Till: IiM.USTHATKl) HER
1 think that It will be as you wish. Toil
re truly kind."
"I am glad that you feel bo."
And with raised voice be said:
"1 have begged my brother to dwell In
Solitude at times with hix young wife, and
am thankful to him for fulfilling my wish.
There was silence at the whole table.
My sister-in-law tried to eay something
friendly, but ceased after the first word.
The Countess continued to look at me with
the same curious expression In her fine
e.ves. And my mother spoke at once of
something else.
It must have ls?en a dream that this wom
an could have leen a fond mother to me
even once in her life, for she can be only
Her Majesty.
I went to the play after dinner, and sat
In the little "incognito box." To. make
privacy doubly sure, I had the eurtain
drawn between it and the crowded theatre.
The young actress whom 1 had come to
watch was no actress at all in the play. She
had to weep, and I saw her cheeks stream
ing real tears. She had to despair, and I
saw her face drawn with anguish. And
when the audience called her before the
curtain, she seemed like a sleep-walker.
Kvldently she loves the King as deeply as
ever.
After the theatre I experienced something
that I cannot understand. God save me
from brooding over It In my old manner. I
must not do It now.
When I left the theatre through the
side exit that leads from the hidden little
box, 1 saw a great, silent crowd waiting;
outside. I stood still and asked the lackey:
"Are these people waiting to nee the
King?"
"Their Majesties have already gone.'
"What are they waiting for, then?"
"To see your Royal Highness."
I entered my carriage hastily without
bowing. They crowded around the carriage
so that the coachman could hardly drive.
What does it mean?
Hut I will not brood.
Tomorrow I shall travel to Judica.
CHAPTER XX.
Villa Bertola Winter.
I have not written a word in a full half
year. Why should I have written, since I
have been happy, happy in a simple human
way? It is almost two months now since
I have been wedded to my lovely child.
We dwell in a white villa on the blue
Mediterranean, and are happy, blessed.
Gebhardt, who accompanies me as my
cavalier, picked out this spot for us.
Below us lie the Hesperldes. Orange
groves, palms and bananas. Rosy gerani
ums, fiery salvias, violet heliotrope, pale
blue Jasmines form hedges and cover the
walls. Wherever there Is a foot of room
there grow roues, pinks, violets; heaven
and sky are azure, and the golden sun of
lYovenoe shines for us.
Our vilht is the only house on this happy
shore. It lies above the road that leads to
Nizxa.
When my little Judica marvels at earth
and sky here, 1 try more and more to es
cape from my old self. I strive to throw
off integument after Integument Hnd to
be Drilling except happy, thoughtlessly,
If possible stupidly, happy.
Since we have a gray day tnduyeven
here there arc gray days and Judica lias
gone out with Gephardt instead of me,
because 1 do not care for a walk on ac
count of the rain. I must write a few
pages of unnecessary words. As If I could
not tell my wife myself tell her what?
As If my wife was not a sweet child that
shall luugh and pick flowers, and lead a
flower-life herself In the sunshine.
1 wrote nothing of our wedding. It was
different from the way we had planned it.
it was not on the Alpine farm. 1 had for
gotten, when we decided It so, that 1 was
a Royal Prince after all. The King desired
another and "filling"' ceremony, and I rad
to obey. His desire was not a command
but a request, so 1 had to obey all the more.
Therefore, I went to the palace In O
In the most strict Incognito. In equally
strict incognito came His Excellency, the
Minister of 8tate with another high Court
official. In strict incognito arrived Judica
and her aunt on the wedding day.
It was raining in streams, and In the park
the leaves were beginning to turn. His Ex
cellency performed the civil wedding most
solemnly in the White Room. My Count and
the high official made most soli mil wit
nesses, the Count being almost tragic.
Miss Frits, dreasad in stint gray silk and
looking "like a Countess," needed all litr
determination not to look funereal; my
child, in simple white silk, in a hit deco
rated with pale red crocus, smiled at me.
After we had signed, we received the con
gratulations of His Excellency, the high
Court offliclal, the Count (with his tragic
mien) and Miss Kriti;. His Excellency ad
dressed ray little Judica most ceremon
iously as "Most Gracious Countess" and
the "Most Gracious Countess" looked
frightened to death, then lookrd at me and
smiled.
Then the high Court official handed my
wife, with crushing formality, the presents
of their Majesties a magnificent set of
Jewels from the King, a grand string of
pearls from the Queen and from my mother
a little go'den cross.
During all this time it rained us in a
deluge. It became so dark that candles
had to be lit.
