The Colonel of the Red Huzzars

ey came in. He had been to some function at the French Embassy

he remarked, pouring a measure o

thinking,"

e began-then put down his gla

out to say?"

r age sits up thinking until two in the mor

re all right,"

, and began to

topped-"in the marrying

ellent raw material go to was

Courtney, I wai

n. "Business?" he inquired

ically; but it is business in a way; only, it

instant. "Drive on, old man

the Summer Pal

nod

with the Princess

ul, my dear Majo

here; and the King also,

"you are progre

as all ac

led br

to overtake me; we chanced upon the Princess; she asked

t of a paper-cutter. "Very won

utter?" I asked, a

eries of a

only pre

s are often m

out is this: The King has asked me to accept the t

r, and drawing out his cigarette case, he selected one

the Crown?" he

or the whole s

ttling back in his chair, he close

, repeating, as well as I could remember, Frederick's exact language,

" I ended, "and the answer is due to-mo

his eye-glasses. "I assume you have

d I, "I would h

t last they seemed to suit him, and he shov

no obligation upon you to decide it upon any other basis. Therefore, the first question is s

what I don't

to answer if I were to add:

ates it even

nt. I knew he was thinking of t

rst proposition," he said: "'an A

I, "I shall play f

said he, "but

than likel

you will still be th

ccept it without the o

ery chances without being sure o

ney laughed and fin

my dear Major, very needlessly," he said. "You k

e me to accep

uld advise you to

s my best frien

more; I

said, "I can't make a decision; I

am able to see the matter more clearly tha

ion and America

ll its powers and privileges; and, at the very least, the commission of General of Brig

e no

row it all over and come back to us

o get back to you and m

of your age and position want in the ha

ge and wealth want botheri

joy the busin

e may enjoy being a

you, I'll engage to put you back in our Arm

aid. "I fear, however, the War Dep

hat, for the War Departmen

d to learn a new pro

ession?" he

rofession of bei

day Ball," he laughed, "you wi

about the women; I can

," he exclaimed. "One of them might hear you, a

ivolous," said I,

sleep over a problem," he said. He poured two measures of liquo

ing-and I, at lea

dy to give answer to the King. It chanced that Courtney and I met at breakfast-the American customs as to meals preva

ve made your decision; which

spective Arch

rt, bowed low. "I salute Yo

xclaimed, "don'

s an unusual pleasure to

e my old friendships or bring formality into privat

all rests with yourself? You can be a

to speak-drop those I don't care fo

act

er will be quite to my liking,"

, I came upon one sealed with a blurred dab of green wax. Rather curious, I turned it over; it was unstamped and was marked: "Persona

Personal and Important'; what is it; an invitatio

invitation to so

ake a look at it and

velope; then picked it up quic

d, and he motioned for the

than a careless fling across the table. I broke the seal and drew out the

EAR C

have no right to meddle-but, won't you please accept and come back to your o

EH

en a third time-wondering, the while,

ho wrote th

o wrote th

e, also," said I,

faintest nod of approval. "If that does not hold you to the task, you are-

assume my new rank with the least possible embarrassment to Courtney. He would, doubtless, find it unfortunate enough to have, as a Royal Archduke, one who but lately w

the Ambassadors; sought after by all the Court for a word t

to be quite bad enough without

rm. "Brace up, old chap," he said; "the

ts other than those the ca

itches of other sorts than those of

, rode the Princess a

ortunity, Courtn

ared

Helen back to to

said, and shrugg

I; "most men would be gl

ned aside a

in us?" said

ted," I said and sw

do with Lady Helen," s

look after her,

came alone to meet you," she went

to meet me

nk me very forward, but I-well,

ubt of it after

he exclaimed, so loudly I

"I shall accept

ertly; then she turned and smiled-one of those overpo

I am glad. Y

closer. "Somet

A dear cousin, I

of the road; but I took

growing late, Your Royal Highness. I s

would ride back with her. And the Princess s

Mr. Courtney and Major Dalberg shall din

ghness,"--Lad

Dehra; "it will be en

like a good courtier, he made no protest. For my part, I

idle path leading to one of the private doors of the

hould see the

ur hands,"

d scarcely think

htly as when I had swung her out of sadd

e it," she said, an

t forgotten to look about her. Women, it wo

is a queer go, sure enough. What did the Princess mean by brin

ood to me. She thought, doubtless, we might be gl

," said he; "but,

spiration and she had t

ess will explain my

e you; he counted on your

him-or my usefulness as the Ame

d not have held

sently, my dear Major, you will kno

g. Instinctively I held out my han

an, and God bles

llowed th