Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-01
self back against the cushions of the car.


watch his mother, on whom the lamplieht
fell with somewhat cruelty telling ardor.
She had not markedly altered during the
long interval which had preceded their last
meeting. Her figure was still of that fine
If somewhat too masculine molding which
had won her, years ago, many q compliment
at the court of her imperial cousin. Her
face was just as firmly chiseled as of old,
with its aquiline arc of nostril and its over
full eyeballs too closely set together, i'm
plying both narrowness of Judgment and a
voluble art of defending it. Her hands,
now cased in somber travelling gloves, just
as her form was robed in a dark travelling
gown of perfect fit, retained their happy
grace OF gesture, not too reposeful, not too
emphatic. 81 kiss the most beautiful hand
in Europe,"a famous conqueror had once
said to her, and the courtesy had echoed
from court to court. But on her chill lips
dwelt the old insolent curve, though a few
subtle little wrinkles had crept in dainty
mockery about their corners Her hair,
once abundant and dark-shining, was visibly
thinned and silvered at the temples. Other
wise she continued to be the Princess of
Brindisi, distinguished in every movement
of her frame, an incarnate quintessence of
the aristocratic idea, redolent of pride, in
tolerance and the most vicious aims which
caste had created in spite Of Christianity,
and preserved in spite Of all human
progress.
& Her reception at the palace displeased
her more than the previous welcome had
done. She had really been delayed in her
journey to the frontier by an accident on
one of the trains, but this fact seemed to
her no possible reason why ROYALTY should
not have immediate and sumptuous means
at its command for treating her with the
same homage by mig ght as by day "a King,
she said to her son, when at last they were
alone together in suite of chambers which
even she, prepared to cavil and to damn with
faint praise, could not but frankly admire
for their simple yet noble splendor. "a
King, nv dear Clarimond, should never be
caught without his magnifcence."
"If 1 were in any sense great King"
began Clarimond, with laugh.
But the Princess stopped him frowningly.
you're a very notable and rich one" she
said; almost as rich as the Emperor him.
self -
We'll, granted"
almost as rich," she went on, with
bitter laugh, "as an American"
"Oh, they're not all so rich, by any
means. And you hate them as much as
ever?"
"They are barbarians," announced the
Princess, leaning back in her chair and be-
ginning to fan herself
fHow we differ, you and Ir'
"0h, naturally-since you've made one of
them your bosom friend, nv son, and let
him tear to pieces the loveliest and most
time honored spot in Saltravia-'
Clarimond gave weary smile. "Wait
until you see the changes Eric Thaxter
has wrought before you SO coldly condemn
them"
81 don't need to see them"
ooh, my mother, my motherr'
'Were not those homes of our great
mobiles filled with the most reverend asso-
Citations, legends and traditions?"
They were frightfully ugly, and cursed
by a most villainous drainage. If you
could see the improvement in our health
reports since their demolitionl As for their
age, the hideous is ever young, since taste
almost ignores its very existence, while the
beautiful. being an immortal element, has
existed for all time. 1 think you have
already seen something of the palace
Surely YOU would not say that you prefer
to it that majestic shanty in which my poor
predecessor died Eric's work has de-
lighted more than one of the most famous
architects in Paris. He is a genius, and
was lucky enough to discover him. He is
an American, and for that reason you detest
him."
"Deluge me with words, if you will"
said the Princess, and she smiled her iciess
smile. ''The palace is handsome, but it
smells of fresh paint. so to speak, and am
sure that when L see its white marble
grandeurs shall only repeat the verdict
already conveyed to me in Italy by the most
competent iudges-that it does not betray a
sign of genius, but is Just what hundreds of
clever Americans could have accomplished
if given the same tremendous carte blanche
which YOU gave-er-to that person.
"But I thought you considered all Ameri-
cars barbarians?" the King replied, lifting
his brcws a little and beginning to pace the
spacious waxed floor of the grand apart
ment, with head somewhat dropped and
hands clasped behind him.
"How YOU take one upi You should
remember that am youl mother, not your
courtier"
q have no courties. I've dispensed
with all that fiummery"
'Oh. indeed! And you vii. soon be Civ
ing your portfolio Of state, no doubt, to this
American nobody
'The American nobody, as you call him,
would not accept it. He is an artist. and
politics, like all ug ly things, are repellent
10 artists"
The Princess heaved a resonant and irri-
tated sigh ''Worse and worse" she NUT
tered. God has called you to be King
over this land where your ancestors have |
ruled for nearly a thousand years." she |
went on, in strained, passionate talsetto. |
yet you seem to me on the verge of fling |
ing your responsibilities to the winds-of |
casting your holy and annointed crown in |
the mud of the common highways
At this point Clarimond ceased from his |
impatient walk and paused directly in front |
of his mother. Flashes left his eyes that |
bespoke irony and yet earnestress as well. |
He had become quite pale and his demeanor,
always full of dignity, was never statelier |
than now.
''We might as well understand one an
other, he began, elf such result can ever !
he attained between two spirits as wholly |
opposite as yours and mine. Were it posi- |
bic for me to abdicate tomorrow and make |
Saltravia republic like Switzerland. in |
stead of the petty, subservient monarchy |
that it is, would give up my throne with |
the most cheerful renunciatIon.
'-Clarmond,"
'fBut [ know too well" he resumed, with |
loudening voice and curl of the lip far |
more sad than spleenful, ''that any such act |
rs this would only rouse the wrath OF the |
Emperor and plunge nv poor country in |
untold distress. Hence must remain the |
miserable parody Of a King that 1 AMI, |
pierced with disgust for the paltry preten- |
tions OF all sovereigns, loving the broad, |
popular impulse OF self-government with (
love drawn from intuition, reflection and |
the wisdom of the worlds highest thinkers
My tate is both a piteous and terrible
onep'
He grew still pale. now, and for q
covered his face with both hands, |
while a tremor stirred his frame like sud-
den breeze that grasps a sturdy tree 'On
do of Il ha mad