fc-ptember 27, 1003.
TIIE ILLUSTRATED BEE.
ne early tomorrow. If I get stuck, I
hall declare myself unable to permit the
changes of cravats. Itut I will not get
tuck. I will hare the strength to stamp
It Into my brain and play my roles. I am
nothing but a statist anyway.
Every hour I have to ride to the rail
road station to help receive new guest.
The faithful subjects cheer and shout.
I notice that their joy is not so exuberant
when I appear as It used to be. Why not?
Even now! What have I done to them?
Only a little time ago they showed me
their trust, their affection, their love.
And suddenly they are still. What have I
done to them? For their sake I became
Cain in my thoughts. For the sake of that
mob! And now I have sharp ears it is
still around me, quite still. Can it be that
they have heard the crass lie about me,
that they know.
I would mako them cheer and shout if
I Oh, I would!
To write these things calms my nerves
more than the bromide with which the
family spirit Is feeding me these days. He
is absolutely stuffing me with it.
Last night the happy bride arrived. To
morrow there will be the wedding, corona
tion, homage, gala dinner, gala theater,
illumination, parades, and then at lust they
will leave King and Queen alone. The un
happy ones!
I -was with those who helped the bride
groom to meet his bride. The King wore
the general's uniform of the regimrnt that
was given to him by the bride's govern
ment. The bride wore a light green toil
ette and a cloak of old rose velvet, em
broidered with silver and the same em
broideries on a hat of rose gauze.
The faithful subjects went mad with joy
at the sight of the beautiful royal briJe,
but she was so embarrassed, bj shy, so
frightened that she could not even bow her
head. The King bowed constantly, to all
Sides, without even a faint shimmer of
pleasure on his pule, care-worn face.
With such a countenance he is to be mir
ried and crowned! A man with such a face
Should let himself be laid away in the
grave; in his wedding day in th.i month of
slay, and a King!
A Royal Lord Marshal had covered him
self with glory once more. These wonder
ful days will be immortal in the annals of
the Court. Everything was correct. Kvery
one received what belonged to him. Even
that tremendous problem, the order of
precedence at all the ceremonies, was
solved triumphantly, an Intellectual labor
of Hercules splendidly performed.
I stared at the young Queen during the
wedding ceremony and at the young King
during the coronation, a most indiscreet
proceeding on my part. But I was curious.
When the Queen whispered the ' Yes,"
which no one heard, she had to be sup
ported; and when the Archbishop placed
the crown on the King's head he seemed to
tsee ghosts.
My mother had discarded her mourningt
and in her white garments covered with
gold embroideries and jewels, she looked
like a Byzantine Saint's picture even to
the Immobility. It surely was a dream
that I hid my wretchedness on that breast,
that those arms embraced the miserable
'n, that (hose eyes wept over him.
Countess Thyra is wonderfully beautiful.
El rangers ask who she U. But that is not
of interest to me. I am Interested in her
for another reason, and I notice it more
and more; whenever I am near her, some
thing of her proud, calm strength teems
to enter into me.
That Is very strange.
I do not speak with her. Since that last
conversation I am unable to indulge in
trivial Court gossip with her. We both
save greater matters to think of.
Chapter V.
In My Sea-Alp.
I could bear It no longer In the capital.
Among my own people I felt as If I were
In a vast crowd that was pressing me to
death. They had already crushed my heart
wkra they told the big, horrible lie about
me and called me ray father's true son.
Even those who once believed In me and
loved me hud grown still whenever I
passed. So I went away. Nobody held me
back. Nobody pursued me.
It is my fortune that I may hide, here,
bury myself life a mortally wounded ani
mal. For they have wounded me mortally
wKh their big, terrible lie.
Mother, even you!
Solitude, dear, loving, motherly solitude,
I renounce the King's son and name my
self your child.
Just a year ago I arrived here first. Is It
possible? Does not a whole lifetime lie
between those spring days and these?
Then I learned to feel that I was young,
and now I feel that my youth has gone.
Then I swore among these rocks to be
and remain a good man; now there seems
to me to be nothing jnore pitiful, because
weak, than human goodness. "Good" men
should be clubbed to death as once they
kiHed the weakling Infants In Sparta.
