Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-09-21
THE KINGS.
VALET
BY RUTH GRAHAM


would have cried, Long live the kingl"
but they did not know which of two
claimants would secure the throne
Prince Ludwig, the representative OF
a legal dynasty, was at the capital, but
the Crowa Prince Rudolph, who had
been banished by his father, was in
Paris. Rudolph was the choice of the
people, but the Austrian government
desired to place Ludwig on the throne.
Rudolph made his preparations to &c
to claim his crown, and, being obliged
to pass through Austrian territory, the
government desired to intercept him.
"Your majesty said Rudolph's Dos.
ON friend, Count Ernest Gerhart, who
proposed to accompany his sovereign
to his capital, 81 suggest that we travel
as master and valet. 1 to be the mas.
ter, you the valet"
IAN admirable plan,' said Rudolph
1--WE will adopt it."
That night the two started, the count
disguised as a bourgeois merchant, Ru.
dolph as a German valet. The two
carried their parts well, the count en-.
acting a shopkeeper who had made
money and was consequently purse
proud, Rudolph playing a servant who
had all the spirit beaten out of him by
a tyrannical master. Count Ernest be-
ing the kings intimate friend and faith,
full adherent, took pleasure In giving
hin plenty to do and abusing him
soundly at the slightest remissness
Passing down the Danube by boat, the
two attracted the attention Of the old
Baroness Won Vallenstein and her beau
tiful daughter Bertha.
Hans" cried Count Ernest, "brina
me some hook and soda water, and
don't spend the whole day Cabling
with the other servants. Be quick !"
Hans moved away, and Bertha vof
Vallenstein, who had looked up fro1
her book, cast an indignant glance al
the count for the severity of his bone
When the valet returned with the hoch
and soda Count Ernest berated him for
having been gone so long. Bertha Won
~Vallenstein, indignant at the counts
abuse, called Hans to her and said te
him
"Do you wish to leave the service
of the man who treats you so harshfyi
If you do l will engage you at once
My mother and l need a m~anservant."
Thank you, fraulein," stammered
the astonished king incognito. HE
pays me such good wages that
Il will pay you double"
The king was In a quandary. Count
Ernest, who saw what was going on,
ordered him away on another errand
and when he was gone said to the
young lady:
Pardon me, fraulein. This servant
whom you think l treat so un1ustly
must be handled with great severity.
He has o~verriddeq every master he
has served till he came to me, and at
the slightest evidence of kindness he
would turn upon me with violence"
After that Count Ernest, seeing his
mistake in attracting attention by bis
feigned severity, treated his servant
less harshly. They pursued their jour-
ney, eluding the spies both of Prince
Ludwig and the Austrian government,
and at last Rudolph found himself safe
ove the borders of his kingdom. He
AhAdCoidLC1J LhlCn OA LIS A1SO6nllO
and, having been Joined by a number
of his adherent mobiles, moved on to-
ward the capital, everywhere greeted
with great JOY and affection.
Bertha o Vallenstein and her moth
er, having taken a direct route while
the king was obliged to take a very
circuitous one, arrived long before him.
She could not put away the image of
the valet who had borne SO patiently
the harshness of his master, and she
looked for him every day to appear and
enter her service. Her mother laughed
at her. assuring her that after what
his master had said of him she would
run a great risk in engaging him and
tried to persuade her daughter to pro-
coed with her on their journey. Then
the news came OF the arrival of Prince
Rudolph at the border, and the baron
ess and her daughter decided to remain
and witness his entry into his capital.
Meanwhile the whole kingdom had
gone overwhelmingly for the legitimate
heir, and preparations were made for
his reception. 1t was a beautiful morn
ing that Rudolph entered his capital
mounted on horseback, attended by his
mobiles, Count Ernest Gerhart riding be-
side him, and followed by a large mil
itary escort. As he passed the hotel
where the baroness and her daughter
were stopping he looked up at the wiz
dows till his eyes caught those of Ber-
tina, when he smiled and bowed, re-
moving his hat with especial Difference.
Mother" gasped Bertha. withdraw
ing from the window, "what does it
mean? Am l dreaming or am l deliri-
Gus? The king has the features of the
valet Hans,
Nonsense, my dear! There is a re-
semblance. and since that valet has
furnad vOur head Won maonifv A.