The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-06-09

UylI SnOuiu De moved Dy an lule curl
osity to witness the coronation of Ru
dolf of Ruritania still more curiou
that he, too, should bear the familiar
nose. the same red hair SO though
Colonel Sapt. aide to the king. am
Fritz Won Tarlenheim his close friend
as they came upon the young English
man in the forest of Zenda, making
his way afoOt to Strelsau. So. too
thought the king when he appeared ,
moment later. But scandals of thu
| past can no more be concealed in Ruri
tania than in England. AS young Ras
sendyll later told the tale, first the
king frowned, 'then gradually the cor
ners Of his mouth began to witch. his
nose came down Gas mine does when
iaugh), his eyes twinkled, and, behold
he burst into the merriest fit of ire
pressible laughter, which rang through
the woods and proclaimed him jovia
soul.
swell met, cousin = he cried, step
ping up to me, clapping me on the
back, and laughing still. You must
forgive me if was taken aback. A
man doesn't expect to see double al
this time Of day, Ell. Fritz?'
~ must pray pardon, sire, for my
presumption said I. 4 trust 1t will
not forfeit your majesty's favor
"'By heaven! you'll always enjc,:
the kings countenance,' he laughe"
whether I like 1t 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 Alritania.
"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 were 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.
"I have drunk enough said he.
"'Far be it from me to contradict
the king said 1. Indeed, his remark
was most absolutely true-so far as 1t
went. But still another bottle-this
from Black Michael, praying that he
drink for the love that he bears his
brother. Could the king refuse? He
could not. Was the wine drugged.
The morning answered yes.
eff he's not crowned today cried
Sapt, I'll lay crown he's never
crowned
"'By heavens, whyv
"sThe whole nations there 70 meet
him; half the army-aye, and Black
Michael at the head-shall We SEND
word that the kings drunk?
".rhat he's ILL., said I, In correction.
"Tl! echoed Sapt, with scornful
laugh. They know his illness too well.
He's been i'll before! As a man grows
old he believes in fate. Fate sent you
here. Fate sends you now to Strelsau.
You'll goT
"'Yes, I'll co. said l, and I turned
my eyes on the PROSTATE figure of the
king.
"Tonight,' Sapt went on In a hasty
whisper, we are to lodge In the pal
ace. The moment they leave us you
and will mount our horses and ride
here at a gollop. The king will be
ready, and he must ride back with me
to Strelsau, and you ride as If the
devil were behind you to the from
tier"
So began those wondrous days Of
adventure which saw the throne of
Ruritania occupied by an Elphberg
with all the traces Of the stock. though
not "of the blood" "The play actor"
Rupert of Hentzau called him, when
he came to know the secret, but las
good an Elphberg as ever sat upon It,"
declared Sapt at the end.
The wild>r ride to Strelsau, with Sapt
instructing the English Rudolf most
minutely in his past life, his family,
his tastes, pursuits, weaknesses,
companions and servants-as
Ruritania knew them-the etiquette Of
the court, what would be expected at
the coronation-and above all Of the
Princess Flavia.
"God save the kingl" cried the peo-
Die after the coronation had been safe
ly managed.
"God save 'em both I" whispered
Sapt as his mouth wrinkled into a
smile.
But If things went well at Strelsau
With Rudolf Rassendyll, now crowned
Is Rudolf the Fifth Of Ruritania and
the accepted lover Of the Princess
Flavla, fortune did not smile on the
,ther Rudolf at Zenda. For Black
Michael had had word from there that
cleared for him the mystery Of the
coronation. Riding as fast as horses
.ould lay feet to the ground, he seized
,oor Rudolf of Ruritania and held
lin prisoner. But then ensued pretty
PASS.