The Prince of Graustark

fine blade is strong. His hair was dark and straight, his eyes blue-black, his cheek brown and ruddy with the health of a life well-ordered. Nose, mout

es would have caused you to think twice before pronouncing him a fledgling. He had enjoyed life, he had made the most of his play-days, but always there had hung over

r, just for the sake of enjoying the mischief that purchased the punishment. But alas! no one would ever dream of giving him the lovely "tannings" that other boys got when they were naughty. Such joys were not for him; he was mildly reproved and that was all. But his valiant spirit found release in many a glorious though secret encounter with boys both large and small, and not infrequently he sustained severe pummelings at the hands of plebeians who never were quite sure that they wouldn't

bitious young life he had never achieved anything more enduring than a bloody nose, a cracked lip or a purple eye, and he had been compelled to struggle pretty hard for even

d on the broad lawn late one afternoon, playing tennis with his hostess, the lovely and vivacious "Aunt Lor

ooth cheek glowed with the happiness and thrill of the sport, and he was hard put

retty young girls, a lieutenant in flannels and the ceremonious Count Quinnox, iron grey a

pire as his wife safely placed the

scowl. "You're not supposed to cheer anybod

t, Kid," apologised th

it. Forty thi

whispered one of the yo

Mr. King 'Truck' a little wh

looking?" sighe

them up in her automobile when she encountered them walking to the station. After that she called them by their Christian names and generously asked them to call her Maud. It might appear from this that Maud suffered somewhat from

madly after a return that her opponen

eared the recumbent group he paused irresolutely and allowed his gaze to shift toward the road below. Then

anded King,

the gate, sir,"

his shoulder and then

What the deuce can h

ine!

pretty wife, dashing a s

as paying his first visit to Red Roof. Up to this minute it is doubtful if he ever had accorded it so

e might have been pardoned for believing him to be a most intimate friend of

's pretty mouth was open not entirely as an aid to breathing. She couldn't believe her

f the Peltons, It happened to be Fannie a

n the far court, idly

g the game from the road for a spell. Out for a stroll. Couldn't resist running in for a min

miling genially upon the trim, panti

rs," said King, still stari

, and blandly announced that tennis wasn't a game for fat people, pat

ame because she had a horror of getting fat. "Corking, she is, and as quick as a cat. Got a medal at Lakewood last

I am not in your daughter's class," s

Mr. Blithers calmly. "I have a professional instructor up every

sked King, recovering his poise to some extent. "We are

ach other a little more often than-thanks! By jove, it looks refreshing. Your health,

e in the far court as he spoke, and it seemed that he

Quinnox and Lieutenant Dank." Both of the foreigners had arisen and were standi

ncing with outstretched hand. He shook the hand of the

he Count. "It is ra

most degage manner, sq

in

p plays a nice

rceptibly, and waited for King to

an but Mr. Blithers cut him shor

mind, however. Well, well, we're coming up in the world, eh?-having a real nabob among us." He hesitated for a moment. "But

id Mrs. King. "Or would you prefer a m

," said he hastily, and dragged up the camp c

King to the servant. "And another

ther fragile chair, and hitching up his white flannel trousers at the

Mr. Blithers," said li

t trying t

over there in the little

r and the Prince would make a rattling good match. I mean," he added, with a boisterous laugh, "a good match at tenni

in, Mr. Blithers," s

n patience for a moment or tw

," he ventured. Everybody seemed rather inte

as Fannie Felton managed

uded vigorously. "Spl

ally p

said Mr. Blithers in an audible aside to Mrs. Ki

in the Graustark arm

h and German,

talian like a native. She was educated in Paris and Ro

home now, M

wood, yes, she's there. Course, there's our town house in Madison Avenue, the place at Newport, one at Nice and one at Pasa

Avenue, but it's a r

your house?" she inqui

u surely must know where

Felton, tossing her rack

f. He shifted his legs and put his hands on his knees,

other set?" call

utenant Dank, and turned to N

without question the best in the market (in fact, there wasn't another "make" that he would have as a gift); the clubs he belonged to in New York were the only ones that were worth belonging to (he wouldn't be caught dead in any of the others); his tailor was the only tailor in the country who knew how to make a decent looking suit of clothes

e without even so much as a glance in his direction. It was the Prince who shouted something tha

shot a questioning look at his wife. She was frowning in considerable perplexity, and biting her firm red lips. Count Quinnox coolly arose and excused himself

k in his chair, a somewhat dogged compression about his jaws. He was not the man to be thwa

ddling his fingers behind hi

you know. That's me. I'm for being neighbourly with my neighbours. But women, they-well, you know how it is, Mrs. King. Always som

y helpless. She wouldn't look her husband in the eye-and it was quite fortunate that she was una

You see, we have dinner at seven up at Blitherwood and-I declare it's half-past now. I don't see where the time has gone. Thanks, I will stay if you really mean to be kind to a poor old b

w it didn't sound just right to him, but for the life of him he couldn't tell why. "We are quite simple folk, you see," she went on desperately, making

deners. "Besides," he added gallantly, "what is an army of servants compared to the army of Grasstock? You've got the real article, Mrs. King, so don't you worry. But, I say, if neces

se, after they've been playing tennis, but we-we-well, you see

down the steps and across the lawn homeward, shriekin

ed Mr. Blithers, glaring

ears," said

acted by either one

nows them, M

re," and he tapped his forehead so that she wouldn't think that he referred to pounds

aken some one else for your da

," said he

parkled with mischief. "I shall put you between them, Mr. Blith

," said he

op of the steps. He seemed t

into something besides these duds I'm wearing," h

ed Mr. Blithers. "I'm

Run along and dress, bo

utes," the last with a

. K

alled his last glance at his watch, and calculated that he would have at l

cuse me if I

he new guest, rather more curtly th

hone to Blitherwood to say tha

that I wasn't home to dinner," said

to drink wh

can wait," an

on't m

at

e cottage of the Feltons came directly in his line of vision. He scowled more deeply than before. At the end of fifteen minutes he

for him with the car just around a bend in the

e back at twelve. And don't use the

shook the tall young man's hand,-he even g

lcome you to the

," said Pr