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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1922)
The Princess Delira BY JOHN REED SCOTT. Copy rtt? lit. tS08. by John Reed'Scott “His Grace of Lotzon scema to have discovered a mare’s neat,” said Armaiid. “The decree that is required to make me eligible to tlie (Town and to restore me my proper place in the line of succession was executed by Frederick the Fourth the night before he died.” And once again came Lotzen’s taunting laugh. “The night after he died, you mean, cousin,” he exclaimed. The prime minister turned upon him with a frown, r .“Your royal highness will per mit me lo suggest,” said he, “the prosperity, under the circum stances, of neither you nor the archduke addressing each oth er.” And Lotzcn, discerning that the council was of the same mind, nodded easily. “1 cry pardon,” he replied. “Your excellency is quite right —but you will understand, I deny the existence of this suspi ciously timely decree. As to it, at least, there is no presumption of execution—the laws alone can prove it,.” The count turned to the arch duke. “Your highness has seen the decree?” he asked. “ 1 have not.” “Did the king tell you it, was executed?” He did not but he told an- i ot her. ’ ’ “ And that other -?” “Is the princess royal,’.’ ;#iid the archduke. The count paused a moment to give the situation emphasis- and 3iotz.cn, chagrin and anger con suming him, yet smiling and un abashed, drew out a eigaret and carefully lit. it. “Do you thing her highness would honor the council with the facts?” Kpping asked. “I will acquaint her with your desires,” said Arntand. CUAPTHli V. —f Ths Compromise. The princess’ suite was across the corridor from the king's, and in a moment the archduke was with her. “Your majesty!" she cried, and curtsied. lie raised her quickly. “Not yet, sweetheart," he said, “not yet- and, may l»e, never." She stepped hack and regard ed him in puzzled surprise. “You are jesting, dear," she said, "surely, you arc jesting!" lie shook his head and went toward her. “lint the decree- -the decree !" she exclaimed, again stepping back. “The laws have disappeared," lie said, “the box is empty and the book cannot he found." In bewildered amazement she let him lead her to a chair, and listened, frowning and impatient, to his story. Only once did she interrupt when he mentioned the duke’s unexpected entrance - then she struck her hand sharply on the table at her side. “Lotzen! Oh, Lotzen!" she cried, and with such threatening vehemence that Armaud looked at her in sudd ui wonder. At the end, she sprang up. "Come!” she commanded. “Chune; lake mo to the council— 1 can at least assure they won’t make Lotzen king,” and seizing his hand she made for the door. He slipped his arm around her waist and detained f>.^r. I “Are you sure, Debra, you OUfcU to "mix in this unfortunate squahhlet” he asked. “Is it-” one turned upon linn sharply. “Squabblet Do you call a eon test for Valeria’s throne a squabble t”—then suddenly she Smiled-—that sweet, adorable smile she ever had for him. “lie very careful, sir, or I sliail tumble both you and Lot/.en aside, and take the throne my self. . . . Now, will you escort me 1” lie looked at her thoughtful ly, then smiled ami patted her cheek. “Come, your majesty,” lie said, ‘‘come, and claim your crown; it’s yours by right, and 1 shall be the first to swear al legiance.” “And the first, to rebel, dear,” she Uughedv They entered the council chamber through the king’s cab inet, arid as the princess halted a moment in the doorway the ministers sprang to their feet and stood waiting, while Ferdi nan of hotzen advanced and bowed low; not offering, how ever, to take her hand, fearing it would not be given, and having no notion to risk a snub in such company. To his astonishment, Dehra extended her hand and let him kiss it. “You come on a sad errand, cousin,’’ she said.“I would you were still in Lot zenia.’’ The words were so in nocently fitting, yet the double meaning was so deliberate. The duke slowly straightened, discomfiture and amusement struggling for control, while Ar niand smiled openly anu the ’ministers looked away. Meanwhile, the princess passed on serenely to the table and took the chair at its head. Then, led by Count Epping, the council came forward and made obeisance. She received them with just that touch of digni fied sadness which the circum stances demanded, and which, with men, a woman must meas ure with the exactness of fine gold. And with it there was the low, sweet voice, the win ning graciousness, and the daz sling smile—now softened just a trifle—that never yet had failed to conquer, and that had made her the toast of the army and the pride of the nation. And Armand had watched her, with glistening eyes, as one after an other she sent the ministers back to their places, bound to her chariot wheels; captive and con tent. And Ferdinand of Lotzen, seeing, understood; and for the first time lie realized fully what her aid meant to his rival, and how little chance In* had to win, save with the laws. And straightway the last