There is little left to tell. When we arrived at Naples, the Captain "stood up" with us at the nearest church and kissed the bride even before the "meenister." Our honeymoon we spent on board the ocean liner that brought us back to the United States. And what a warm reception Solonika received when she arrived at Spruce street to find my mother awaiting us at the door. How the poor girl wept upon that good lady's broad bosom, Solonika, who had never known a mother's gentle caress before.Our first news from Bharbazonia came by letter from General Palmora. The affairs of that little Kingdom are going smoothly and well. For reasons of state it has been decided to unite the two reigning houses and very shortly the wedding bells will ring for King Novgorod and Princess Teskla, an arrangement, the General slyly adds, "which is not at all disagreeable to Nicholas, who, as you may have guessed, always fancied the girl."The King has made his peace with the Patriarch by paying a considerable sum of money to the Church. Every contending faction has been united and every one looks forward to a prosperous reign for the young ruler."You would be surprised to see how steady and earnest Nicholas has become," continues the General. "He will be the best king Bharbazonia has ever had. He is taking the advice of his elders now, and never once has he broken away as he did the night I brought him your message from the dungeon."'Are you sure, godfather,' he said to me, 'that Dale used those words—"as sure as there is a God in heaven I'll come back?"'"I assured him that you had spoken thus."'Then,' said he, 'something has to be done.'"Something was done that very night. The King himself put Solonika aboard the yacht, getting her out of the palace by stealth. No one but that rascally profane Japanese boy knew anything about it. The next night, following his instructions, I had you taken aboard, and you know the rest."When Solonika read this part of the General's letter she was very much surprised. During that entire ride to Bizzett Nick had never made his identity known to her. They had bound her hand and foot and chained her to the car while he rode forward with Okio.Another piece of news which makes Solonika very happy is that plans are under way to procure the release of the Duke of Dhalmatia. We hope to have the old man with us in the near future."I am sorry to say," adds the General in concluding, "that Nicholas is not as good a member of the Secret Order of the Cross as he used to be, and the Turks are still in possession of Constantinople."Heigh-ho! how quickly time flies when one is supremely happy! Since we were married the autumn leaves have turned to yellow and gold and the summer birds are making their southern flight. But the roses are coming back to Solonika's cheeks.As I write in my quiet library it is her sweet voice I hear singing in the room below my favourite song, "The King and the Pope." How well the words fit the adventure I have been through. It would almost seem that the poet who wrote them must have had a similar experience. I little thought, when my friend Megarge gave me his adaption of the original from the German, that one day it would have such meaning for me.Listen and you may hear her singing. How clearly she pronounces each word,—"The King and the Pope together,Have sent a message to me;It is signed with the Royal Signet;It is sealed with the Papal Key.The King wants me out of his eyesightAnd the Pope wants me out of his See."The King and the Pope together,Own thousands of acres of land;While I do not own the foot of ground,On which my two feet stand.But the prettiest girl in the KingdomWalks with me—hand in hand."The King must marry a lady,Of exceeding high degree;The Pope can never a true love have,So a cardinal pours his tea.Very few stand 'round me at table.But my sweetheart sits by me."The King hath scores of soldiers,Who will fight for him any day,The Pope hath Priests and Bishops,Who for his soul will pray.I have one little sweetheart,But she'll kiss me when I say."And the King with his Golden Sceptre,And the Pope with Saint Peter's Key,Can never unlock the one little heart,That is open alone to me.For I am the King of a Realm!And I am the Pope of a See!In fact I'm supreme in the KingdomThat frequently sits on my knee."THE END.*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOKTHE RED FOX'S SON***
There is little left to tell. When we arrived at Naples, the Captain "stood up" with us at the nearest church and kissed the bride even before the "meenister." Our honeymoon we spent on board the ocean liner that brought us back to the United States. And what a warm reception Solonika received when she arrived at Spruce street to find my mother awaiting us at the door. How the poor girl wept upon that good lady's broad bosom, Solonika, who had never known a mother's gentle caress before.
Our first news from Bharbazonia came by letter from General Palmora. The affairs of that little Kingdom are going smoothly and well. For reasons of state it has been decided to unite the two reigning houses and very shortly the wedding bells will ring for King Novgorod and Princess Teskla, an arrangement, the General slyly adds, "which is not at all disagreeable to Nicholas, who, as you may have guessed, always fancied the girl."
The King has made his peace with the Patriarch by paying a considerable sum of money to the Church. Every contending faction has been united and every one looks forward to a prosperous reign for the young ruler.
"You would be surprised to see how steady and earnest Nicholas has become," continues the General. "He will be the best king Bharbazonia has ever had. He is taking the advice of his elders now, and never once has he broken away as he did the night I brought him your message from the dungeon.
"'Are you sure, godfather,' he said to me, 'that Dale used those words—"as sure as there is a God in heaven I'll come back?"'
