Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17
XXI.


stared at. We are actually surrounded,
watched, pursued They try TO express
sympathy. admiration. respect. and they
ruin our paradise Sympathy for what?
Because I would become citizen prince?"
And their admiration"
They appear to find Judica charming.
She will never become grande dame, for
she is something more; she has sublime
womanhood that makes her sovereign.
When they salute her, which happens
everywhere, she barely mods in her deadly
embarrassment If queen did 1t, it would
be taken a sign of haughtiness; with
Judica 1t has effect as If she smiled at
all, and the whole world is delighted with
her.
And delighted with my child. delighted
more and more is the count. 1 observe 1T
with secret amazement. He has no sus-
picion that I look into his soul and read
in 1t as in an open book.
The count adores my little countess. II
Judica were not a Countess of SarnS she
could soon be a countess of --, yes
and be happy woman.
This sounds almost as If my child were
unhappy now. God FORBID 1t! She picks
flowers and smiles at me, shedding glory
from her own soul over my dark one, MAX
ing me happy. and being happy herself.
She is happy still
Will it last long? Can 1t last long? Must
night come again.
She does not think now of what they
told her about me. She sees me at her
side with face like that of other men.
/ am healthy. l bloom with youth. So
she thinks-as I begin to think myself
that they wove n gloomy veil of lies about
me to hide me from the eyes of the nation
Will she be able to retain that belief as
/ do, If l ever let her look into the depths
of my soul and see its darknesses? She will
not always remain my chfd; some day she
will be my wife. soul OF my soul VIII
doubt and fear not seize her then?
l must hide my dark soul as long as pos
s:ble from her bright one.
And another. gloomy, tremendous
shadow looms up, at present only IN my
mind. that they say is diseased. Should
she ever learn what l have given for her,
my rights to a royal throne: should she
ever realize the vastness of my sacrifice
would not despair crush her? And what
then?
my dreams. / must disSemble and lie
There is one who knows all; one who
watches me and spies on me as L do on
him.
This one is my good friend Gebhardt
And there is one who would perpetrate
crime if it were needed to save Judica from
misfortune.
And this one is my good friend Gebhardt!
For my good friend Gebhardt loves my
wife! {.
Things are not so simple and easy as
young and romantic soul pictures them.
To escape all the consequences of my mar
riage to Judica l would have to flee with
her into deserts.
In Mentone, In Nizza and in Cannes there
are whole crowds of kings and princes. OF
course they all know about me and my
beautiful unequal wife.
l care for no one, and am, therefore. i'm
polite to all to the bounds of rudeness.
Yet the count is in constant receipt of in
via m hot nr or
highness'' will receive visitors. His royal
highness regrets" is the answer to all. The
count excuses me with sublime courtly
skill everywhere; but everywhere I injuce
and offend.
And yesterday!
I strolled slowly along one of our garden
paths when suddenly man approached
me- / recognized him at once. 1t was
Prince Adalbert, who. should my brother
die without heirs, was designated In the
secret document signed by me as the man
who is to be king.
At his appearance I had a feeling-God
does not love those in whose souls he per-
mits such feelings.
His royal highness hurried to me and
said most cordially and cheerfully:
Forgive the invasion. l wished TO see
YOU. but. since you are said to be unap-
proachable l chose this way to reach you.
YOU invisible one, you. You are badly
guarded. however. There is no one here to
prevent me from entering So l entered.
and here 1 am
My reply was:
Had you had the politeness to cause
yourself to be announced your very fatter-
ing desire would not have been fulfilled.
$50 I thought. and therefore came with
out being announced. Your reception is not
particularly encouraging, but you must ex-
cuse me If tell you that l am glad for all
that TO see you"
Nothing remained for me but to bear his
presence. We strolled on, 1 dumbly he gos-
siping without pause. And what gossip
flowed from the fellow! With no word did
he mention the fact that 1 am not living
alone here. He spoke of the most famous
race horses that ran in NiZZa, of the most
famous shots who murdered pigeons in
Monte Carlo, of the most famous women,
and of his own fame as owner of race
horses. as grand pigeon shot and as skilled
gambler.
And this wretched creature is to take the
inheritance of my fathers Is this degen-
crate better than II Could he rule the
land. my land. better? Could he make the
nation. my nation. more great and happy
than | could? ! wanted to hurl myself on
him, TO strangle him. That is what l
thought while walked together through
all the bloom and glory
Ana then Judica came walking toward
US She walked through lane of salvias.
Ihey stood on both sides of her like Won
6erful flames. Through the flower-fire she
came. like a vision. Never had l seen my
child so beautiful
Now got my revenge. l stood still thus
j
preached said, as coldly and indifferently
as possible with a negligent motion of my
hand in his direction:
Prince Adalbert called to nav his re-
spects TO you. unhappily. my dear cousin
Will not have time to take breakfast with
us "i'Ai
His royal highness, already startled nv
Juu!ca appearance, now was completely
confused His royal highness bowed with
CONFUSION. murmured something Judica
greeted MIN with her faint, charming nod
ana IN her embarrassment went by the FIJI.
ture heir TO the throne
Now was SO polite as to accomnanv INV
suddenly silent visitor to the gates I a,n
sale against a second invasion from bis
royal highness oi'i Ills
nave made visit to one of nv opn
khd after all But this one is a woman
ana IN other ways an exception. Therefore
L went TO her without my adfutant as n
simple human being. ~ "
Her majesty resides in Mentone. in a villa
next 10 the one in which the empress beav-
liy punished, dwells One tragic woman
mus ives In sisterly companionshtp with
another Her majesty received me In q
sarden-room which opens toward the OCEAN
Ike temple. White marble columns
wreathed with flowers. formed the fore
ground TO the wonderful picture of sky and
sea. Under one of the howery arches stood
the queen in black. trailing dress like tho
gloomy genius of sorrow in the midst of q
n