faint scruple perished, and be set bis cold heart against her, as well. Henceforth, for him, there was but one object in life—the crown of his ancestors, and for all who interfered there would be neither consideration nor mercy. And the princess’ eye, resting for an instant on his face, read something of his mind, and with a lift of the chin and a careless smile she turned to the council. “My lords,” she said, “his royal highness has acquainted me with your desires, and 1 am glad indeed if 1 can serve you. Hi; majesty, the night before he died, executed the decree neces sary to make the Archduke Ar mand his successor.” “You saw the decree?” Count Epping asked. “No, l did not, but what 1 know is this. Late that night I went into the king’s library; be was sitting at bis desk, with the book of laws open before, him and a pen in bis hand. He was blotting a page as 1 entered. ‘You have made Armand’s~ de cree?’ 1 cried, and went to his side to read it; bat he laughed and closed the .book, saying; ‘You may see it tomorrow, child, after 1 have told Armand’.” “And he did not tell you the words of the decree,” the count asked, after a pause, “neither then nor the following day?” The princess closed her eyes and lowered her head. “No,” she said; “no—I nev er saw inv father again—alive.” There was a distressing sil lence then Armand spoke: “The council will mj^lerstaud that his majesty had no oppor tunity to tell me of the decree. I was with him yesterday only at the review; naturally he would not speak of it then.” “And that was, I suppose, the last time you saw the book of laws?” Epping asked address ing the princess, who had re covered her composure. “Yes—it was lying pn the ta ble when 1 left.” “May I ask your highness,’’ said Steuben, “why, when you saw that his majesty had been writing in the book of laws, you assumed, instantly, that it was ‘Armand’s decree,’ as you put it?’’ “You must know, my lords,’’ she responded, “that it is rare, indeed, that a new law is made for the Dalbergs, there have been hut five in the last 100 years, and the making is ever due to some extraordinary circum stance, which is known, of course, to all the family. We had been anticipating the de cree, restoring Armarnl to his rightful p’acc in the line of suc cession as Hugo’s heir, and hence it was very natural to assume it mbs that which*his majesty had written.’’ She paused, and, for an instant, her glance strayed 10 the Duka of Lotzen. * * lint it whs particularly natural,” she went on, ‘‘inasmuch as the king had mentioned the matter to me twice within the week, the la-it, line that very morning, am! re ferring to it as ‘Armand's de cree’.” Stengen nodded. ‘‘I am satis fied,” he said—-and Duval and Marqnarul nodded. The Prime minister turned to F erdinand. ‘‘We would be glad to hear jour rojal highness,” he said. The duke laughed softly in sneering amusement. He was still standing behind his chair, and now he tilted it forward*and leaned across it, his arms folded of the rail. ' Small chance have 1 against, such a portia,” he answered. “Yet 1 would remind the council that, where kingdoms are con cerned, a pretty woman is a dan gerous advocate to follow—and thrice dangerous when against her is the written law and with her only—conjecture.” “Our cousin of Lotzen does not mean to question my verac ity?” the princess asked quickly. “Your veracity?—never, I as sure you—only your inferences.” “And yet, sir, what other in ferences can he drawn?” He shrugged his shoulders and turned to the prime minister. “I reiterate my claim to the crown,” he said; “and the only law of the Dalbergs that is be fore you confirms it. I cannot conceive that the royal council of Valeria will arrogate to itself the right to annul a decree of Henry the Third.” “ His highness of Lotzen misses the point,” said Armand. “I do not ask the council to annul that decree, but only to assume j’rom her royal highness’ story that it was duly and legally annulled by Frederick the Fourth.” “Exactly, my lords, exactly,” the duke retorted; “inference against fact—guesses against an admitted law.” Then Armand made the play he had had in mind since it was certain that the hook of laws was lost, lie was standing behind the princess’ chair—now he stepped forward and addressed the duke. “Cousin,” he said, “we are putting a grievous burden on the ministers in obliging them to choose - between us, with the proofs seemingly so strong on either side. It is not fair to them to drive them to the embarrass ment nor to the misfortune that would attend a mistake. There ought to be no doubt in the mind of the nation as to the title of the king; he who occupies the throne should have his tenure unques tioned; and such cannot, be if the one of us who is today made king is liable to be displaced tomorrow by the other. Besides, as I un derstand Henry the Third’s de cree, the council has no jurisdic tion except by our agreement. You assert the decree of eligi bility was not made by Frederick. If that be true, then, there being 'a vacancy in the royal dignity without such decree being made,’ it is for