Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-01-28

fixing his eyes on the princess admir-;
ingly, he threw down a spade he held in
his hand and said:
Il will go with you, but I must tell
my mother"
The princess waited, and in due time
the boy appeared at the door in his
best suit, kissing his mother goodby.
Then he came out to the coach and,
to the surprise and CONSERVATION of the
lackeys, opened the door, entered and
sat down beside the princess. They
were still more amazed at her suffering
him to do SO without a word. Then
the two were driven to the palace.
When the coach drew up In the court,
yard the king was looking u to catch
a glimpse of his future son-in-law and
successor. Rudolf alighted and handed
out the princess.
Surely" said the king, "the boy has
descended from a line of sovereigns.'
There Is something In his bearing, in,
the grace of his motions, that indicates
his lineage"
The young couple entered the palace
and Xenia, smiling, led the youth to
his father, saying: /
II asked him to come with me, papa,
and he came because 1 asked him." 4
Rudolf put out his hand to the king
as If he were his majesty's equal. Cas-
par was about to draw back with king,
ly dignity when it occurred to him that
since the young man was the legitimate
sovereign, while he himself was a SUBJ
ject, the plan he had in view would be
better served by humoring him, and
he took the proffered hand. 1
II dare say, your majesty" said Rug
dolf, that you are a good king since
your daughter is such a lovely prin-
cess"
The king called his chamberlain and
directed him to take the young man to
the apartments that had been prepared
for him and to see hat he was attired
In court costume. When Rudolf stepped
forth in velvet and lace, with a rapier
by his side, his manly beauty struck
every one who saw him. All wonder
ed that he seemed SO much at home.
Instead of going about gaping at ev-
erything he saw he seemed surprised at
nothing. A courtier asked him how he
felt, coming from a farm to a palace. 1
How do l feel? 1 feel-somehow I
feel-as If l We're the king"
A chill ran through those who heard
the reply, and he who had asked the
question whispered to a companion: |
Let his majesty beware. If 1 mis-
take not this clodhopper has in him
the elements of which kings are made
and some day with that princely stride
Of his will walk to the throne and sit
upon it,"
Whether it was because the young
mans bearing suited King Caspar's
purpose or that an inheritance of king
ly attributes coursed through Rudolf's
veins, certain it is that the young man
became a dominant factor at court. |
1t is not to be supposed that any
man could step from cabbage raising
to attendance upon royalty without in
the beginning committing many blum
ders. But Rudolf soon acquired the
reputation of II who despised conven.
tionality, and when he erred through
want of training he was able to
give the appearance of one who knew
better, but would not take the trouble
to do better. The king gave him his
choice Of preferments, expecting that
he would choose the profession most
in favor with young men of the time
arms. But Rudolf asked to be edu-
Gated for a diplomat, ~whereupon the
king sent him as an attendant on an
embassy to a neighboring government
to conclude a treaty. When the embassy
returned Rudolf had concluded the
treaty, while the ambassador, who had
been outwitted, returned in disgrace. b
The rise of the clodhopper was
rapid, the king having to bestow upon
him n rank after another to keep
pace with his personal requirements.
From the lowest grade of noble he
filed every grade to that of duke. The
king, no. being yet ready to acknowl-
edge his royal blood, could not make
him a prince, but it was rumored that
some further elevation was in store
for him. |
One day King Caspar fell ill. 1t was
understood that his malady was seri-
GUS, and the council had misgivings as
to the succession. The Princess Xenia
was but eighteen years old, and it was
rumored that Duke Rudolf would on
the kings death seize the government.
The real danger was concealed. A neigh
boring sovereign, Ohio, intrigued with
certain disloyal Apulians upon the
death of the king to annex their coun-
try to his kingdom. |
The kings illness grew upon him so
rapidly that he had no time to arrange
for the succession. He died suddenly
and King Otho'S adherents ATTEMPTED