ENTERTAINMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1916, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS.

"COLONEL OF THE RED. HUSSARS." "Colonel of the Red Hussars" is a drama to bo shown by the Egmont Pictures at Rahotu Wednesday, Okato Friday and Opunake Saturday. Majoi Dalberg wa? in the midst of a conversation with Courtney, detailing his meeting with Princess Dehra of Valeria, to whom he had introduced himself as Mr. Smith, also telling of the exploits of his ancestor. Hugo Dalberg, who, jn 1777, left Valaria. against the King's will, to join Lafayette's forces in America, when suddenly lie was called to the 'phone, llucli to his surprise, it was the charming widow of his old friend. General Spencer, who pressed him to eall before be left 011 his diplomatic mission to Valaria. Unable to refuse be complied with her request, but was shocked at her peculiar behaviour, which was especially untimely, as her husband's body was lying in stale in the nevt room. Two weeks later, on his arrival at the court of Valaria, the King remarked upon the striking resemblance of the young major to he celebrated Hugo Dalberg,, whose, portrait hung in the throne room. On learning that the major was. in' fact, a direct desccndent of the celebrated soldier, he greeted him with enthusiasm. A few moments after, the Princess was announced, and was somewhat puzzled at her father's very cordin' reception of the major, whom she. only knew as "Mr. Smith, of Washington," according to the card lie bad given her at the time of.their first meeting some time before. Daiberg's charming manner, however, soon bridged this gap, and their romance, quickly blossomed, While his democratic ways so charmed the King that a granddukeship was conferred upon him, an act encouraged by the Princess. News of this event coupling his name with that of Prineoss Dehra, reached Mrs. Spencer, and she immediately repaired to Paris. There, quite ov accident, she met the Archduke of Lotzen, heir presumptive of the throne of Valaria. Recognising Major Daibcrg's portiait in a locket, dropped' b\ Mrs. Spencer, the Archduke followed up tho acquaintance, and finally' secured her co-operation in a plan to undermine Daibcrg'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 Daibcrg's wife. This plan resulted in consternation at the Court. 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, which was intercepted by the Princess Dehra's arrival. A few minutes later, King Frederick and Courtney upon the" Archduke and Mrs Spencer in a slimmer 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 matfrr was cleared up to the satisfaction of all concerned with the exception of the couple whose machinations bad all but ruined a beautiful romance.