Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1920-07-09


the kings countenance,' he laughed.
whether / 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
coronation. Rudolf Rassendyll must
not show his face at this moment In
the capital of Rudolf of Ruritania
sBut by thunder" cried the king. you
khnn't leave Ruritania today. For you
shall dine with me tonight, happen
what will afterward." 49, 49, ----. So p
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.
AZ have drunk enough said he.
r.Far be 1t from me to contradict
the king, said l. Indeed, his remark
was most absolutely true-so far as II
went. But still another bottle-this
from Black Michael, praying that he
drink for the love that he bears his
brother. Could the king refusef He
could not. Was the wine druggeda
The morning answered yes. Ia, *.
"Tf he's not crowned today cried
Sapt, ri lay a crown he's never
crowned
asBy heavens, why7' 's
."sThe whole nations there to meet
him: half the arny--ayei and Black
Michael at the head shall we SEND
word that the kings drunkT
"'That he's H. Said l, in correction.
"Tlp echoed Sapt, with scornful
laugh. 'They know his illness too we'll.
He's been i'll before! Asa man grows
| old he believes in fate. Fate sent you
here. Fate sends you now to Strelsau.
You'll g6T
"sYes, III go,' said I, and turned
my eyes ON the prostrate figure OF the
king. y. ,.... ct,sos .,.i.ss,l "a L :. ~
Tonight Sapt went on in hasty
! whisper. I'VE 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 "i"s -
So began. those wondrous days of
adventure which saw the throne OF
Ruritania occupied by an ElphDerg
with ali the traces of the stock, though
not "of the blood 1.-The play actor"
Rupert Of Hentzau called him. when
he came to know the secret, but 'as
good an ,Elphberg as ever sat upon IT.
! declared Sapt at the end. ~ u. &
The wild ride to Strelsau, with Sapt
instructing the English Rudolf most
infinitely in his past life, his family,
his tastes, pursuits, weaknesses,
| friends, companions and servants-as
Ruritania knew them-the etiquette of
the court, what would be expected at
the coronatlon--and above all of the
Princess Flavia.
"God save the kingi" cried the peo-
pie after the coronation had been safe
| ly managed.
God save 'em both !" whispered
Sapt as his mouth wrlrkled into a
|
/ smile.
| But if things went well at Strelsau
with Rudolf Rassendyll, now crowned
as Rudolf the Fifth of Ruritania and
| the accepted lover of the Princess
Flayia, fortune did not smile on the
other 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
could lay feet to the ground, he seized
poor Rudolf of Ruritania and held
him prisoner. But then ensued pretty
pass.
aye, but he can't speak," roared
4 Sapt in grim triumph. "We've got him.
How can he denounce you without de.
nouncing himself? This is not the
king. because we have kidnapped the
king and murdered his servant Car
he say that? Hang me If Michael
won't expose himself. If he tries tc
expose you"
j But the most difficult situation for 9
loyal gentleman--and that was Rudolf
Observation-Disclosures from the Princess
Flavia. II had to keep the princess
devoted to me-and yet Indifferent t
me; had to show affection for herr
and not feel it. l had to make low
for another; and that to girl who
princess or no princess-was the mos
i beautiful had eyenseen. AHow.d sue
ceeded in carrying out my program
, will appear hereafter"
How they fell in love, he with he
and she with him. is part of the story
! And how, forgetting self, he rescue,
r the king, and robbed himself of 10y
and throne and almost life. When h
had fallen sorely wounded:
Fritz" he called, sis the king stil
aliveT"
aye, friend-dear friend" said h
tender as woman, thanks to tn
! most gallant gentleman that lives, tn