The Colonel of the Red Huzzars

, Frederick came forward a

said, "I am pleased

ught I, "kissing i

told you?

as an Archduke of Valeria; here are the title deeds to your ancestral estates-they have been held as Crown lands since Hugo's time; here is

es were dulled with sudden wonder and emotion. And, yet, I had thought of it all many times since yesterday; Courtney had predicted for me some of these very honors; I, myself, had even anticipated them-indeed, they had been the powerful ind

ust, thanked His Majesty in proper

f birth, you have simply c

ur gracious fav

eturn: wear the Huzzar

e looked m

size and I think mine w

tle you ask, Si

squire you," and he

s and adornments, and I might have spent the entire evening in solving them. But Adolph att

satisfi

valet, Adolph," I sai

k, fur-bound dohlman over one shoulder and a tall black busby on my head.

. "It is a great Order," he said; "one of the greatest in the world, but a Prince of Valeria must wear his coun

apartments he waved aside the

hness, the Gra

and followed the King. The next instant, I was bending over the Princess's hand and listening to her words of welcome and

r Royal Highn

I tried, in vain, to read in her eyes whe

nner-and, here, was a

entered, hung a full-length portrait of an officer in the uniform of the Red Huzzars. It was the Grea

at the painting and, then, at me, and, then, at the painting, again, in silent wonder. For although

us a series of surprises

ul-almost beyond beli

I first met him," said Frederick, "though, th

incess?" ask

d at my sword-knot-we all were thinking of the kiss before the Ball. But

think I did notice the resembla

Dehra to me and back again in a vain attempt to understand. Frederick, however, was on the point of asking an ex

ney's on her left. Presently, I

how the American military attac

etected the laughing answer, p

quite too mild

shown she already knew my history. To-morrow it mattered not to me if it were known the Kingdom over; aye, and farther, too. But to-morr

retion overboard and made violent love to her before them all. Nor heeded Courtney's warning looks,

t so strenuously with me to-night, you will h

ly, forgetting for the mom

etter than I ever can. I don't even

hen, in all you have done lately, you h

a fair question

the circu

ht you calle

d

me to spread my c

see only the tricks t

"It's all the same

te me that note unless yo

ded, "tell me, on your honor; had you not al

linched the matter

incess

otherwise, the note would

as in no way responsible, nor even persuasi

to change my m

form and at the gleam

ed," I said; "they

ey cannot be removed-not in the way you

ger a free American, and it gave me something of

he Heir Presumptive, you must know what it me

means to give my word

ity, Armand," she laughed. "

tand you perfectly!" I exclaimed. "I

you were during the fir

slang Americanism 'ther

ed it-and passed it to me; the

hat note?" she said, and gave

le and found her fingers. "You

both hands on the cloth. "Of course

as I've any right to

r frame of mind,

you prefer in

brows-"In my relat

I, "we must

lar thing; I fight wi

ing a card, received a

rove an except

ling; squabbles

ns; have you quarr

e are in the distan

trust it will con

y chummy after he has been abs

will view his new

fancy; particularly if he meet you in that uniform

uch as is appurtenant to all

; but you could gi

won't,"

n seriousness; "your very resemblance to yonde

l not hesitat

be by when my cousin of Lotze

spectre or in p

in persona, fi

or door swung back, a

ghness, the D

reath, in surprise, and g

ays grant your wishes

as watching the Duke as he adv

nterest-this man, with whom I propo

medium, but his figure was so well proportioned he seemed almost my own size-and, yet, I knew I would top him by three inches. He wore the full dress u

Courtney and I arose and stepped back. The Princess swung around in her chair and gave him her hand, but

e unbent, his eyes rested

then, clicking his heels sharply together, he raised his hand in salute-but, whether to me or to the portrait, I could not know. My own hand went

the Red Huzzars, will he not do the servi

King; "and I herewith present, to the Duke o

nk greeting. "You are a Dalberg

rica," I

go," he said instantly. "And you come in good time, cousin; th

he King, before I could make reply. Then he raised

ht the smile Dehra gave me, over her glass, a

answer was evident. Plainly, he was no fool

or, a bit later, as I swung the Lad

ill bear

," I answered, slowly

a woman's wi

y count o

another's, too, I

t instantly, and he called back to me to stop at

a night, at the American Legation; and, already,

ent. But His Majesty and the Princess and I sat until late in the night discussing the modus vivendi for me. Many

tablishment until I had more experience in the dignities of an Archduke. Neither did I desire, now, a

of the Princess to dance with her that night. His tour of duty with the Royal Aides was about ended, a

by his efficiency, had become attached to the General Staff. He was of noble birth-the younger son of a younger son

isk an Irishman's faith to his chief. I asked, only,

nstantly. "I know that Bernheim has never liked the Heir Pr

te content with

nd I shall stand behind you. But a King's favorite, even though of the Royal Family, is rarely popular, so