The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-10
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
BY ANTHONY HOPE
Condensation by Prof. William Fenwick Harris

Ruritania was not England, or the
quarrel between Duke Michael and
Rudolf Rassendyll could not have
gone on, with the remarkable incl
dents which marked it, without more
public notice being directed to it. 1t
is perhaps as strange a thing as has
ever been in the history of a country
that the Kings brother and the Kings
personator, in time of profound
peace, near a placid, undisturbed
country town, under semblance of
amity. should wage a desperate war
for the person and life of the king
Yet such was the struggle between
Black Michael and Rudolph Rassen-
dyll, both of the royal hous of Elph-
berg. but of very different anteced-
ents. The one was known to the roy
al palace as Streslau; the other was
at home at No. 305 ark Lane, London,
West. The kinship between the two
was quite an accident, dating from the
year 1873, when a dashing young
prince. later known TO fame as Ru-
dolf the Third Of Ruritania, paid a
visit to London. He was courteously
entertained and was quite a favorite
with the ladies', especially Amelia
Countess of Burlesdon, and Baroness
Rassendyll. In the end the prince left
England rather hastily under a cloud,
but not before he had fought a some
what sanguinary duel with Countess
Amelia's husband In the years since
there have appeared at intervals in
the family of the Rassendylls certain
! sons who have been marked by the
long, sharp, straight noses and the
dark red hair of the royal house Of
Ruritania.
The years pass, many of them, and
another Rudolf of Elphberg is about
to be crowned King of Ruritania. The
same nose, the same red hair distin-
guish him. The loyal half of the pop
plation of Ruritania could not sleep
at night till the coronation was safely
| over. For the late king had left an
other son, by a second and inorganic
| marriage, Black Michael, Duke Of
| Streslau and Lord of Zenda Though
| Michael bore none of the marks of the
Elphbergs, he had been his fathers
| favorite, and he cast a longing eye at
the throne; all the cut-throats and
| blackguards of Ruritania seconded his
| wish, for Michael was man after
their own hearts,
/ Curious that young Rudolf Rassen-
! ty IL SAOulu Dc llOfSu Wy dll lulS SuI
osity to witness the coronation Of
| Rudolph Of Ruritania; still more cur
ious that he, too, should bear the IA
miliar nose, the same red hair. So
| thought Colonel Sapt, aide to the
! king. and Fritz Won Tarleheim, his
close friend, as they came upon the
| young Englishman in the forest of
Zenda. making his way afoot to Stress
lau. So, too, thought the king when
| he appeared a moment later. But
| scandals of the past can no more
| be concealed in Ruritania than in
England. AS young Rassendyll later
told the tale, first the king frowned,
then gradually the corners of his
mouth began to twitch. his nose came
down( as mine does when I laugh,
! his eyes twinkled. and behold, he
! burst into the merricst fit Of irrepres-
sible laughter. which rang through
the woods and proclaimed him Jo-
vial soul
We'll met, cousin he cried. step
ping up to me, clapping me on the
back. and laughing still. You must
forgive me if l was taken aback. A
man doesn't expect to see his double
at this time of day, Ell, Fritz
81 must pray pardon, sire for my
presumption said I. I trust it will
not forfeit your Majesty's favor
BY heaven! you'll always enjoy
the kings countenance,' he laughed,
! whether I like it or not
All the good fellowship in the world,
! however. could not permit royal scan
! dals of the past to be raked up at a
coronation Rudolf Rassendyll must
not show his face at this moment in
the capital of Rudolf Of Ruritania.
But by thunder" cried the king,
you shan't leave Ruritania today
! For you shall dine with me tonight,
happen what will afterward."
That was just the trouble, happen
what will afterward" One bottle led
to another, until they We're all as full
Of wine as they had any right to be.
At last the king set down his glass
| and leaned back in his chair.
II have drunk enough said he.
Far be it from me to contradict
the king said I. Indeed his remark
was most absolutely true-so far as
it went" But still another bottle!-
this from Black Michael, praying that
he drink for the love he bears his
brother. Could the king refuse
He could not Was the wine drugged ?
The morning answered yes.
of he's not crowned today cried
Sapt, III lay a crown he's never
crowned
by heavens, Why
1.-The whole nations there to meet
him; half the army-aye, and Black
Michael at the head-shall we send
word that the kings drunk?'
THAT he's ill., said l, in correction
CHI echoed Sapt, with a scornful
Taught. They know his illness toe
we'll. He's been i'll before! AS man
grows old he believes in Fate. Fate
sent you here. Fate sends you now
to Strelsau. You'll co.?
Eyes, I'll CO. said I, and I turned
my eyes on the PROSTATE figure of
| the king