The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-08-11


to leave Sweden on your account, and
he has been drawn into the meshes OF
this conspiracy gradually, and because
his evaporation against you has been
skillfully famed by your mortal enc
mics in Vienna. VIII you pledge me
your word not to hurt my father, King
of Sweden ?"
q will; but tell me what danger
threatens me ?"
" Well, then, when it became known
in Vienna that you were coming with
Swedish army to Stra1suhd, the court
clique on the banks of the Danube re-
solved to bring about your death"
In what way ?"
'Oh,h he said lightly, " I am always
on my guard against thai"
You arc going to banquet which
the burgoYnaster and the municipality
ofStralsund will give you tomorrow ?"
- Veg, Rosanna."
Your favorite dish, partridge pie,
will be offered to you and the other
prominent Swedes there"
Very likely" remarked the king,
almost laughing.
"That partridge pie will contain a
deadly poison. Ali who partake of it
will die in less than twenty four hours. "
" Who will put the poison there 2"
A Spaniard, Don Esteban de Ceyal-
los"
. What! the diplomatist who pretends
to be here on a secret mission to me from
the courts of Bavaria and the Pala-
innate ?"
&" The same. He is an impostor. He
is here to poison you. He has estab-
lished communication with the burgO-
masters cook, and | heard him say to
my father this afternoon that the poison
was already in the huge partridge pie
destined for the royal table"
Humph; that is n serious affair.
But what has your father to do with It,
Rosanna ?"
"The Spaniard understands neither
Swedish or German. My father Is to
throw himself on his knees before you
and solicit permission to return to Swe-
den. He believes you will grant it, and
then the Spaniard is to be introduced
to YOU by him, so that the poisOner may
have access to you, and administer more
poison to you and your generals in case
the original dose should not produce the
expected effect
The king reflected for several min
utes. Then he kissed Rosanna's hand.
What reward do you expect for this
important service 20
" None"
Don't you want to return to Swe-
den ?"
% Yes, with my father"
Very well, | will issue orders to one
of our ships to take him and you there.
When do you want 10 start for Stock
holm "
q Oh, I want to leave with my father
tomorrow morning, if possible"
:" Yes, but will he so ?"
q / will prevail on him to 60"
Leave your address with the burgo-
master. The necessary papers will be
sent YOU tomorrow morning"
They parted after a mute but fervent
pressure Of the hands.
Next day there was an air of festivity
about the city of ctralsund. Two whole
oxen where roasted on the market-place
for the poor people, and the troops were
treated to extra Injuries on account of
the kings arrival. At ten o'clock the
king held gala reception at the city
hall. where the royal banquet was to
come of. Among the distinguished
persons that were presented to his
MAJESTY DN NllC NyAlsliANNAOA CANAIoNlNAAA
was Don Esteban de Ceyallos.
Gustavus Adolphus received him in
the most gracious manner, indeed with
such extraordinary cordiality that the
| Spaniard was perfectly delighted. The
king seemed deeply interested in what
! Don Esteban had to tell him, and when
/ the time for the beginning of the ban
/ ouet arrived, he invited the Spaniard to
] \ L, Oh 4ha folala
| Esteban did so with true Castillian po-
/ likeness.
/ The feast opened with bumper drank
/ in honor of his majesty.
The king was then asked, in accord
once with the etiquette of the times,
what dish he would command first.
The various courses were enumerated
to him.
Z" An !" he suddenly exclaimed, "you
have partridge pie. That is my favorite
dish. Give me large platetul OF II,
and give one also to my friend Don Els
teban de Cevallos yonder. Don Es-
teban. partridge pie is no Castllllan
disb but | warrant You you will like it.
There taste it, and then tell me if it is
NOT GOOD. | and the other gentleman
will wait until you have tasted the pie. .
The Spaniard had turned very pale.
Thick drops of perspiration gathered on
his forehead, and he began to tremble
violently. The other guests looked in
surprise at the king and Don Esteban. :"
"What I" asked the king, in tone
of surprise, "you refuse the dish which
n king offers you? Svenson," he said
turning to one of the officers behind
him, take this man from Spain into
the courtyard and hang him by the
neck until he is dead"
A bombshell falling into their midst
could not have produced more intense
excitement than these words.
The Spaniard frantically begged fol
mercy; but the king was inexorable
and the prisoner was taken out to meet
his doom.
Then Gustavus Adolphus caused some
of the pie to be given to a dog.
The latter Immediately showed symp-
toms of poisoning, and died in less than
fifteen minutes.
The king now told them what the
Spaniard had done, but without men,
tioning the names of Rosanna and her
father.
The burgomaster was so enraged at
the occurrence that he had his cook, a
rather stupid fellow, arrested but there
was no proof against him, and he had to
be released.