Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-12-08
'sHe rebuked him quite JUSTIFY"


masteri''
$50 he should spend some of his mil
lions In charity"
ssWhat does the king spend? Come,
now!''
They're always calling him so gem
srous.'
ssHe gives thousands and thousands to
the poor every year."
s'He's enormously rich"
'sWell, he more than halves his in
some"
sob, bah!''
ssDid you ever hear Of anyone who
sought him for help going away empty
handed?'
Sand he spends hours each week Wis
ting the poor"
Anyway, Philibert deserved just
what he got.''
s'The emperor may take this up.''
ST hope he will. Bhilibert's his
friend.''
ssThe emperor can do nothing"
s'Oh, absurdi''
sPreposterous!'
s'I should say it was! That king as
noble and good as ours should be brow
beaten in his own palace!''
And thus the talk buzzed on, finally
dying into complete silence. The doors
had closed behind the last retreating
figure. Not even a servant remained.
The princess was still seated. Her son
stood before her, looking down into her
face And his own face was far sterner
than she had ever before seen it.
cat last can speak, he said,
measuredly breaking the silence, "and
tell you what long ago you should have
heard from me-
'.And that is?'' she queried, with an
information of hauteur, though secretly
not a little alarmed.
s'It is this: Your reign has now
ceased, and mine, if you please, must
Begin
9Your reign, Clarimond? If only you
soould reign
eOh, shall, never fear" And he
lifted one hand with telling gesture
that seemed to add: ''Wait and see."
"But shall reign, be sure of it, in my
way, not yours"
''My sonl AS if I had sought to in
terfere with your rulership!''
''You have sought in every way to in
terfere with it. Yes, of late even politi-
cally-but now all such folly is at an
OuOs nave Dcch lcI tOO 1cu4cAO Will
you. shall show you henceforth how,
in playing with fire, one may sometimes
SINCE ones fingers
''Clarimond! Have you forgotten that
am your mother?"
ssNo; I remember it too well; other
wise I would have you past my from
tier inside the next two hours"
''Ah!' walled the princess, equally
swayed by rage and fright, cit is too
plain that you have forgotten!'
'sNo; but it was you that for many
years forgot am your son; when the
chances of throne overshadowed me
then you remembered my existence.
'sYou-you insult me!''
sI have no wish to do so, but, believe
me, have both the wish and the in
tention of restraining you. Since you
came into my territory, weeks ago,
nothing but discord has resulted. In a
hundred minor ways you have opposed
me. My dislikes have been set at
naught; my detractors have been en-
couraged; my allies and supporters have
been treated with contempt. Appoint
ing yourself royal chatelaine of the pal
ace without my permission, you have
invested that dignity with continuous,
if covert, revolt. I need define myself
no further. I owe you no explanation
of your own deplorable conduct. From
this time forward you are under the
strict surveillance. Every act of yours
will be watched
''You-you threaten me!''
ST do not threaten, I warn you.
There will be no threats. The instant
that you show the least rebellious
spirit, the least desire to set your own
tastes, convictions, formulas of deport-
ment, against my own, that instant the
carriage will be waiting, state coach,
with outriders and all the royal phara-
phernalia that you so love, to convey
you outside of my domain"
''Such treatment!' burst from the
princess. cit is inhuman.''
cit is deserved. You thought to con-
tinue this amazing policy Of making my
little land an abode for disrespect to its
sovereign. The silly INSTRUMENTATION OF
Philibert tonight is merely an effect OF
your many imprudent and il1-advised
counsels. For long time you have
been trespassing with strange boldness
upon my royal prerogative. You have
| now reached the limit of your unhappy
! imprudence. Your further residence In
| Saltravia depends upon your complete
| courtesy to me and your complete recog
milton of my place at the head of my OWL
government. More than this, it de
| ponds upon your acceptance Of my SO
termed democracy. Still more, it de
ponds upon your graciousness toward
my friends, and in particular toward
my dear and honored American friend
Eric Thaxter, concerning whom you
have spread idle and hurtful reports
and on whom you have endeavored t.
cast odium by excluding him from en-
tertainments which you have daringl,
given, as may be said, with the full ap
parent sanction of the crown"
ALI these words of Clarimond wer
spoken with a simple repose which
finely became him. His manner, hi
voice, never once lost that serenity an,
equipoise without which he would hav
seemed less commandant than accuse
tive. He seemed both to the lady, WIZ
now rose half lettering to her feet an
said, in accents choked with passion:
IL had best go at once, then. Yo
exile me, as you threatened to exil
poor Philibert!'
''You exile yourself if so you prefer,
replied the king. There was bell-rop
within a few yards of him, and b
| moved toward IL with hand lifted "a