Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1920-07-09
. uR1rAN1A was not England, Oh

M URITANIA was not England, or
TX the quarrel between Duke MI
II " chael and Rudolf Rassendyll
could not have gone on, with the re
markable Incidents which marked. lit,
without more public notice being d.
rected to 1t. 1t is perhaps as strange a
thing as has ever been In the history
of country that the kings brother
and the kings personator in time OF
profound peace, near a placid, undis-
turbed country town, under sembiance
of amity, should wage desperate war
for the person and life of the king.
Yet such was the struggle between
Black Michael and Rudolf Rassepdyll
both of the royal house Of, Eiphberg,
but of very differing antecedents. Hhe
one was well known TO the royal pal.
ace at Strelsau; the 'other was at
home at 305 Park lane, London, Vest
The kinship between the two was quite
an accident dating from the year 1913,
when a dashing young prince, Later
known to fame as Rudolf the Third OF
Ruritania, paid a visit to London.
There he was courteously entertained
and was a great favorite with the
ladies, especially Amelia, countess of
Burlsdon, and Baroness Rassendyll. In
the end the prince left England rather
hastily under cloud, but not before
he had fought somewhat sanguinary
duel with Countess Amelia's husband:
In the years since there have appeared
at intervals In the family of the Ras-
sendylls certain sons who have been
marked by the long, sharp, straight
nose 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-
gush him. The loyal half of the popu-
Iation of Ruritania could not sleep at
night till the coronation was safely
over. For the late king had left an
other son, by second and morganatic
marriage, Black Michael,-- duke OF
Strelsau- and lord Of Zenda-.~ Though
Michael bore none of the marks of the
| Elphbergs, he had been his fathers
fayorite, and he cast longing eye or
the throne; all the cut-throats ant
bIackguards of Ruritania seconded his
wish, for Michael was man aftel
their own hearts.
Curious that young Rudolf Rassen
dyll should be moved by an idle curl
osfty to witness the coronation of Ru
dolf of Ruritania still more curious
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, toe
thought the king when he appeared
moment later. But scandals of tn
past can no more be concealed in Rurl
tania than in England. AS young Ras
sendyll later told the tale. first th
king frowned, "then gradually the col
ners Of his mouth began to twitch. hi
nose came down Gas mine does when
laugh), his eyes twinkled. and, behold
he burst into the merriest fit OF IRE
pressible laughter which rang throug
thewoods and proclaimed him jovis
soul. - - 49,
s"sWell met. cousin 7 he cried. steI
ping up to me. clapping me on Ii
back, and laughing still. You mul
forgive me II / was taken aback. 4
man doesn't expect to see double !
this time Of day, Ell. Fritzf
II must pray PARDON. sire. for %