Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-06-30


so hardy. For several months the fight
ing In the north was in our favor, but
the result was that our forces were
finally driven back to Edelweiss, hack
ed and battered by the fierce thousands
that came over the border. The nation
was staggered by the shock, for such
an outcome had not been considered
possible. We had been too confident.
Our soldiers were sick and worn. by
six months of hard fighting, and the
men of Edelweiss-the merchants, the
laborers and the nobility itself-few to
arms in defense of the city. For over
month we fought hundreds Of our
best and bravest citizens going down to
death. They at last began a lombard
ment Of the city. Today you. can see
the marks on nearly every house In
Edelweiss. Hundreds Of graves in the
valley to the south attest the terrors OF
that siege. The castle was stormed,
and Prince Ganlook, with many Of the
chief men Of the land. met death. The
prince was killed in front Of the castle
gates, from which he had sailed In
last brave attempt to beat off the con-
uuerors. A bronze statue now marks
the spot on which he fell. The prin-
cess. his wife. was my sister, and as l
held the portfolio Of finance 1t was
through me that the city surrendered,
bringing the siege to an end. Fifteen
years ago this autumn-the Goth OF No
vanber, to be explicit-the treaty OF
peace was signed in Sofia. We were
compelled to cede portion Of territory
In the far northeast, valuable for its
mines. Indemnity was agreed upon by
the peace commissioners, amounting to
20.0O0.000 gavvos, or nearly $3O,OOO,OOO
in your money. In fifteen years this
money was to be paid, with interest.
On the Goth of November, this year,
the people Of Graustark must pay 25,-
100000 gavvos. The time is at hand,
and that is why we recall the war 80
vividly. 1t means the bankruptcy Of
the nation. gentlemen"
Neither Of his listeners spoke for
some moments. Then Lorry broke the
silence.
"You mean that the money cannot
be raised?" he asked.
"It is not in our treasury. Our peo-
pie have been taxed so sorely in re-
building their homes and in recuper-
ating from the effect Of that dreadful
invasion that they have been unable
to pay the levies. You must remem-
ber that we are q small nation and OF
limited resources. Your nation could
secure $SO,OOO,OOO in one hour for the
mere asking. To us it is like death
blow. am not betraying state se-
cret in telling you Of the sore straits
in which we are placed, for every man
In the nation has been made cognizant
of the true conditions. We are all fac
ing it together"
There was something so quietly he
roic in his manner that both men felt
pity. Anguish, looking at the military
figure, asked:
"You fought through the war, your
excellency?"
81 resigned as minister, sir, to go to
the front. I was in the first battle
and was in the last" he said simply.
"And the princess-the present ruler,
I mean-was mere child at that time.
When did she succeed to the throne%
asked Lorry.
"Oh, the great world does not re-
member our little history! Within a
year after the death Of Prince Can
look his wife. my sister, passed away,
dying of broken heart. Her daugh-
ter, their only child, was, according to
our custom, crowned at once. She has
reigned for fourteen years, and wisely
since assuming full power. For three
years she has been ruler de facto. She
has been frugal and has done all IN
her power to meet the shadow that Is
descending"
"And what is the alternative In case
the indemnity is not paid? asked
Lorry breathlessly, for he saw some
thing bright in the approaching calam-
ity.
"The cession Of all that part Of Grau-
stark lying north Of Edelweiss, includ-
ing fourteen towns, all Of our mines
and our most productive farming and
grazing lands. In that event Grau-
stark will be no larger than one OF the
good sized farms in your western coun'
try. There will be nothing left for her
royal highness to rule save tract SO
small that the word principality will
be a travesty and jest-this city and
twenty-five miles to the south, strip
about $50 miles long. Think Of 1t!
Twenty-Five by $50 miles, and yet call.
ed a principality! Once the proudest
and most prosperous state in the east,
considering its size, reduced to that!
Ach, neutrality-suspicious., l cannot
think of 1t without tearing out heart
string and suffering such pains as NOR
tai man has never endured. 1 lived in
Graustarks days Of wealth, power and
supremacy. God has condemned me to
live in the days Of her dependency,
weakness and poverty. Let us talk no
more of this unpleasant subject"
"willingly. your excellency, since 1t
Is distasteful to you. / hope, however,
you will permit me to ask how much
you are short Of the amount" said
Lorry considerably, yet curiously.
"Our minister of finance, Gaspon,
will be able to produce 100000 CAV
vos at the stated time, far from enough.
This amount has been sucked from the
people from excessive levy and has
been boarded for the dreaded day.
Try as we would. 1t has been impossi-
BILE to raise the full amount. The peo-
ple have been bled and have responded
nobly, sacrificing everything to meet
the treaty terms honorably. but the
strain has been too great Our army
has cost us large sums. We have
strengthened our defenses and could.
should we 60 to war, defeat Axphain.
But we have our treaty to honor. We
could not take up arms to save our;
selves from that honest bond.
"Our levies have barely brought the
amount necessary to maintain an army
large enough 10 inspire respect among
those who are ready to leap upon US
the instant we show the least sign OF
distress. There are about US powers
a.