The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-11-28
SUMTER. S. c. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER go, 1894 1

style Of the period, and the burghers Of
the new city that grew up round about
it thought that Versailles itself could
hardly eclipse it.
But, alas! there was a very big skele-
ton in the grand ducal cupboard His
serene highness was woefully in debt
He owed money everywhere. he was in
arrears with his soldiers, and his court
musicians, and his purveyors, and his
ministers. Above all, if the truth must
be told, he was terribly in debt to his
court tailor. He had not large family
to support, having only one son and one
daughter, but they were both old enough
to help their illustrious father in piling
up heap of bills The heir apparent
had achieved great Success in that line
both in Paris and in Vienna, and the
beautiful Princess Gertrude, who had
Just reached her twenty-frst year, was
as clever in making debts as in making
conquests. Her dresses were the wonder
of her fathers subjects; but, sad to say,
none of them had been paid for.
The court tailor was Heinrich Muller,
the only son and successor Of the late
Herr Muller, who had made consider
able fortune in military tailoring during
the wars of Napoleon, and who had be-
queathed to his son not only a handsome
business, but name which in one sense
was as ilustrious as that Of the grand
duke himself, for, although he was
only tradesman, he was the lineal de-
scendaut of the heroic Fritz, the miller,
whose deed of valor have already
chronicled. Add to this that the present
court tailor, Heinrich Muller, was a
wei. educated and handsome young fel-
low. He had studied at the University
of Strasburg, and if slight scar, which
he got in one of his many duels there,
took anything from his good looks it
certainly made him more interesting
and almost made up in popular opinion
for his want Of aristocratic blood. 1t
was thought that when his old father
died he would throw up the business
and take commission in the army;
but, to the establishment Of every one,
he did no such thing. He still continued
to measure his serene master for panta-
looms and the Princess Gertrude for rid-
ing habits.
If any one supposed. however, that
Heinrich was without ambition, he was
very much mistaken. It was often no.
ticed how fond he was Of getting into
the great dining rooniat the schloss and
feasting his eyes on, the picture of his
brave ancestor staying the wolves, and
he had made model Of the old wolf
stone in the park and placed it on top
of the great china stove that stood IN
his workshop.
Under the circumstances Heinrich
Muller was little bit Of mystery, but
at last rumor got abroad that struck
every one dumb, and when it was car
ried by the prime minister, old Baron
Won Dernfeld, to the grand ducal ears
his serene highness almost fell down in
a fit. It was said that the rich and
handsome young tailor was in love with
the Princess Gertrude.
There was long and anxious confer
ence that night between the prime min
lister and the grand duke. The sun was
already slanting his rays in at the Win
dow before they separated; but, turn
the matter over as they could, they
found no sufficient answer to the terrible
question, "What is to be done?''