My wife was led away, a serving woman
kissed her hand and took off tier pretty
flower-trimmed hat, and Miss Frits crowned
the beautiful head with m.vrtle wreath aud
veil.
It lasted a long while. Surely, the hands
that dressed my child trembled too much
to do their work.
"A sacrlth-e! A sacrifice!" It sounded
within roe while I waited and conversed
with His Excellency the Minister of State
atout-the weather.
At last Judica appeared, smiling no more,
but veiled by the pale bridal eil in plilm
mcrlng mystery. We stepixil slowly into
the chupel of the castle that looked like
a white grotto of flowers. We knell before
the altar and our united hands rece!ved
the blessing.
I cannot remember the words of the
priest. 1 kneeled Is-aide Judica. and while
1 kneeled I remembered that when 1 signed
the marriage patters I had thought of an
other signature.
The priest said solemn words. Judica on
my side wept softly. The rain beat against
the panes. The autumn storm came In so
that the candles flickered and a chill
shook me.
After a silent mass there followed a pom
pous wedding dinner, at which the two
officials spoke much. They even made
speeches. His Excellency the Minister of
State spoke of the bridal pair, and the
high Court official toasted Miss Frits.
The first toast was proposed by my little
ness. It was the health of His Majesty the
King of reumark, I hnd almost said.
After this pleasant dinner the two olli
clals departed. Miss Fiitit, too. said fare
well, and Gebhardt accompanied her to her
Alpine farm. We I wo remained behind.
The rain streamed, the storm roared, the
first dead leaves began to fall. We stood
at the window, listened to ruin and wind
looked at the withered leaves fulling, fall
ing. Hut now the sun of the south shines for
us. A blossoming without end as a beauty
without end woos us. There must be a
happiness without end, too, as there surely
Is love without end.
It must be beautiful now on the Sea
Alp In the winter. We will spend a good
part of the year there, as soon as the new
house Is finished. The old one was torn
down in the autumn and 1 myself made the
plans of the "new King's House," that
will, however, be more like a "Prince's
Hut." My phantasy once piled up a Grail
11
Burg there, but that will remain castl
in the air.
While Hie Sen-Alp Is hidden in snow,
the interior of Solitude is being changed
for us. 1 nm not glad. I have a horror
of it. like my child, though she does not
confess It, for fear that It might make me
sad.
As the Christmas time approached, my
child became homesick. And she told us
most charmingly of the Christmas on the
fiirm.
"laist year I baked the Christmas cake,
but look fur ton much of raisins tigs and
other sweets and was scolded. Why did
I take tun much of everything? Itcoiiusn
1 was in love and wished to send the most
magnificent enke to my Prince, decked
wondrously with gold and satin ribbons.
"This year my aunt must bake tho
Christmas cake herself. She IU not lit
one or the glria do It. for she might l
in love, too. Hint use too many raisins, tigs
and olln " sweets.
"The whole hutis Is cleaned, the win
dows flash, the floors are strewn with
white sand, ami the big room Is strewn
with Juniper. How it smells:
"I wonder, is it a line Christinas eve
at home? The moon does not shine, but
the snow gleams. The stars flicker anil
sparkle At ill o'clock they start for the
church, for It Is two good hours' marrh
Ing. when the roads are well broken. My
aunt Is dressed In her best, and nil tho
time site thinks of one who has gone away
and h married her deuresl one.
Now they go. The maids must cairjr
the lanterns, for the men wish to sh ot
off their guns.
"They gather before the cuich. All wait
for the holy midnight As soon as It conies,
the men fire off their guns. Then every
thing Is still, a lady silence. And the hells
lien I n to toll III the holy hush The church
Is illuminated like a place of festival. In
It stands n manger, and all throns;
around it lo hear the message:
"Peace on earth."
On Christmas day we drove to Si .lean,,
climbed upward through the olive grove
and to the lighthouse and looked for wild
narcissus. The child plucked a gnat
bunch, was pleased, hut remained thought
fill.
In the evening Judica was showered with
gifts: u whole shonful of fashions. 1 hud
selected every piece myself in Nizxa with
out letting Gebhardt help me. It was a,
bit of my love that I wished lo give lo
her. Hut she was so frightened at the
splendor of silks and laces that she did
not feel real pleasure.
t'l'o He Continued.)
Indian Conference
(Continued From Page Five.)
the session last October the presiding; offi
cer was Hon. Samuel J. Barrows, the well
known penologist, formerly a member of
congress from Massachusetts and now sec
retary of the New York Prison association.
