The Colonel of the Red Huzzars

and the courteous way he did his office made me like him on the instant. And t

m behind the throne and, when I w

red the band to play an American quickstep; will you dance it w

could have imagined there was any prior arrangement as to

but through a very unworthy representative, I fear,

ruction in our way of doing the two-step; she glided through it as naturally as a Poin

first American at

and then held my peace, though I sa

-and I succumbed, of course. Yet I was punished promptly, neverthe

another dance

hink you have been already favor

that's why I am encour

on of modesty

y. "And the d

und the small room crowded with officials and dignitaries. The Princess hal

. Yet, to give her due credit, she seemed as unconscious of it as if we were alone in the room. As for me, I admit I was acutely conscio

trial as one of t

ompensations

e point. "They

, one woul

lege to be as free as the lowest

. "The lowest subject

y exchange pla

any of the

gard for my F

g to be a Princess

o those who care

do

least I thi

nly until you were no

nd cannot well change my birthright, I don't se

e great things when you have them, t

a choice of unhapp

it onl

ng to be pessimi

tunate in life to be

was but a choice

the disco

ead of a pessimist yo

ly trust I

riends. I don't like philosophers; which is natura

I promise not to interfere with your pr

ou're wise; neither be

d. "You'

lege of cousins

. "I'm glad

strictly cousinly,

remember,

e. "Can you remember seve

had recog

"I have a bad memory exc

ember," she laughed, and fell to p

anything," I said, cat

I don't want yo

I'm re

uickly. "To forget

nly what you w

ll remember nothin

f-plucked rose a

ory is at your c

er rose and droppe

rd," she said, a

ought you did it very

ou may keep it inste

ll kee

?" she

until I

y life I have had an honest answer!"

may seem strange. Sometimes, I do have t

e of cousins to be

been frank with

oo much s

k. "Do you know a Capta

e in America. I know at lea

name. He was a Capt

I know two such-one in the Cava

e them,

e. "Does Your Ro

s just what she is

es

hem is the Captain S

ld be muc

the one I mean. He was a

t have been the Engineer," I sa

ses. "Oh, I wouldn't

I've heard him ca

ow him rathe

ery slightly, though I've been

t friendly?

had dif

ou are prejudiced," she said, and I

sisted. "I am disp

should

. "Oh, he is not all bad," I condescended

d; "to say for him what he could

I don't know why he should not h

pend much on

d given the opening, del

that only to one he fel

ther better than you did

ng up to t

ou tell me what

"is to tell his

ot unde

like me,"

ible," sh

sed to deplore it

he never

ace, man

cause for diff

u, cousin

went on, "what you did

d. "It would n

t; but tell me,

and, sometimes, I bought him a

he other times,"

id I, "I

plucking the

said presently; "was he

I reflected a moment. "Ye

t. "Was he given

but myself knew he

sm

ened he knew of my Dalberg

n adventure in the fores

as not," I said, but

m-and I took her gloved fing

cousin," she said, t

u recognize

me. That was wh

d you wer

s more dis

I inf

aptain Smith shatte

learned it was

aved th

t live up to

no need. The Captain is dead

an has her ide

l have to fi

the Captain to ente

ly a stranger,

"there is His Royal High

d, drawing down her mouth. "Or

h the Captai

aptain die

roper precaution, it would

ired of me

ecause I'm fearful of disg

id smilingly, "here co

y with Lady He

mine," I said,

Lady Hel

oned in Washington while Lord

ould suit

es

e-shall I sa

n to d

't you think a woman knows a

cousin, I'll not

cessary sometime

But the Princess did not seem to notice

flirt," she br

e marble rai

he laughed, "I'll not try it

rted?" I asked with

y of birth. With whom may

and toward t

ruel nor indiscreet,"

oyal guests come to D

r shoulders. "T

hem the better mate

he said. "I thought at least a

endangers the ga

to come suddenly-in the midst

is rare trouble ahead

o were to become-you

flirtation; it's a diff

can be flirtation without

rt; and the only safe sort

e to play for a while in

red evasively; "only

n. "I think, cousin, I shall fl

ld on the railing

bled; for I was qui

putting me to a heavy test?" I obj

it could

s a gen

no heavier than min

her punishment for t

to carry the game thr

"I may fail,

hen?"

n the ending. You would go away; and I-would ma

ding me out. Maybe she was simply unhappy and wanting a n

me back to the King. We have f

said won

her gown-and drew it

ing smiles. "Wouldn't you call it that? At least,

ars ago, cousin?" I s

ell, maybe I did learn a lit