The Storyteller.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7919, 7 September 1905, Page 4

The Storyteller.

TOBD-THE KING'S DOUBLfc

'•"lt's .the chance of a lifetime," mjH Fercy, as he read in the Aigerfßl Despatch of an impending royal iriait to Biskra. He was in the smokdc room of the sunny hotel whero

Sp bad been idling for a day or jlwo, after a tour m the interior, Jltvious to taking lb* steamer back 1o Marseilles.

He looked guiltily round as he put Sown Uw paper, and glanced furliveJy at an adjacent mirror. r "I'm really remarkably like him,'' fee mdttered, and instinctively bowed 'gravely at bu presentment, which, itt once bowed back.

|; Percy Todd's main pleasure in life 'Was his accepted resemblance to an Exalted Personage. He was chaffed ••bout it by his fellow members ot the Stock Exchange, who were fond .Of humming national anthems in his presence ; he was complimented up:o& it by bis tailor, who cut his .dotixi to heighten the illusion ; and: ,fte was despised (or it by several jaalous acquaintance!!, who chose to , ttsure' bim that they could sec no ■likeness. But it occasionally happenrad, when be drove a high phaeton in fllbtPark, Chat some deluded person taroold remove bis bat , and as Todd

p|»turord the salute he would flow ■•with conscious pride. I After all, be argurd to himself, enc rtaan caanot be like another without '/Icing somewhat akin to bim Id mind **• well, and this consideration—-•--which he was wise enough to keep . locked up in Us own breast—cnifooraged him to a dignity of mien •-•ad a graciousness of manner which "-Caused no little hilarity among those

rwfco discerned his motives. ■ Hs had, however, schooled his mind "to derive comfort from the very jrtidicule that his aspirations aroused, ?lor it was evident to him that, il jjtjjba similarity bad not been ,so stnkjwg, the Sow of chaff would have Hong since died a natural death. Be■ytfdes, be was one of those people '.Jrtoee self-esteem is so comforting ttftt even banter can be made to teed it.

r He had often wondered how it . waa that news of this curious parallel bad not permeated to inner cir'Cles, and he bad pictured a summons to the most exclusive of residences in order that the similitude - Bright be viewed in dose quarters so aa to set rumour at rest. f "As like as two peas," he fancied be could hear some member of the "illustrious circle whisper to another,

, tad be was sure that tin modesty oi 'bis mien would create a tavourabie {impression. J; But years had passed, and he and pas Alter Ego had attained to inid-

P: age, if not more, and neither bj Went not design had they been Mght together, tad now the chance offered ! Bi.v

kjkra was a small place. Tie num..- r ftf English visitors at any one tinucaonld almost be counted upon thi

fingers of both hands. There was ontU on* hotel—the Splendid—at widen Rotable people could find suitable ac- :. •ommodatien. If he should happen *"lo toe there— far removed from fcuro_Jftaa reporters and busybodits—his would have come. i In the courtyard, in the corridors, ~tai . the terrace with its wonderiu:. Wiew over* the desert—Todd knew the palace well—a dozen occasions would s|ise (or that respectful salutation on

nis .part. Unit lo one UUb, which wouhl bring him a kindfly recognition and an imperial salute That, he felt sure, would he ah He pictured the Tttst glance of high-bred notice, followed by , a second quick scrutiny as tile familiar lines ol his visage could not fail to be observed ; the pause in ' toe regal walk ;, the remark to the attendant equerry, and then the condescending summons to step forwatd. "It's worth trying," said lYrcj Todd to himself, and promptly made ( up bis mind, £; There is only one train a day from sAlgiers to Biskra, and the very n?il nay Todd took his place in tlie cor-

lerV of a firstrclasa carriage am*fpnaA all his lavage on, all ihc .available Mats. He bad previously telegraphed lo the manager of tin Splendid Hotel to send a carriage Ui pueet him and to reserve the best' itooms on the terrace; for the brilJiant notion had struck him that tlie »*ay could be made easwr if, ty a Uftroke of good luck, he could be asked to give up his rooms for the cor,venienoe oi his illustrious counter-! 'part. l In another first-class compartment, fin the midst of Arabs, Zouaves, and 5 French mechanics, he had cau&at light of a sparkling-eyed damsel with '* roondl face and tilted nose, who ■fcad given him that look of half■itartlifl recognitioa which, batt bc-

«come as the salt of life to bim. " She bad stared, whispered to an :«Werly companion, and stared again. He had drawn himself up—ror he Vas standing on the platform—l urnjd. away with that air of seeking which he had reduced to Fa fine art, and stepped into his carriage wits bowed head! - He half fancied that he could hear 'pel say : "I'm sure it's he" ; and be Was' certain that he caught the »otos ; "Oh ! my '." , Alter this he lurked within bis carriage, and did not descend to.siretcb iss legs at the numerous stoppiugplaces, where everybody got out, and, the train waited for ten or twncly minutes for no tvtter reason than that it was considerably behind time. Puce or twice he caught a glimpse Of the young lady, who came and

Itood opposite his compartment and surveyed it in the frankest manner. 'When be was forced to descend ai a wayside station for lunch he assumXA~ biue spectacles—which the glaring beat justified—and slouched a Hcmffcnrg bat over his brow ; but the damsel clutched her elderly companion and pointed at him, without respect, for his apparent desire for seclusion. "Look, ma, look '" she sakl ; but the old lady was fretful from the beat and the journey, and made a peevish reply. When the train, aftes climbing

Mnwlv descending through the baked, red ! *tie!*'rt, at letrg;:Ji reluctafitl'y reached its destination, Tcdd was not quite sure that the game was woith the candle; but his courage returned when the obsequious Ar.'b porters conveyed him to the rickety carriage that was specially provided. The Splendid Hotel omnibus, which was to bring his luggage, was in attendance, and Todd perceived that j the bright-eyed girl and her mother took their places in it, while the former cast a longing look at his magnificent isolation. "Americans," said he, and as the driver cracked his avhip and' his horses started the girl ostentatiously waved her handkerchief. Courtesy demanded that he should raise his hat in return, and he noted her frank delight and the vigorous shake that she IJestowed upon her worn-out mother.

The hotel manager met him witl excessive politeness, and aondueterf him to the rooms reserved, which were two spacious apartments, nearly big enough for a royal family. In the salle a manger that night Percy Todd dined at a separate tabic, and was gratified to see that tin damsel of the journey watched hin. with open interest, ami was success ful in inducing her ma also to look upon him with less hostility. After the meal lie produced a big cigar—in appearance, as he bclievid very like the real chosen weed—and commanding coßce and cognac ti, follow, he proceeded to a seat in the courtyard, where the palms, the electric light, and the stars combinkd to create a poetic retreat. He was in the midst of these minor comforts when lie became aware of a pair of bright eyes regarding him at an ever-diminishing distance. The owner, attired in a bewitching white dress, wiXb of jewejs to adorn it was moving unostentatiously from seat to seat until sh, approached within whispering distance. Throughout, her advance shi kept her gaze fixed on him in tin approved sight-seeing style. The continuity of th r girl was rearred fty a certain pungent mixture o' accompanying scents ; but when Ik conceived that -.t toamc neccs*. irv ior him to show that he realised m-'i close neighbourhood he at once surrendered to the charm oi her, pr.v ence.

She was very young, with a full white throat, plump cheeks lf ,| jm. quite a mass of dark hair r.nd the' most striking black eyes be had ever seen. .She Was leaning fnrwarl Sl . her lips : parted ; and the eagerness o her tip-tilted nose could not lt.ue liecn displeasing even to t!.e Sphinx. (To be Continued).