Among others present at the first session
in 1KX3 were such well known educators
and friends of the red men as the late
General Armstrong of the famous Hamp
ton school. Colonel R. H. Pratt of the In
dian school at Carlisle, Alios Fletcher,
General Wbittelsey of the Board of Indian
Commissioners. Rev. Dr. Lyman Abbott
and Theodore I Cuyler, and these have
continued to give their presence and in
fluence to the yearly meetings ever since
In connection with many other equally well
known for their interest In the higher wel
fare in tho Indians. Senator Evarta was
a constant and deeply Interested attendant
for years and the late 8enator Dawes of
Massachusetts gave the conference at
many sessions the benefit of his ripe ex
perience, wide knowledge and keen sym
pathy in the cause of Indian betterment.
Other eminent figures In these annual
gatherings it different times have been
the late Bishop Whipple of Minnesota,
fitly characterised as the greatest apostle
to the Indians since John Eliot, General
O. O. Howard, Theodore Roosevelt, 8eth
Ixiw, Chief Justice Strong, General
Thomas J. Morgan, Edward E. Hale, Dr.
Austin Abliott, the late William E. Dodge,
Slteldon Jackson, Egerton If. Young,
Philip C. Gurett, Bishop F. D. Huntington.
From a membership of about sixty the
conference has grown in alse until the
average attendance is upward of lot) men
and women, representative of the best
thought and noblest fields of service in
which the thinkers, educators and publi
cists of our day are engaged.
From the beginning these Indian confer
ences hare taken an advanced, but Jjdi
eisus and thoroughly rational position iq
regard to the treatment of the red men.
One of the first "platforms" adopted by the
conference declared In favor of the er.large
mrnt of the system of 'lite Indian educa
tion, including a plan of industrial teach
ing for the principle of self-support, the
abolishment of the free ration system and
other pauperising methods, for the division
of land in severalty and the introduction of
all Indians into the full lights of American
ritisrnship. In the promotion of such re
forms as these, with others that have sug
gested themselves from year to year, the
conference has devoted itself up U the
present time and lias had the satisfaction
of seeing many of them adopted. The fre
quent changes In the Indian service, involv
ing both removals and appointments for
purely political reasons, has led the con
ference to suggest to the president the
propriety of framing and promulgating
rules prescribing such methods in nomina
ting agents as will put an end to this abuse.
It is also resolutely opposed to the indiscrim
inate leasing of Indian lands and abuse of
whk-h the country is just now hearing
much. It being the view of the conference
that this method of leasing strengthens the
white man's hold on the Indians' land, and
encourage lasy landlordism on the part of
the Indian. It has favored the distribution
of the tribal funds held in trust for Indians
by the government of the I'nlted States,
and the allowing of them to the credit of
individual Indians, who are entitled to
share in them as rapidly as lists of such
Individuals In each tribe can tie prepared
and recorded. Children, after the prepara
tion of such lists. It is held, should share
In such funds only by Inheritance, and not
as members of a tribe. The money which
belongs to the Indian should be paid to the
Indians as rapidly as they are pronounced
fit to receive it, that by receiving and using,
each bis owa money, Indian citizens may
be educated to the use of money. The con
ference has repeatedly put itself on rcord as
believing In schools both in the Indian
neighborhoods and at a distance from them.
The eventual result to be reached is the
abolition of all distinctively Indian schools,
and the incorporation of Indian pupils in
th common schools of the country., The im
portance of the native Indian industries is
another matter upon which much emphasis
has been laid, and it has urged that the gov
ernment, and all teachers and guides of
the Indian, should co-operate in the en
deavor to revive them. To the Indian they
are valuable. It Is said, as the means of
profitable occupation and natural expres
sion; to the country, as specimens of a rare
and indigenous art, many of them artis
tically excellent; some of them absolutely
unique; all of them adapted to furnish con
genial and remunerative employment at
home, and to foster, in the Indian self-respect,
and In the white race respect for
the Indians.
The evil condition of Indian reservations
In the state of New York has Iwcn a mat
ter of frequent consideration. The confer
ence held In Oeloljer, 19i. emphasised the
recommendation made in December, 1900. by
a committee .if five, appointed by the then
governor, Theodore Itoosi veil, that these
reservations le alluded in severalty; und it
urges the favorable consideration by con
gress of what is known as the Vreelund
bill, providing for such u disposition of the
Indians of the utate.
