Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-01-02
BESSIE AND THE KING.


Confidence Between Litsso
American Girl and the Sovsrsigr
OF Belgium.
II is such charming little story
that one almost enyies the Philadelphia
Enquirer tho privilege of having been
the first to learn and tell it. !
Six years ago Frank $. Moore OF that
town was sailor on board the Rhine-
land steamship, plying between Phila~
aolphia aud Antwerp. A letter i'om
homie informed him that his fnyorito
sister was dying and wanted TO soc
him, He took IL TO his captain and
asked leavo Of absence. The captain
said ..No.n Then Moore. watching
his ctanca, deserted. He reached
home in time, :
After his sisters death he changed
his name and shipped on the Waos-
land, a steamship OF tho same line. All
vent well until he aud shipmato OF
his fell Ia luvi simultaneously With u
pretty girl, an orphan, living Mt Ant
werp. Then his rival. who had known
all along who he was, denounced htm
TO their captain, who put him In irons,
and at tho Hrst opportunity turned HIM
over 10 Antwerp authorities, lie was
taken Into court whore lie didn't I'M
dcrstand II word that was said, even
whom the bailitf made him stand up and
the Judge addressed u few words 20
him from tho boncIl Aftorward he
was told that he had Lsou sentenced TO
An Imprisonment Of seven months In
the city ln.U. /
The pretty Antwerp girl learned In
some way of his misfortune, got per-
init TO visit him, and by paying weel,-
ly out OF her own pocket the cquivai-
ent OF 8 OF oar money succeeded In
getting him transferred 10 u loss COM
fortress cell, supplied with more palat-
able food, and allowed to exercise an
hour day In the open air, She also
smuggled little notes 10 him In rolls OF
bread, aud one day mustered up
courage Ia obtain an audience with
the king and intorcodo for his release.
But his majesty told her he couldn't
interfere.
Meanwhile one OF Moore's shipmates
had looked up his people and told
them what had happened. The very
next day tho following letter was
written and mailed 10 Leopold H.,
king OF tho Bclgians:
YouR MAJESTY, I nun little girl 10 years
old and hope you VIII pardon mo Tor
writing TO you when you hrsr all,
"My uncle, Frank s, Moore, In now IN
the Belgium prison for dosertion from thc
ithineland over six years ago. Ho was
sailing on tho Rninoand and my
aunt was very click. Her only prayer was
to 500 Frank before she died. We sent
word TO him that she was dying, He show.
Oh the letter 10 tho captain OF tho Rhine
nnd, but he refused 10 let him leave tho
steamer Tho sailors edvisod Uncle Frank
to run away and no did.
AUNT Debbia lived about II week after.
ward Aftor she died Uncle Frank found
that his weasel had sailed NO he sailed on
| the Waesland under the manic Of Frank >.
| Walker. That has been over ak years ago
aud be was just arrested In Antwerp'ns you
can seo by tho newspaper slip that ] send
in my letter
"Your majesty, II YOU had boon In his
| place would you not have done the samoi
| Hoping you will pardon Uncle Frank for
des rting and me for writing TO you' am
| yours respectfully, BESSIE kEIM''
Bessie waited as patiently aud hope
fully MS she could, and she didn't have
| TO walt worry long. One happy day u
letter came from her uncle himself, IN
| nouncing his releasc, and right on It's
heels another big letter with big
| stamp or IT, such ms Bessie had never
Soon before. The second letter was IN
French so She had 10 got somebody ~
translate II for her. and this Is what
the translator made OF II:
"Ar THE PALACE BRUSSELS CABINET or
THE KrSa- MADAME: have the honor OF In
forming you that tho king has read your
letter and taken action upon your request
therein contained, by which you solicit that
ne remit your uncle's imprisonment.
''lIy his ma.osty's command an order TO
that effect has been transmitted TO the
minister OF justice, out OF compliment TO
his majcsty's little friend. For tho king,
BoMNERuEIM, "Secrotary.'
"rp Mmo Bessie Koim, Mt Philadelphia p"
"One little American girl, says the
Inquirer, "prays nightly for Leopold
IT. King OF the Belgians."