the house of nobles to enact my eligibility and so give m'e the crown, or to refuse and so give it to you. Therefore, l pro pose that for the space of a year, or pending the recovery mean while of the book of laws, we let the question of succession re main in abeyance. If, at the end of the year, the book has not been found, then the house of nobles shall choose between us. And as in the interval there must be some one in supreme authority, let her royal highness be pro claimed regent of Valeria.” Never before bad there been su6h instant, open and cordial unanimity among the ministers of the royal council. Here was a complete solution of the vexing problem, and one, moreover, that would relieve them of a most un desirable duty. Baron Reitz's smile was positively gleeful, and the others nodded cnthsiastic&lly and turned to the duke expec tantly. And Lotzen saw that he was losing—and with rage and hatred in his heart, but with calm face and voice softer even than usual, he made his last play, knowing well that though it might not win, it would at least work a sweet revenge upon his rival. “An admirable compromise for you, cousin mine,” he laughed; “uiul clever, very clever—you and Dehra are to he married on the 27th. What difference, think you, will there be between you as king and you as consort of the princess regent” Then he faced the council and flung his last card: “Otherwise, my lords,” ho said with suave frankness, “I would willingly accept his high ness’ proposition—or l will ac cept it, if it is engaged that the w wedding shall abide the termina i lion of the regency . . . how say you, cousin ? ” Once again lad the duk® turned the situation by his devil ish cleverness, and Armand's lin gers itched to take him by,the throat and choke the life out of him; and Lotzen, reading some thing of this in his eyes, grinned malevolently. “Ilow say you, cousin?” he re peated, “how say you?” The archduke deliberately gave him his back. ‘‘My lords,” he said, “it seems the Duke of Lotzen would force you to the choice.” But the old count did not in tend to forego the compromise. He wanted Arinad for king be cause Armand was, de facto, the head of the house, because he was convinced the decree had been executed, because it would make Dehra the queen, and be cause he despised Lotzen. With the pringess as regent, there would be ample means to swing the nobles to the archduke, and to prepare the public for his ac cession. Of course, it would also give Lotzen time to campaign, yet he who fights the govern ment has a rough road to travel, and usually fallj by the way. Leastwise, the count was very ready to adventure it. But he needed aid now; and aid that could come from but one quarter and which he could seek only by indirection—Dehra alone con trolled the situation. “The compromise suggested is admirable,” Ke said, “and though there is force in the ob jection made to it, yet, my lord,” (addressing Lot/.en) “you can not expect the archduke to ac cept your amendment, ltds not for tiie man to change the wed ding day-” The princess sat up sharply* When Armand had suggested her as regent she had leaned for ward to decline, but catching Ep ping’s eye she had read an almost imperious order to wait; and having full faith in him, she had obeyed. Now she saw what he wanted; and though it was against her heart’s desire and a cheerless business, yet her own judgment told her he was right. “It is not for the man,” the count repeated, looking-at her hard, “to change the wedding day, and least of all-” “Wait, monsieur,” she broke in. “It seems that unwittingly I have been drawn into the situa tion, and put in a position where I am obliged to speak. Does the royal council approve this com promise, and desire me to become regent of Valeria?” The count smiled in supreme satisfaction. “I can ^ssure your highness we are of one mind that, in this exigency, it is your duty to as sume the office.” The princess arose. “Then, my lords,” she said gravely, “I ac cept, hereby engaging that my wedding shall abide the termina tion of the regency.” The archduke made a gesture of protest, but Dehra flashed him her subduing smile and shook her head, and there was naught for him to do but to smile back— and add one more to the score that, some day, Ferdinand of Lot zen would have to settle. The prime minister looked^at the duke with a bland smile of triumph, and then at Armand. “Is it your joint wish,” he asked, “that we ratify the stipu lation and proclaim the re gency ¥ ’ ’ “It is,” said the archduke ; but Lotzen only bowed. Count Epping drew his sword. “Valeria hails the Princess Dehra as regent,” he cried. It was the ancient formula changed to fit the occasion. And this time Armand’3 blade rang with the others across the table, and his voice joined exult antly in the answer that echoed through the room. “We hail the princess re gent !’’ As the sound died Ferdinand of Lotzcn stepped forward and bent knee. “God save your royal high ness!” lie said, and again Debra gave him her hand. “And grant me streugth,” she answered. “Amen,” said the count grave ly. “Amen.”