Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-07

rage upon humanity without even piaus.ule
excuse"
Eyes, yes" murmured Henri, "but the
best of explanations will not disguise the
fact. One short week of his counsel and
presence would have achieved so much. One
week too soon, rather than too late!'
"Your majesty cannot believe that the
armies of France will be beaten from the
field within a week?'
"Liancourt," and the king turned to his
faithful minister with keen emotion in his
face. LET us not deceive each other. You
know, better than I, perhaps, what our enc
mics can accomplish even in that brief
period. 1t is for my brave soldiers, unready,
ill-equipped, worse fed, that I grieve. You
and !, my friend, can die at their head, but
what will that avail France! France, my
country, so happy, so prosperous, so little
deserving this wretched fate!"
Liancourt could only urge the king to
abandon useless regrets and do all within
his power to repair defects. He realized,
in their full bitterness, the truth of Henri's
words.
In the palace near the lindens William
the Second, who for all his dash and way
wardness is a methodical German, had re-
tired to rest and slept soundly after the
kilograms arrived announcing the departure
OF the three columns. He rose early, fresh
and vigorous, ready to proceed to the front
as soon as he learned that the left bank Of
the Mouse was in possession OF his troops.
General Won Gossler waited upon him the
moment he appeared.
"'Tis fitting cried the kaiser, 'that on
this day of all days I should be greeted by
the war minister. What news, Won Goss-
ler?"
Excellent, sire. The fight is in the
enemy's country. We have seized the de-
sired positions, the armies are consolidating
and probably the first battle will be in
progress by the time your majesty reaches
the frontier"
Yet the generals visage was not as cheer
full as his intelligence and the emperor's
quick eye noted the discrepancy.
SIS aught amiss?"
I'm. one respect / have tidings that your
majesty will regret to-"
Quick. What has happened?"
Colonel Won Moltke was shot by the
French picket as he drove them over the
Woevre bridge"
Shot! Wounded, you mean, I trust"
NC sire. Shot through the brain"
1.-THE only place to hit q Moltke!"
What say the papers about the WARP
The emperor, who was more deeply moved
than he cared to admit, picked up a copy
of the Zeitung and turned to the columns OF
foreign intelligence. The first paragraph
that met his eyes caused him to utter an
exclamation.
New York, Thursday-Shortly before II
became known that Germany had declared
war against France Mr.. and Mrs. Vansittart
and suite sailed for Europe on board their
yacht, the Seafarer. The famous million
aires sympathies for France-indee he re-
mains a naturalized French citizen-coupled
with the fact that the yachts destination
was kept a secret. render IL practically GER
tain that he is bound for Havre or Cher
bourg, He left his summer home In the
Adirondacks most Unexpectedly. Informa-
tion concerning his intentions is absolutely
refused at his New York estate office. In
any case, he cannot cross the Atlantic under
eight days, as the Seafarer Is a sixteen knot
boat"
General Won Gossler wondered what had
so disturbed his royal master, but he was
not long left in doubt.
Turning upon him with a face of fury,
Wilhelm roared:
why was / not told of this sooner?"
"of w-w-what, sire?"
"of the departure of this Yankee adven.
turer, sir! Send Vice Admiral Holman
here at once. Quick, II you would retair
your portfolio"
Utterly at a loss to know what this storm