The Colonel of the Red Hussars

• 1914
• Action & Adventure, Drama, Other

Major Dalberg was in the midst of a conversation with Courtney, detailing his meeting with Princess Dehra of Valaria, to whom he had introduced himself as Mr. Smith, also telling of the exploits of his ancestor, Hugo Dalberg, who, in 1777, left Valaria, against the King's will, to join Lafayette's forces in America, when suddenly he was called to the phone. Much to his surprise, it was the charming widow of his old friend. General Spencer, who pressed him to call before he left on his diplomatic mission to Valaria. Unable to refuse, he complied with her request, but was shocked at her peculiar behavior, which was especially untimely, as her husband's body was lying in state in the next room. Two weeks later, on his arrival at the court of Valaria, the King remarked upon the striking resemblance of the young major to the celebrated Hugo Dalberg, whose portrait hung in the throne room. On learning that the major was in fact a direct descendant of the celebrated soldier, he greeted him with enthusiasm. A few moments afterward, the Princess was announced, and was somewhat puzzled at her father's very cordial reception of the major, whom she only knew as "Mr. Smith of Washington," according to the card he had given her at the time of their first meeting some time before. Dalberg's charming manner, however, soon bridged this gap and their romance quickly blossomed, while his democratic ways so chinned the King that a grand-dukeship was conferred upon him, an act encouraged by the Princess. News of this event, coupling his name with that of Princess Dehra, reached Mrs. Spencer, and she immediately repaired to Paris. There, quite by accident, she met Archduke of Lotzen, heir presumptive to the throne, of Valaria. Recognizing Major Dalberg's portrait in a locket dropped by Mrs. Spencer, the Archduke followed up the acquaintance and finally secured her co-operation in a plan to undermine Dalberg's influence at the Court of Valaria. A bogus marriage certificate was secured, and, armed with this, it was arranged that she should go to Valaria and pose as Dalberg's wife. This plan was carried out, resulting in consternation at the court of Valaria. In spite of every effort to trip Mrs. Spencer into an admission that would clear his friend, Courtney failed, and so things remained until the night of the masked ball, when the Archduke of Lotzen picked a quarrel with Dalberg and an immediate duel was arranged for, which was interrupted by Princess Dehra's arrival on the scene. A few moments later, King Frederick and Courtney came upon the Archduke and Mrs. Spencer in a summer house. The few words they overheard confirmed their suspicions of the pair, and when Mrs. Spencer supplemented this with an emphatic denial of all claims upon Dalberg, the entire matter was cleared up to the satisfaction of all concerned with the exception of the scheming couple whose machinations had all but ruined a beautiful romance.