The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-12-10
H 4 OF PRINCE
B~RANCOVAN.
By .'CAREES SILVA Ch. Il. 0ue-s Of Roun .aI.
Copyright. Isg.

IT was in the year 1714. Constartin
Brancovau had been governing for a
length Of time as voivod OF WaIlachia.
He was now nearly 60 years old; a wise
prince. AID much beloved by his people.
Four handsome sons had been born to
him. who were the pride of his house,
and the consolation of his old age.
Renewing in these noble princes his
own youth. Prince BraGcovan and his
still beautiful wife. with their daugh-
ter, Princess RoXandra, lived q SIM
pie. ureventful life in their capital city
of Bucharest. The people looked upon
the prince as their father. and he juSti-
fed this attitude by the pains he took
10 make his rule 4 blessing to them.
In these days there does not remain
any trace Of the Insecurity in which the
Inhabitants Of the two princIpa,itieS
then lived. and which compelled them
to CONCEAL their treasures in wooden
Golfers. which. covered with carpets
and the richest Turkish StUtfS. formed
part OF the furniture of Il chamber.
ana were capable Of easy renewal TO
a place Of safety when their enemies.
the Turks. made a raid inEo the country
Prince CouStantin BrancOvan had
long grown Gistasteful TO the sultan
because Of his wise and noble cha-ac-
ter. and of his having made himself be
loved ~ all his subjects. He had also
accumulated vast wealth. and had
caused gold pieces 20 be coined; This
was looked upon as an act of iusubor-
Ginatiou 10 his suzerair.
There were certain individuals at the
porte willing enough to aggravate the
anger Of the sultan. and amongst these
was a Greek doctor who had presumed
t. fall in love with the beautiful Prin-
cess I;CNandra-
With his courteous ways and knsyI-
edge of men and countries. he found
favor with the four young princes. and
accomplished his desire of being now
and again with the Princess RcNanGra
ierse,i. What had at first been mere
y 4 passing whim now became the
necessity of his being. and the Greek
pasaionately resolved that. in spite of
her rank and his nationality, the prin-
cess should be his.
vi last. having done all that he
cOuIdjO further iugratiate himself with
Prince B~rancOydn. the Greek all
preached the question. He dwelt upon
his wealth (Which he had taken care
tC give al appearance OF during his
stay in the capital). his influence with
the Turks. his desire to see Wailachia
freed from her bondage. and. unfet-
tered, beginning a EObler future. TLeI.
he touched upon his personal hopes.
But he had hardly expressed himself
before the prince interposed. Taught
lily and cmphatically he declared ii i'm
possible for such I request even to be
considered. And when the Greek
pressed his suit. Prince ~HrancOvan,
usually % cain. grew angry. and sum-
marty dismissed his visitor. That was
the ED OF the Greeks hopes. bu: not OF
his designs. He had. in his selfish de-
s;reS. pretended to be what he was not.
and he was no sooner cut of Prince
B]raucoyan's presence than he began to
thirS of revenge. He at once removed
to Con>tantiuople and sought al means
OF i~ngratiating himself with the sultan.
lie WAS so s~ervile and Gathering that
he soon became a prime favorice, and
then. with subtle cunning. he com
nenced a systematic persecution of
BrancOvan. lie represented himself 20
the sultan as 4 friend of Turkey and
anxious that the provinces over which
she possessed suzerainty should be I'M
der more effective control than was the
case at present. He proceeded to relate
that he had visited Wallachia in order
to ascertain the opinions of the people
and their ruler with regard TO Turkey;
and her repeated parts of CONVERSE
tious he had had with Prince Bran
covan, taking cart to magnify the
princes patriotic expressions into
threats against his suzerain. He also
told the sultan that vast stores of gold
had been accumulated by the prince.
and that there was little doubt but
that this was to be devoted to the rails
ing of an army when the time should
be ripe for the Wallachians to rebel;
also that the prince was conducting
and secret correspondence with
some of the neighboriug states. The
unfortunate prince was speedily taken
prisoner, as well as his wife, their
bea utjful daughter. his four sons, and