The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-02
FROM CLODHOPPER
TO KING
: A Story Of feudal Times
By F. A. mitchell

! By F. A. mitchell I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
During feudal times there was on
the continent of Europe a kingdom
called Apulia, which had for so many
years been at war with its neighbor
kingdoms that it was not possible for
its 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 a 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 a tower where
the records Of the early Apulian kings
were kept and searched back to a
time when the kingdom was Roman
province. To their surprise they found
that youth was living whose ancestor
was q 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 IN
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 a
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. and
he had been brought up clodhopper.
Nevertheless the king resolved to mar
ry him to the princess.
The Crown Princess Xenia was If
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 page. SO
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 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 prince and clod-
hopper. and 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
among his cabbages-he worked the
farm for his mother-a messenger
wearing the royal livery rode up to
him and told him that he had been ap
pointed a page at the palace. Rudolf
astonished. leaned on his hoe and for a
time seemed to have lost speech: then
suddenly turning again to his work. HI
said:
mo; will not go to the palace to BIZ
a page. My place is here with my
mother"
Such response had neither been an
ticipated nor provided for. so the mes
senger returned and reported 1t
Xenia was with her father at the time
and when he ordered the messenger t.
command Rudolf's presence at tn,
palace she asked permission to e
along that she might see her future
husband. 1t occurred to the king thai
In the present case persuasion woult
be better than force and the face o.
his daughter might furnish the persua
sion. so he consented.
When Xenia was driven to the farm
Rudolf was standing at the gate
Xenia leaned out of the coach window
and asked II he was Rudolf whe,
he said yes she was greatly pleased
He bore In face and figure evidence o.
his royal descent and, though he wa.
dressed In countryman's apparel. ap
peared to be manly fellow, with {
countenance denoting nobility of char
acter.
IL have come from the king" sale
Xenia. 81 am the crown princess.
wish you to be a page in my suit 70,
won't refuse me. will your
The boy. more wonder stricken thai
before. stood for few moment.
, speechless: then he said:
"If I go to the palace who will al
tend to my mothers cabbages? The,
will not thrive. and she will be with
out support"
An attendant whispered something
In the princess ear. and she said {,
the boy. your mother will receive
pension from my father. the king. tina