The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-02

something further about this myself Gretich seems
10 have had but scant information regarding the oc
currehce and would like to know more about if So
that 1 might tell her"
we Shall learn all about it from madame and
nust "llte that note at for fear shall forget
On Thursday afternoon there was brilliant as
selnDlage III the spacious salon of the Princess Won
Steinheimer. The rich attire of the Iodias fornod
series OF Vascopic pictures that were dazzling for
FlehneSe women are adopts in the art of dress us
are Cher Farlslan sisters Tea served not in cups
and saucers as Jennie had been accustomed TO b1t
IN go0ies OF clear thin Venetian glass; each set IN
a holder OF incrusted 1ilagree gold There were all
manner OF delicious cakes, for which city is cefe
DRAFTED The tea itself had come overland through
Russia from China and had not suffered the detero-
ration which an ocean voyage produces. The decoc-
uon was served clear, with sugar if desired and a
shce OF lemon and Jennie thought it the most delic-
lous brew she had ever tasted
Il am so sorry" whispered the princess to Jennie
when an opportunity occurred but Countess Stron
has sent messenger to say that she cannot be pres
ent this afternoon. 1t seems her husband the nrs-
mier is i'll, and She like good wife remains at home
to nurse him. This rather upsets our plans, doesn't
it?
"Oh. don't known replied Jennie. at is more
than likely that the wife of the premier would be e.-
ceedingy careful not to discuss any political uues-
wife of lesser official than upon Countess Stron"
you are right" said the princess "And now
come with me. l want to introduce you to the wife
OF the master Of the treasury and from her perhaps
you can learn something OF the accident that befeu
the lover Of poor Gretch"
The wife Of the master Of the treasury proved TO
be garrulous old lady who evidently prded herself
on knowing everything that was taking place about
her. Jennie and she became quite confidential over
their goblets of tea beverage which the old lady
seemed lnordinately fond AS the conversation be-
tween them drifted on Jennie that here was a
person that would take delight in telling everything
she knew, and the only question which now arose
was whether she knew anything Jennie wished to
learn But before she tried on high politics the
girl determined to find out more about the disaster
that had made such an abrupt ending to GretIicb's
young dream
Il have been very much interested" she said, ''D
one of the maids here who lost lover some weeks
ago in an accident that occurred in the treasury
The maid doesn't to know very much about
what happened and merely told that her lover
soldier who had been guard there that night,
was dead"
HOh, dear. yes!" whispered the old lady lowering
her voice. What dreadful thing that was! Four
men killed and eight nine now in the hosptal
My poor husband has hardly had a wink of sleep
since the event and the premier is i'll in bed through
the worry"
Gently.
ooh, no. no! The loss of life wouldn't matter. n
is the loss of the money that is the serious thing and
how they are going to replace it account for it's
disappearance l am sure L don't know The defc-
tency is something over 2OOOOO0OO FORMS Was it
not aWful?"
"Was the building shattered to such an extent?"
inquired Jennie, who did not stop think that such
sum would replace any edifce in Vienna even If
1t had been wiped off the face of the earth
"The treasury damaged of course but the re-
pairs will not cost much No. my child, it is a Isuch
more disturbing affair than the destruction Of any
statehouse in the empire. What has made the pre-
mier ill and what is worrying my poor husband into
an untmely grave is nothing less than the loss OF
the chest!"
"The war chest" echoed Jennie. "What is that -
"My dear, every great nation has a war chest
England has one, France Germany. Russia-no mat
ter how poor nation may be- how difficult it Is
to collect the taxes, that nation must have a war
chest If war were to break out suddenly even with
the most prosperous country there would be instant
financial panic; ready money would be difficult to OBJ
tain; loan would be practically impossible, and
what war calls for the very instant begins money
not promises of money not paper money not silver
money even, but gold; therefore, every nation which
is in danger of has a store of gold coin. This
store is not composed mainly. largely of the
coins of the nation which the store; it con
sists of the sovereigns of England the ouis of
France, the willems d. or of Holland tle eight form
pieces of Austria, the double of Germany the
half imperias of Russia the double frederics of Den
mark, and so on. All gold, gold gold 1 believe
that in the war chest of Austria there deposited
coins of different nations the value of something
like 2O0000,000 horins. My husband never told ME
exactly how much there but sometimes when
things looked peaceable there was less money In
the war chest than when there imminent danger
of the European outbreak which we all fear Tie
chest Of Austria was in a stone vauIted room
one of the strongest dungeons in the treasury The
public admitted into several rooms Of the treas
ury but stranger is allowed into that portion or
the building which houses the chest This room
is kept under guard night and day. For what hap
pened my husband feels that he is in no way to
blame, and don't think his superiofs are inclined TO
charge him with neglect of duty.
ut is singular thing that the day before the dis
aster took place he of his accord doubled the
guard that watched over the room and also the m