Evening star., 1903-08-22

with the most high ones. and shines in con
| sequence as q second sun at court His ex
cellency. the lord marshal. the old, vener
able factotum of our house. stalks abou
with a face as II world rested on hi
shoulders. The naughty Madame Lord Mar
shal would give her life to help the moderr
Atlas carry the world ball. All the cour
ladies and gentlemen would assist and hell
to carry, but his excellency holds fast to it
Today the crown prince visited me.
AS his habit is, he wandered restlessly
through the room for a long time. Now
he stood here, now there, picked up this
object and that all in silence. On his fore
head. between his brows. there appeared
the little, sharp. painful wrinkle that the
king has, too. l noticed 1t today on my
brother for the first time. had to look al
1t always as If it were peculiar charac'
teristic. At last the crown prince said, III
his customary quiet. shy way:
Has the lord marshal notified your
"Of what?"
Il must travel and you must accompany
"Whither?"
What must we do there?''
Il have become engaged to the Princess
Mathilde.'
"Ohr'
Silence. long silence. The crown prince
walked to and fro. 1 sat and looked al
him, looked at the little, sharp wrinkle
which appeared to me more and more like
a deep scar.
At last 1 said You do not know her at
ALL"
mo, I do not know her at all. What
difference does that make?' Again silence.
Perhaps she will please you. l encour-
aged him. She is said to be charming"
Yes, charming"
And then silence again.
l should have liked to speak more with
the crown prince but what could l say!
Before he left me he stood at the window
and looked into the courtyard, which lies
like dark abyss even in the sunlight of
day. l knew from his voice how excited he
was he said:
Were l private person I could not
marry; the marriage of a man like me
He did not finish but remained at the
window, turned away from me. Probably
he was regretting deeply that he had
spoken to me in this way. However, l did
not understand him at all. 1t was the first
time that we brothers had discussed any
thing that was intimately personal.
The crown prince turned to me, looked at
me-with an unforgettable looki-and said
in his ordinary tone and with his ordinary
manner: But we may not think of our
selves Never think of yourself. Chlodwig,
else you are lost"
He departed. But I sat alone for long
while; thought and thought, brooded and
brooded.
Why should the crown prince not dare to
marry were he not the crown prince? What
would happen to him If he married? What
quences for the kingdom for himself?
But we may not think of ourselves or we
are lost Why lost?
The land rejoices; the engagement of the
crown prince has been made public. The
newspapers print editorials the residence Is
Illuminated. From all sides come deputa-
tions congratulate The countenance Of
our factotum beams. Everything beams
that can beam. In the mien of my parents
can read nothing. They are a sealed book
with shining initials under royal crown.
Over all splendor there seems to me to
medical spiritus familiaris. But 1 am sure
ly the only one who notices 1t. 1t may be
only imagination.
The day after tomorrow we travel with
great train to inspect the unknown fiance
1t is to be real wooing, only that wooing
no longer has anything to do with things
But the form will be fulfilled, and, after ALL
that is the main matter. Today the crown
prince drives for the last time to the pretty
villa outside Of town.
of the CASTLE and presumably on the roofs
crown prince remained in the West End
most remarkably long and returned from
the pretty villa at last pale beyond all
etiquette.
That sounds almost as If my brother had
been engaged in the affair with his heart
His excellency the lord marshal will no
doubt assert Indignantly that this is against
all precedent.
This evening they will play Emilia Ga
lotti." The whole court goes to thea ter.
There will be a fine farewell performance.