Although I have become evil and malig
nant I still was touched yesterday when
X arrived. The Lerd Marshal, of course.
had announced my arrival with the careful
notice that His Royal Highness was trav
eling In strict incognito and that all re
ceptions, of whatever kind, were forbidden.
But they received me for all that. There
were no honorable officials, no triumphal
arches, no servile addresses and no white
robed maids of honor. Instead there were
fishermen, wood choppers and mountain
folk, all In their Sunday best. They
thronged around my carriage, were glad,
and cheered. How they cheered.
They cheered and were glad. At least
they acted as if they were glad. And I,
thnt saw through the deceit, allowed my
self to be deceived, and was so touched
that I would liked to weep for joy because
fishermen, wood cutters and peasants made
telieve to love me.
It Is a weakness that I must tear out
of my soul. Away with the beautiful
flowers! I need the thorns that tear
wounds, the thorns from which Life winds
the wreath for the victor.
My boat was garlanded with fresh green
birch leaves, so that it looked like the craft
for a bride. When the same trees flamed
In autumn colors I had them In dress with
their scarlet the room in which a dead
ruler lay, who had called me his dear son.
With such a father's blessing on me I
steered to the place of his death that was
to be my home.
When we arrived, my Sea-Alp lay flooded
in crimson sunset glows meadow, rocks
and peaks. And even from the distance I
saw two shapes that leaped toward the
shore with mighty strides and danced like
madmen. They threw their hats in the air
and sent forth yells taht sounded more like
howls than cheers. They wpre my two
Alpine guides. Tony and Stigei, who thus
expressed their Joy a joy In which I will
believe.
In the middle of the night I arose and
went to the shore. A long, long time I
walked up and down, searching for a way
out of the labyrinth of my thoughts, and
finding none. At lust I Bank to my knees
and pruyed.
I prayed not for happiness, but for
heavenly protection against the dark forces
in my soul, the forces for which I can
find no name.
It must have gone far with a man when
he cannot pray any more: "Dear, dear
Father in heaven, make me happy, for,
see I am Thy child."
But there are many orphans on this
earth who have not this Father or any
other.
Is the Count tru!y my friend? If it Is
true that Princes can have no friends why
should I expect to be an exception? May I
accept as proof of his friendship the fact
that he bears with my distraction? Is It
a proof that he has followed me Into these
mountains that must be a prison for a
brilliant man like him? Might he not have
been sent with me as keeper with promises
of rich reward if he guards me well? He
will gain a line career through me. There
fore he has followed me hither.
I watch and spy on him. Every word of
his I weigh. I tremble at the thought of
making a discovery, and still search and
pry always. And if I discover him then I
will believe In nothing henceforth, nothing
that bears a human countenance.
Today I spoke to him:
"I wih to converse with you about my
father."
"Do you InslBt?"
"Yes. My father was ailing even while
ho was Crown Prince, was he not?"
"So I have heard."
"In his immediate surrounding everyone
krew it then. And they knew that his
malady would develop rapidly. Or have I
been wrongly informed?"
"I believe not."
"And my father became King despite It?"
"True."
"The malady, then, was kept secret?"
"For reasons of state. The King had
wedded while he still was Crown Prince."
"A mortal sin."
"Two Princes were born."
."A mortal sin! Twice and thrice a mortal
sin!"
"Without heirs the land would have
fallen te another nation. That had to be
prevented!"
"Prevented through a series of crimes
perpetrated for reasons of State. As you
see, I know what is the matter with us."
He did not reply. What could he have
replied, since it was all hopelessly true?
After a while he said:
"What could have been doner'
"Let our dynasty die out with my ailing
father. Give the country another ruling
race a strong, healthy race that could
have made the nation great and happy
again. If my father had possessed a
friend only one friend he should have
been forced to abdicate despite all reasons
of State."
The Ceunt looked at me. J shall never
forget that look.
Today I asked him why he looked at me
so. Haunted by that glance I had to ask.
He answered:
"I had to wonder if your Royal Highness
would have permitted hlmsolf to be forced
had he been in his father's placer'
"You mean If I had possessed a fri.-nd
who would have done such a tremendous
work of love for me as to advise me."
"Assuming that your Royal Highness
had possessed such a friend."
"I cannot imagine the case."
"And I cannot Imagine that your Royal
Highness would have permitted such a
'tremendous work of love' to be done for
him."
"You do not believe It?"