It should be said that in all Its work the
conference has generally had the sympathy
and co-operation of the Indian bureau ut
Washington which has been represented at
almost every session by the commissioner
himself. The late General Thomas J. Mor
gan was always present during his term
of office and added much to the Interest of
the meetings by his helpful addresses. The
conference hus also found an earnest and
efficient coadjutor in the present com
missioner, the Hon. Wm. A. Jones, why Is
a regular attendant and thoroughly In ac
cord with the spirit of the assemblies.
Since t:io acquisition of Hawaii, Torto
Rico and the Philippines, the conference
has widened its purvey to include the hitua
tion and conditions of the native people of
these outline territories, a fact which has
added a fresh "and novel Interest to the dis
cussion and gives these annual assemblies
a still larger and more v ital hold upon pub
lic thought and attention. For two suc
cessive sessions now the conditions In Porto
Rico have been presented in a thoughtful
'and comprehensive way by Dr. ilenry K.
Carroll who served as a special cunim's
sloner in Porto Rico by appointment of
President McKlnley; the needs of Hawaii
have been set forth Ivy such competent ob-Hci'vei-s
as Alex S.Twombly and Douglas P.
iilrnie, both of whom have studied the situ
ation on the ground, while affairs In the
Philippines have been brought . under re
'vlew in addresses by such men us Hon.
Darwin R. James, Gen. John Eaton and
others having special knowledge of the sub
ject. As to the general principles which
shmild govern the administration of these
new possessions the conference has de
clared itself opposed to the grants of any
permanent franchise in these lands which
have come, or shall come into the posses
sion of the United Slates holding tint they
should be held in trust for the peopla of the
territory, and as far hs practicable should
be disposed of to actual se'tlcrs in ths
spirit of the homestead law.-, in till ter
ritories of the United Stales, is Its declara
tion, the federal government blioulil sea
that public schools are provided under fed
eral control, and, when necessary, at fed
eral expenso for the education of all child
ren of school age, until permanent govern
ments are iMganlzed able to provide and
maintain uch hcIkioIs. In brief, the object
of action, whether governmental, philan
thropic or religious, should he, in the, view
of he conference, to secure to the-;e le
jm ndent peoples Just government, lightens
laws, iiMliistiial opportunities, adequate
ducat io a and a pur and free religion.
Among those who have already slpirll d
to be present at the coming conference,
October 21-:, are Hon. William A. I ones.
Commissioner of Indian affairs; Coimr.-ss-inan
James Sheldon, chairman of the bonsai
committee on Indian affairs, and John J.
Fitzgerald; cx-Chlef Justice Charles An
drews of the New York supieme court;
President A. S. Draper of Hie University of
Illinois; Austin Scott of Ringer's coil, re,
William F. Slocura of Colorado college,
Edward D. Eaton of l'-elolt college, ai.d
C. K. Meserve of Fhaw university, Hon.
C. R. Glenn, Commissioner of Education in
Georgia; Rev. Dis. Win. V. Kclley, A. JS.
Danning, Thus. O. Conunt, and J. D.
Drury; of New York; Rev. Drs. Francis E.
Clarke, Addison P. Foster, and W. T. Mo
Elveen of Boston; Major General James li,
Wilson of Wilmington, Del.; General E. W.
Whltleley of tho Indian bureau, Miss.;
Anna Dawes, daughter of the late Senator
Duwcb Superintendent II. 8. Pealrs of Has
kell Institute, Lawrence. Kan., and many
others both in acid out of the Indian ter
vice. It is expected that the recent charges
affecting certain officials connected with
the Indian office will come up for review
since most of those churges go to confirm
the evils of Indian administration against
which this conference has stoutly pro
tested for years and which this confervnos
hus stoutly protested for years and which
it has tiseid all its Influence to remove.
It Is a popular question that there is
really no "Indian question" today, no fur
ther problems of such consequence In this
connection to be Mdved, and doubtless there
are not a few who think these Indian con
ferences have no sufficient raison d'etre.
It any such should attend one of these
annual assemblies, or give the prooetftdingg
a careful reading, they would And how
great is their mistake.
1.. A. MAYNAKD.
Stationery Points
The newest color in note paper Is topa
Ka lined edge itivi lopes are tiecidnl novel
lies. White linen lawn Is the Mationriy leader
at present.
A parchment jmper with mottled rurfoco
in blue-gray tints Is a novelty.
Genuine tapestry in Bagdad design covers
one of the handsomest of the stationery
cabinets introduced this season.
Hotted Swiss paper is another m w pro
diiction. It lias a surface resembling chif
fon sprinkle! with large and small dots
and may Im had In white, blue, Frontal
gray and a greenish hue.