Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-10-11
THE KING AND THE IDIOT.

Bring the fellow in," said the king
of Prussia.
He is here, sire.
The idiot entered.
There was moment of silence The
kings eyes, like hands, searched the
captive Behind him, drawn up stifly,
two aides-de-camp stood counting their
heart beats, and a clock on the wall
licked out the seconds monotonously.
"Ah!" said the king, with his eyes
fixed on the fellow face.
The head was ignoble, with bristling
hair, with dead, IAcHluster eyes. 1t was
not head, it was a mass of clay
modelled in human semblance. Saliva
drlppad necessarily from the pendulous
lips, and it hardly seemed possible that
a human soul could be imprisoned in
such bestial specimen of manhood
1t was pathetic.
and what do you think of him,
gentlemen? Speak French before him.
What do you thlnk?'
THAT he is not an idiot, as he pre-
tends to be- sire, and that you can per
fectly we'll question him"
you are the man." the king began,
"who escaped from the hands of my
grenadiers on the night Of the 18th Of
this month wilh secret information for
NJ. de Chevert." He stretched out his
hand and took up paper which he
showed the prisoner. The man looked
down on the ground.
yes" remarked the officer, 'he also
pretcnds to be deaf and dumb He is a
clever rascal" and he gave the prisoner
shove The idiot looked at the Prus-
sian and laughed silently.
Il insist" continued the king. Here
is a letter advising me of your mission,
You are discovered. Drop this farce
and answer
The idiot gazed about him stupidity
For some time an old general had
been studying the captive closely, He
was a white-haired man, of some i'm
por ,ance evidently. He drew near.
81 recognize you, monsieur lie mar
quis.' he said.
The boy did not seem to hear a word.
His head nodded slowly and water ran
out of his mouth Silence again, and
the clock licked out the second. 1t was
pathetic.
1T was YOU" the king continued,
"who advised NJ. de Chevert, who had
taken up a position near AChem to Or
der up another corps formed of the
regiments of Navarro, Auvergne, and
40 companies of grenadiers. -
The idiot was iGtently watching fly
crawling along the floor and suddenly
stamped at it with a resouudtns
thwack.
90 and two brlgades of cav
airy in order to attack Halberstadt.
Is that correct, monsieur?" concluded
the king.
Only the clock replied.
The old general turned to the king
Il am absolutely certain, sire" he
said that this man is the Marquis
Antoine de Keryerscop de Coadilo Of
Brittany. Two of his brothers are in
Cheryert's army and he also-all Of
them brave, and known as the 'slasher'
On the 18th he had a beard; today he
has none. That is the only difference.
l know you we'll" he contin-
ued, looking at the prisoner. A gentle
man would have clean teeth. Open
your mouth"
The poor wretch did not seem to I'M
derstand. A Prussian grenader was
called in. He seized the idiots neck
and opened his mouth by sheer force
The teeth were fairly filthy, as frightful
IL .r,1
furious.
oh he is bright! He is deep!" the
old bear exclaimed.
The idiot started forward a step and
ly around by its back and finally
dropped it, probably ignoring its use
Suddenly squeezing his eyelids tightly
together, he pulled out an eyelash with
jerk
He is clever! He is clever" re-
peated the bear
But the scene had made a great i'm
preston upon the young aides-de-
camp. They turned pale and one oil
them murmwed: He is really crazy;
look at HIM"
The idiot gazed around him helpless
ly with a vacant stare. With his huge
tremulous head and hideously Ieering
face he seemed the incarnation OF mis-
cry and stupidity 1t was pathetic
He will never speak" remarked
some one
The king began to relent.
4 can not discover any signs OIL
aris-ocracy in this poor fool" ne said. /
Don't be too hasty. general. The (
French spy certainly has done US a