Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-09-21
FROM CLODHOPPER
! TO KING
A Story Of Fsudal Times
By A. mitchell

During feudal times there was on
the continent of Europe a kingdom
called Apulia, which had for 80 many
gears been at war with its neighbor
kingdoms that it was not possible for
is sovereigns to intermarry with
theirs. The consequence was that,
since the Apulian kings were permit
ted by law to marry only those Of roy
al blood, they intermarried among their
OWN relatives.
There came q time when the royal
blood had well nigh run out, and when
King Caspar H.. who had only one
child, daughter, to succeed him and
looked about for a husband for her.
he found not one man among his nu-
merous relatives who was fitted for
the position Of the royal consort- He
at once ordered the heralds to ex-
anime the royal family records with
a view to hunting up some man OF re-
mote relationship who would serve the
purpose.
The heralds went to tower where
the records Of the early Apulian kings
were kept and searched back to q
time when the kingdom was a Roman
province. To their surprise they found
that q youth was living whose ancestor
was a former king Of Apulia. This
king had been supplanted by his
younger brother, the progenitor OF
King Caspar. The searchers immedi'
ately made known to the king that
they had found the true heir to the
throne, Caspar himself being usurper
His majesty warned them under pen
atty of losing their heads to keep the
secret and at once ordered his cham
berlain to make inquiries as to the man
whose royal pedigree had been un'
earthed.
He was named Rudolf Kantzler, the
latter being the family name OF the
dynasty in possession Of the Apulian
throne. But the family names of kings
are not in common use, and the young
man did not know that he had the
same name as his sovereign. Indeed
he did not even know that he was
relative Of the king, much less that he
was the legitimate sovereign.
Rudolf was raiser Of cabbages
and other vegetables for the market
He was a worthy youth, but without
education. His age was eighteen, anu
he had been brought up a clodhopper'
Nevertheless the king resolved to mar
~ him to the princess.
The Crown Princess Xenia was nj
teen years old. When Informed by her
father Of the situation she was very
docile, and the king had great hopes
of having no difficulty so far as she
was concerned In arranging the mar
rage. He told her that he would bring
Rudolf to the palace as a page, sc
that he might acquire at least We
neering Of refinement, but that he must
know nothing Of the honor intended
for him.
The princess listened to all that was
said to her without saying a word IN
reply. She was altogether too young
to consider the necessities of the case
and her mind was occupied In wonder
ing what her future husband was like
She was aware that there Is great
difference between q prince and clod'
hopper, and a shade Of anxiety crossed
her young face. But that was all the
expression of dissatisfaction that es'
capped her and was not noticed by her
father.
One day when Rudolf was working
.mong his cabbages-he worked the
arm for his mother-a messenger
wearing the royal livery rode up to
lin and told him that he had been ap'
,ointed page ut the palace. Rudolf
.stonished leaned on his hoe and for
me seemed to have lost speech: then
uddenly turning again to his work, ne
aid:
NO; will not go to the palace to be
page. My place is here with my
;iother."
Such response had neither been an
icipaled nor provided for, so the mes
rngcr returned and reported It
Lenia was with her father at the time
nd when he ordered the messenger to
ommand Rudolfs presence at the
ulace she asked permission to 60
long that she might see her future
husband. 1t occurred to the king that
II the present case persuasion would
30 better than force and the face OF
Ms daughter might furnish the persua'
ion, SO lie consented.
When Xenia was driven to the farm
Rudolf was standing at the gate
Tenla leaned out Of the coach window
mi asked II he was Rudolf. Wher
said yes she was greatly pleased
e bore in face and figure evidence OF
IS royal descent and. though he was
'esscd In countryman's apparel, ap'
AIRED to be a manly fellow, with q
nmtcnance denoting nobility Of char
ter
II have come from the king" said
+enia II am the crown princess.
wish you to be a page in my suit. You
won't refuse me, will your
The boy. more wonder stricken than
'eforc, stood for a few moments
&hn, hn