Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-03-30

his birth nor indeed even to Europe,
mansion on the Chesapeake the Va
lerian minister to America and with
many bows and genuf1ections 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
sions 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 1 was the first of the family
to set foot within Valera since Hugo
left it. Ten years ago during a sum-
mer's idling in Europe I had been seiz-
ed with the desire to see the land of
my people Nor was that the only
time. However, I had the grace and
possibly the precaution-to change my
name on such occasions. In the king
dom of Valera 1 was that well known
American, Mr.. John Smith.
1 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
tional hero I never made any effort
to be presented to his majesty nor to
establish my relationship. 1 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
litz l came upon woman leading a
badly limping horse She was alone,
no groom in sight, and, drawing rein,
1 dismounted and asked if 1 could be
of service. Then l saw her face and
stepped back in surprise. Her pic
lures were too plentiful in the capital
for me to make mistake. 1t was the
Princess Dehra.
1 bowed low. "Your royal highness'
pardon" 1 said. 81 did not mean to
presume"
She measured me in glance. SIN
deed you are most opportune.'' she
said, with a frank smile. Il have lost
the groom-his horse was too slow
and I've been punished by Lolita pick
ing stone 1 cannot remove"
by your leave,' 1 said and lifted
the mares hoof. Pressing back the
frog, 1 drew out the lump of sharp
gravel.
May mountT'
1 bowed.
without hurting Lotta?'' she asked.
ped my hand into position. For a
moment she hesitated. Then there
was the swish of a 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
''You are a soldier-an American Of
fcer?' she said suddenly
Your highness has guessed most
shrewdly,'' answered in surprise
Are you staying at the embassy p
she asked.
NO said I; 81 am not on the staff.
I am only bird of passage
Il am very grateful for your courte-
sy," she said
''It is for the stranger to be grateful
for your trust" L answered.
She smiled. That smile was getting
into my poor brain. "A woman usual
ly knows gentleman" she said
1 bowed.
"And under certain circumstances
she likes to know his NAME" she
added.
For a moment I was undecided.
Should tell her and claim my cousin