"No."
I looked at him. Then he said:
"I might take your 'no' for a proof of
your friendship, for only a friend I alilo
to give such an answer to such
a question. 1 regret, however, not to be In
position to try your friendship further.
You will never be placed In the predica
ment of inducing me to abdicate, since my
entirely sane brother would not permit
them to force him to abdicate."
If I had the power I would abolish all
courts of Justice, abrogate all sentcn o,
open all prisons and leave the guilty to the
Judgment of their own consciences uloue.
At least, there would be no legal murders
then, the mere thought of which, tills mo
with horror.
Ijoisl makes me think of it. I had not
dared to mention his name, even to myself.
But yesterday Tony told me that he had
married tils sweetheart. To hide my ex
citement I asked how he had managed to
marry, being without work and in disgrace
with the forester, owing to Ills desertion
and Insubordination.
"Why." said Tony, "don't you know?
Miss Frits brought the two together."
Miss Frits, the good, strong, splendid
Miss Frits. What a world was recalled to
me with the name, a splendid, shining,
good world! In It even I was a better man;
certainly a happier one.
That is all pant now.
Whut had I done to forget this world!
What power had I not used to make my
self forget! Instead of hurrying to the
Alpine farm on the first day of my arrival
1 had bound myself as with fetters In order
to stay away from the pluco that I could
not revisit with a pure heart.
Never, never again!
"Miss Fritz," continued Tony, "appointed
Lolsl her forest overseer and has sent the
couple to the tipper meadow where his
. mother Is, the poor woman."
And then Tony realized of whom and to
whom he spoke, ami was so horrified by
Ms thoughtfulness that I did him the favor
to go away.
Instead of being sentenced by his evil
ccr.Bcience, a bridegroom! Instead of being
curBed and driven by the furies for his
crimes he rests In the arms of a beautiful
woman! I would that I could hate the
man und I must admire htm. I must ad
mire the power with which he wipes th'i
horror out of his life, merely wipes it out.
I said it before: This is a Royal man,
this assassin and parricide. So must a man
be whose head bears the crown; with such
strength he must stride over everything
that stunds between life and him.
Had I but an atom of the strength of
this man who Is my brother, I would" tear
the grinning madness out of my brain as
one does a fly from his forehead. Pos
sessed of such power I would bo ruler des
pite everything a ruler who would make
a nation great and strong.
The niece of Miss Frits Is 111. She has
been ill more than half a year! Little
Judlca is Hi! Tony told me that, too. "She
won t get better." He said It quite calmly.
I have been there. I have seen Judlca
again, the little Judlca, and This
"and" shall be completed later. It Is a
great word that will mould fate. For I
have not the Titanic strength to murder
with a cold smile.
The meadows were yellow, red and blue
with flowers. Butterflies fluttered around
us. Birds' bod em accompanied our way.
Onoe we crossed a plain that was like
fairyland; great, blue gentians stood there
In such profusion that their green leaves
cou!d not be seen. Blue eyes like gentians
were those of the child that was so ill that
she "won't get better."
She was ill because I kissed her on the
mouth and because the water was too
deep. So she bad to die.
I had promised to see Judlca one last,
last time. Now I would see her. And when
I turned away It would be a farewell as if
she lay on her deathbed.
And the nearer we approached the more
I hastened. I thought that she would havs
to know that I was on my way to her, quite
near to her.
No doubt she would meet me!
But If aha was Ul?
Even If she were dying she would arts
and wander to war me, toward her be
loved, toward Ufa. What mattered then
what might follow?
tut she did not appear and I became al
most angry.
I begged Oebhardt to remain behind with
Tony while I went forward alone. I was
as one who returns home after a long ab
sence In the wide, wild world, where be bad
bat an evil time of 1L If the watchdog bad
not met me with Joyous barks, but bad
treated me as a stranger. It would have
hurt me deeply.
There lay 'the vine-covered arbor; yonder
was the way int the garden where the
raspberries grew; beyond it I could see A
bit of the meadow where stood the tree
that wns struck by the lightning.
Surely 1 muil have dreamed that 1 had
become, u different person since thuu. Surety
I needed only to awaken In order to pick
I'aKplierrlcs again with Hiiothcr and to catch
gaudily spotted trout with much trouble.