® It was Lotzen who broke the stillness. “With your highness’ permis sion 1 will withdraw,” he said; “there are pressing personal af fairs which demand my presence elsewhere.” He turned to go. “One moment, cousin,M said she—then to Hie prime minister: “Will the council need his high ness!” ____ (To Re Continuedi Next Week) Raymond Collins of Brooklyn, con victed of n murder charge on Staten Island. has become the champion checker player In the Sin* Sing death house. DECREE FOR DIVORCE WON BY TIERNAN Judge’s Decision Final Chapter in Professor’s Domestic Tragedy—Baby Billy Goes to Mother, Others to Father. MY GENE FLACK, Universal Service Correspondent. South Bend, Ind., Nov. 23.—The Inst chapter in the Tiernan domestic tragedy was written into the records of the St. Joseph county court today, when Superior Judge Chester R. Montgomery granted Prof. John P. Tiernan a complete divorce. For the second time in the first hectic year in the life of “Baby Billy” Tiernan, a court of law intervened as official guardian to provide for the welfare of the helpless young ster, whose parentage was made a moot question in one of the most celebrated paternity hearings of record. "But what about the third child?” interposed Judge Montgomery, after the case had been formally closed and all reference to provision for thqf helples infant had been sedu lously evaded. “That child was born in wedlock and the question of his paternity is not in contest here. He tunnot be ignored and it is the duty *{ this court to see that adequate provision is made for him.” Mother Takes “Baby Billy.” Attorney Samuel Feiwell, repre senting Mrs. Tiernan, who was pros trated at home and unable to attend the proceedings, then declared that the principals had agreed that the mother would care for the fatherless babe, and (he custody of the older children, Irene, 5, and Mary, 4, might be granted to the professor. The court* acquiesced. Although Professor Tiernan had based his petition for divorce upon the charge of “cruelty,” to avoid ex huming the scandal of his wife’s con fessed amours, as he said, the name of Harry Poulin was several times hissed into the record by the cross complainant, reiterating the charge that the debonair campus haber dasher was the father of his wife’s third child, and the direct cause for the dissolution of his home. Professor Nervous. Pale and emaciated, it was with trembling lips and a quivering voice that ttie usually composed university profe!?sor narrated his grievances from the witness stand. Mrs. Tiernan’s open protestation of nn ardent love for the dapper cloth ing salesman as her “ideal” and ter lolerrja ieclaraticj' that some day she would marry ntm, after oft repeated promises to ban him from her thoughts, i rompted the professor to finally separate and institute divorce action on October 7 last, he testified. "We were sitting together in the parlor of our home that night,” re cited the professor. “We had been discussing our turbulent marital ca faar. After a pause, I asked her: Hus, do you really love me?’ She waited for a moment and then re plied: ’Daddy, I respect you as a pro vider,* but I could never—no, never love you as a husband, for I’m in love with Harry. He’s my Ideal. He is the father of my child, and some day I’m going to marry him and legitimize my baby. No, we can never be happy together again. We must part event ually. Perhaps best now. "I argued with her for a bit, but she was adamant. So I went upstairs to my room on the second floor, and from that day to this I have scarcely spoken a word to her.” Next Tuesday will mark Baby Billy’s first birthday. It will be cele brated by the exodus of both the pro fessor and his wife—each going their separate ways. The professor will leave for New York with the two older children, and there enter the indeptndent practice of law. Mrs. Tiernan will go to Chicago to find work to care for herself and her for saken babe. STATES WANT RAIL POWERS RESTORED Committee Ask3 Harding to Recommend Transporta tion Act Changes. Washington, Nov. 23 (U. P.).— President Harding was asked today to recommend in his annual message to congress amendments to the transportation act restoring to state railroad commissions the powers they enjoyed prior to the war in control over Intrastate rates and dis tribution of cars. The request was presented by a committee of the National Associa tion of State Railroad Commis sioners, headed by Dwight H. Lewis, president. It asked: 1. Restoration of authority to state commissions to control intra state rates. 2. Authorization of state commis sions to control distribution of cars of shippers between their respective states regardless of the destination of freight. 3. Congressional support by prop er appropriations for the valuation of railroads now being undertaken by the Interstate Commerce com mission. “EGG STRIKE" IS WON. Chicago, Nov. 23 (IT. P.)—Chicago fresh egg eaters won their strike to day. Prices on the local market dropped 5 cents after a steady rise to a high level of 54 cents yesterday. 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