The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-20

sit in the presence of royalty without
being bidden.
"And now, my dear Won Lowenkopf,"
I continued, 1--WE will get down to busi-
ness. You are the bearer, i hear, of
evil tidings. Cut them short, for my
time is limited"
"Ah. your majesty. You have then
heard about it?"
"If had heard OF il, I would not be
listening TO you now."
''That is true. Your majesty is al
ways right. The unfortunate intelli-
gence which / have to communicate to
your majesty is, that the chamber OF
deputies is still sitting"
"Let them sit," said i. would you
have them stand?"
"a very good bon mot, your majesty.
The condition of things, however, is ex-
tremely serious. The mosctreasonable
and inflammatory speeches have been
made. The abdication of your majesty
has even been limited at"
LET them hint" said ]. ''The king
will not abdicnte. IL he knows himself"
'Well said. your majesty. The worst
pf the matter is. however. that they
refuse TO grant the tax on leber Wurst,
tax which would bring us in 100000
Gorins."
"Ah, that is. indeed. hanging mat
ter" / exclaimed. "Why have you not
surrounded the chamber with the royal
guard, and thus intimidated them into
passing the measure"
"The royal guard. sire, is in a state OF
mutiny; for the reason that they have
not been paid in ten months. They
would, without doubt, side with the
deputies"
"Pay them. then, and let them clear
Tie chamber this very day."
"Sire, you are pleased to jest. Your
majesty knows that there is not n
groschen in the treasury; nor will there
be without the tax on leber Wurst.
Which brings us around to the begin
niDg again"
"If the worst comes TO the worst, my
good count, we will make an assign
ment. Have you any other pleasant
tidings 70 communicate"
"Would that could say no. sire; but
the direst misfortune Is TO come. This
morning an envoy extraordinary, in
the person Of Baron Kranzen, has ar
rived from the king of Lusatia with
the preposterous complaint that his
masters territory has been invaded by
rertain officers in your majesty's serv-
Zee. For this he demands the imme-
aate payment Of an indemnity of 200.-
900 horins. 1t is some absurd matter
about the arrest of one August Won
Dunkelheim ON Lusatian soil. The
baron knows the mutinous inclination
OF your maiesty's army. and evidently
Is using this absurd pretext to force
your majesty into n war, in which case,
In the present state of things, ruin Is
inevitable"
as that all?" asked.
"That Is all for the present, sire"
"What Is the reason" thought /.
shat everything happens in this pes.
,irerous kingdom the moment J COM
nence nv reigr?"
With my usual promptness, decided
ct once upon a means of averting the
calamity.
1--WE must commence" said I, with
the royal guard. They must be salts
hed no matter in what way. With the
royal guard we will then intimidate the
deputies, and force them to grant the
lax. We will then have funds enough 10
pay the army, and viii be able 20 wear
bold front towards the king of Lus-
alta. The question is, how shall we
satisfy the royal guards?"
THAT Is the question, sire" responded
fhe prime minister. despondently.
II have IT," exclaimed. "We will
bave broached for them the famous
hin OF Munich beer, in the Hof Brau-
,rei. That gigantic hogshead, that
fiesenfass, which is said to hold $4,000
quarts or litres."
TO BE CONTINUED.