The Columbus commercial., 1917-08-23
THE KINGS
VALET
~ RUIis RAns


ciAImsnss Tould seeufs Ne tbfms
Prime Ludwix the representative n
q Legal dynasty. vss ~ the aaftial ~
the cfowh rfihea iiadolth Nbe l,a1
been bshlsiss-i b hls fathsf Has ~
Paris Iiudolph wsa ihe sbolss n The
t.opla Lat the Austrian Fatefhmet
ds-ifei 70 place fuJwls 0n The throne
iludolph mads hla preparations 20 ~
20 ciaIm he cf0wu. and, teins Obliged
n PASS through Austrian toffil8fy. ihe
government q feI 70 interrelf hlm
your malcag said Iludolphs boo
ON friend. Count Euiest gefbaft who
proposed 70 accompany his sovereign
20 his capital 4 suggest that We gavel
as master and valet 70 be- the mas
tor, you the valet"
IAN admirable plan" said Rudolph
We will adopt It"
That night the two started. the cOpai
disguised NJ bourgeois merchant, llu
dolph az German valet Tho two
carried their parts well. the count en-.
acting 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.
fll adherent, took pleasure I'm giving
him plenty TO do and abusing him
soundly at the slightest remlssness.
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, bring
me some hook and soda water, and
| don't spend the whole day gabbing
with the other servants. Be quick r.
Hans moved away, and Bertha Won
vallenstein, who had looked up from
her book, cast an indignant glance AT
the count for the severity Of his tone
When the valet returned with the hook
and soda Count Ernest berated him for
having been gone 80 long Bertha Won
| Valle;istein indignant at the counts
1
abuse, called Hans to her and said 10
him.
| do you wish to leave the service
| of the man who treats you so harshlyi
If you do | viii engage you at once,
My mother and | need a manservant."
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 | treat so unjustly
must be handled with great severity
He has overridden every master he
has served TIL he came to me, and at
the slightest evidence Of klndllness he
would turn upon me with violence"
| After that Count Ernest, seeing his
mistake In attracting attention by his
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
over the borders Of his kingdom, He
Immediately threw off his incognito
and, having been joined by number
Of his adherent mobiles moved on to-
ward the capital everywhere greeted
with great Joy and affection.
Bertha Won Vallenstein and her moth
er, having taken a direct route while
the king was obliged to take very
= circuitous one, arrived long before him
She could not put away the image OF
the valet who had borne SO patiently
: the harsbness Of his master and she
looked for him every day to appear ant
enter her service. Her mother laughed
v at her, assuring her that after what
i his master had said Of him she woult
: run a great risk In engaging him ant
Il, tried to persuade her daughter to pro
= ceed with her on their journey. TheI
e 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 ha,
gone overwhelmingly for the Legitimate
J heir, and preparations were made 70
his reception. 1t was beautiful morn
ing that Rudolph entered his capita
mounted on horseback. attended by hi
mobiles. Count Ernest Gerhart riding be
side him, and followed by large mi
itary escort. AS he passed the hote
where the baroness and her daughte
were stopping he looked up at the wiz
dows till his eyes caught those Of Bel
tina, when he smiled and bowed, RI
moving his hat with especial Difference
HI Mother" gasped Bertha, withdraw
ing from the window, "what does
mean? Am dreaming or am delir
III ousf The king has the features Of tn
valet Hans"
Ill Nonsense, my dear! There is n
semblance, and since that valet ha
III turned your head you magnify It."
III The king was proclaimed, and to Il
| state ball following the proclamatlo
Il invitations came TO the Won yalleI
| stems. When Bertha was presented
the king, he was observed to whisp'
III something in her ear, and she passC
on with an expression Of delight on
face also covered with bushes.
ii What the king whispered was thi
III II am ready TO enter your service, b
III not as your valet"
ii And so 1t happened that King r
dolph XII. took wife not Of roy
III blood. but as he received with her
enormous fortune. most OF which W
III spent on the poor Of the kingdom, Z
III match was highly approved by his su