"I assured him that you had spoken thus.
"'Then,' said he, 'something has to be done.'
"Something was done that very night. The King himself put Solonika aboard the yacht, getting her out of the palace by stealth. No one but that rascally profane Japanese boy knew anything about it. The next night, following his instructions, I had you taken aboard, and you know the rest."
When Solonika read this part of the General's letter she was very much surprised. During that entire ride to Bizzett Nick had never made his identity known to her. They had bound her hand and foot and chained her to the car while he rode forward with Okio.
Another piece of news which makes Solonika very happy is that plans are under way to procure the release of the Duke of Dhalmatia. We hope to have the old man with us in the near future.
"I am sorry to say," adds the General in concluding, "that Nicholas is not as good a member of the Secret Order of the Cross as he used to be, and the Turks are still in possession of Constantinople."
Heigh-ho! how quickly time flies when one is supremely happy! Since we were married the autumn leaves have turned to yellow and gold and the summer birds are making their southern flight. But the roses are coming back to Solonika's cheeks.
As I write in my quiet library it is her sweet voice I hear singing in the room below my favourite song, "The King and the Pope." How well the words fit the adventure I have been through. It would almost seem that the poet who wrote them must have had a similar experience. I little thought, when my friend Megarge gave me his adaption of the original from the German, that one day it would have such meaning for me.
Listen and you may hear her singing. How clearly she pronounces each word,—
"The King and the Pope together,Have sent a message to me;It is signed with the Royal Signet;It is sealed with the Papal Key.The King wants me out of his eyesightAnd the Pope wants me out of his See."The King and the Pope together,Own thousands of acres of land;While I do not own the foot of ground,On which my two feet stand.But the prettiest girl in the KingdomWalks with me—hand in hand."The King must marry a lady,Of exceeding high degree;The Pope can never a true love have,So a cardinal pours his tea.Very few stand 'round me at table.But my sweetheart sits by me."The King hath scores of soldiers,Who will fight for him any day,The Pope hath Priests and Bishops,Who for his soul will pray.I have one little sweetheart,But she'll kiss me when I say."And the King with his Golden Sceptre,And the Pope with Saint Peter's Key,Can never unlock the one little heart,That is open alone to me.For I am the King of a Realm!And I am the Pope of a See!In fact I'm supreme in the KingdomThat frequently sits on my knee."
"The King and the Pope together,Have sent a message to me;It is signed with the Royal Signet;It is sealed with the Papal Key.The King wants me out of his eyesightAnd the Pope wants me out of his See.
"The King and the Pope together,
Have sent a message to me;
Have sent a message to me;
It is signed with the Royal Signet;
It is sealed with the Papal Key.
It is sealed with the Papal Key.
The King wants me out of his eyesight
And the Pope wants me out of his See.
And the Pope wants me out of his See.
"The King and the Pope together,Own thousands of acres of land;While I do not own the foot of ground,On which my two feet stand.But the prettiest girl in the KingdomWalks with me—hand in hand.
"The King and the Pope together,
Own thousands of acres of land;
Own thousands of acres of land;
While I do not own the foot of ground,
On which my two feet stand.
On which my two feet stand.
But the prettiest girl in the Kingdom
Walks with me—hand in hand.
Walks with me—hand in hand.
"The King must marry a lady,Of exceeding high degree;The Pope can never a true love have,So a cardinal pours his tea.Very few stand 'round me at table.But my sweetheart sits by me.
"The King must marry a lady,
Of exceeding high degree;
Of exceeding high degree;
The Pope can never a true love have,
So a cardinal pours his tea.
So a cardinal pours his tea.
Very few stand 'round me at table.
But my sweetheart sits by me.
But my sweetheart sits by me.
"The King hath scores of soldiers,Who will fight for him any day,The Pope hath Priests and Bishops,Who for his soul will pray.I have one little sweetheart,But she'll kiss me when I say.
"The King hath scores of soldiers,
Who will fight for him any day,
Who will fight for him any day,
The Pope hath Priests and Bishops,
Who for his soul will pray.
Who for his soul will pray.
I have one little sweetheart,
But she'll kiss me when I say.
But she'll kiss me when I say.
"And the King with his Golden Sceptre,And the Pope with Saint Peter's Key,Can never unlock the one little heart,That is open alone to me.For I am the King of a Realm!And I am the Pope of a See!In fact I'm supreme in the KingdomThat frequently sits on my knee."
"And the King with his Golden Sceptre,
And the Pope with Saint Peter's Key,
And the Pope with Saint Peter's Key,
Can never unlock the one little heart,
That is open alone to me.
That is open alone to me.
For I am the King of a Realm!
And I am the Pope of a See!
And I am the Pope of a See!
In fact I'm supreme in the Kingdom
That frequently sits on my knee."
That frequently sits on my knee."
THE END.
*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOKTHE RED FOX'S SON***