was
not above the medium, but his figure
was so well proportioned he seemed
| almost my own size, and yet l knew
1 would top him by three inches. He
wore the full dress uniform of a lieu
| tenant general of cavalry, and, with
his black hair and mustache and well
cut face, he looked in every line the
| dashing beau sabreur.
When he had greeted the king and
| spoken to Lady Helen he turned and,
with eyes on Dehra, came toward us.
| Courtney and / arose and stepped
back The princess swung around in
| her chair and gave him her hand, but
without a word of welcome, and he
| spoke none Then as he unbent his
| eyes rested on me for the first time.
| l have never ceased to admire the
self control Lotzen showed then. He
gave me an instant's glance. flung an
other at the portrait behind me, and
then, clicking his heels sharply to-
gether, he raised his hand in salute.
but whether to me or to the portrait 1
| could not know. My own hand went
| up with his and remained a moment
| longer, for / was the Junior in actual
| rank, though he could not know it. for
| my present uniform was no guide
"Since no one has presented the colo
mel of the red huzzars, will he not do
| the service for himself?'' he said very
| courteously.
Il cry your pardon, gentlemen" ex-
claimed the king, land l herewith pre-
sent to the Duke of Lotzen his cousin.
the Grand Duke Armand"
Lotzen extended his hand in frank
greeting. You are Dalberg-any one
could see-but whence?'
From America" 1 answered
He knew his family records well.
| Then you are the heir of Hugo" he
said instantly. And you come in good
| time, cousin. There have been few
enough Dalbergs in Valera this gener-
| ation.''
| Your cousin will appreciate your
welcome said the king before 1 could
make reply. Then he raised his glass.
II give you: the new archduke," he
said.
1 bowed low, yet not so low but that
caught the smile Dehra gave me over
| her glass and the sharp glance with
/ which LotZen noted it.
us he friend or foer / wondered.
though the answer was evident. Plain
| ly he was no fool and, therefore, why
| should he be my friend?
J And such was the view of another,
for a bit later as 1 swung the Lady
| Helen into saddle she whispered:
"Lotzen will bear watching"
81 shall need friends" 1 answered,
slowly arranging her skirt.
Sometimes a woman's wit is help
full"
"And I may count on yours?"
"Surely-mine and another's, too,
fancy she smiled
Then she and Courtney rode away
but halted almost instantly, and he call
| ed back to me to stop at the embassy
on the morrow and sign some papers
For, of course. now / could not live
even for a night at the American lega-
| ton, and already a suit had been pre-
pared for me in the palace.
1t was decided that for the present 1
was to reside there. 1 did not care for
more experience in the dignitfes of an
archduke. Neither did / desire now a
full military staff, and so 1 was to have
only two aids, whom Frederick select
| ed after much thought
The senior was Colonel Bernhefm
who had brought the invitation to the
birthday ball and the commands of
| the princess to dance with her that
night His tour Of duty with the
royal aids was about ended, and, be-
ing an officer of much experience In
the court, he would be able to keep
me straight, so to speak
The other aid was a Major Moore,
an Irish soldier OF fortune, who had
been in the Valerian army some ten
years and by his efficiency had be-