When I stepped into the house I per
ceived the reason for the loneliness and
Unlet iilxuit the farm; low prayer greeted
me as if 1 were in chuich. It was noon and
the household was preparing to sit down to
table. At this moment the child would be
standing under the picture of Christ. With
the little hands folded, the little hell
bowed, she would he faying the praytl
I stood still, listened and folded my hands.
My mouth remained dumb, but as I thought
of Judlca my thoughts became prayer.
Since I did not wish to see her In the
presence of the servants I went away ug.iln,
softly, almost creeping, as If she must hear
und recognize my step. 1 intended to re
turn to my companion and tell them that
we would wait until the meal was ended.
Hut suddenly I was drawn mightily to the
scene of past happiness, into the garden.
Tlie p!me lay ns in noonday enchant
ment. Kveti the birds' songs had boen
hushed. Only the humming of the Insects
could be heard, soft, mysterious, like a
mstic music.
In the beds there blossomed white und
yellow narcissus, tulips and hyacinths in aTl
colors, mixing their odors with that of the
dour old-fashioned elders. Never before
had 1 seen such spring gh rle.
Over u blooming hawthorn hedge loomed
a wild apple tree full or blossom to Its
very crown, the buds aim st purple, w.th
swarms of bees around I. that made the
old tree seem to s'ng and tumid.
With a strange feeling 1 stepped nearer.
Suddenly my heart began ta throb, my
breath stopped and I stool behind her.
She silt turned away and permed to be
gazing into the glory and the sunshine. I
wanted to call softly: "Judlca, dear little
Judlcu!" but fear choked my voice. She
might die with fright. For her body had
become quite unearthly in its slcndci ness
and delicacy. With such a budy she c innot
live long, 1 hud to think, and remained
dumb, trembling to my very soul.
Motionless she sat under the tree. Her
bunds lay wtarily in her lap.
Site still wore mourning. The hands that
rested on the black stuff were white us the
hands of the dead. She wore no hat. A
sunbeam shimmered on her head. It Wil
like an aureole.
Suddenly he f-ei med to fi the presence
of her beloved. 1 saw her s:urt, press tier
band to her heurt and turn.
And 1 was by her side, on my kneea be
fore her, held her trembling form pressed
tightly to m ', smothering her low cries
with kisses.
So we remuined a long while, with iut
words. We could not even whisper men
other's numes.
(To Ho Conl i nil xl.)
A round the Earth
P. M. Spencer, president 'f the i'leteliiid
National bunk, wh:, ubove all thing, takes
delight in travel, has under contemplation
un attempt to go uronid the world in forty
duys. The proacnt record for a complete
Journey uround the world is fifty-four days
und seven hours, but Mr. Spencer bellevo
tliut the long journey can be accomplished
in a little over a month.
The pluns of Mr. Silencer have not been
arranged as to detail, and before the date
of departure is decided upon every effort
will be made to get the route so laid out
that only the unexpected will prevent, de
lays. The proposed globo glrdler is now In
communication with persons in different
parts of the world und the course of Uie
Journey is being gradually put Into shape.
As has been the case w,th all persons who
have tried to circle the world In record
time, Mr. Spencer anticipates that the mo it
difficult part of the whirl will be through
parts of Russia. If he makes good connec
tions in Russia he doc not soe anything
in the way of an accomplishment of the
trip in forty days.
The particular point where it will be
necessary to have previous arrangements
for quick connections will be at Vladivos
tok, Russia, at the eastern terminus of the
Trans-Siberian railway. It is at this point
that steamer connections are made fur
Yokohama, Japan. With good luck in Uie
matter of connections it Is roughly figured
that the trip can be made from Cleveland
to Moscow, Russia, in eight days; Moscow
te Vladivostok, twelve days; Vladivostok to
Nicho, two days; Nlcho to Yokohama, a
half day; Yokohama to San Franciaoo,
twelve days, and San Francisco to Cleve
land, four and one-half days. If this
schedule can be adhered to the trip will be
made In a little over thirty -nine days and
all records badly broken. Chicago luter
Ocean.
Woman's Work
"Poor woman! After her bard day's work
she ban te stay up bait the night with hx-r
babies."
"What's the matter with her husband?
Why doesn't be help berr
"Oh, he puts In all his time agitating;
for an eight-hour day for the working
man." Philadelphia Press.
