Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-07-15

ultimatum, couched in terms so polite
and conciliatory that there could be no
mistaking his sincerity. He agreed to
give Graustark a new lease of life, as
1t were, by extending the fifteen years
or, in other words, to grant the con.
quered an additional ten years in
which to pay OFF the obligations i'm
posed by the treaty. He furthermore
offered considerable reduction In the
rate of interest for the next ten years.
But he had a condition attached to this
good and gracious proposition-the
marriage of Graustark's sovereign. His
ambassador set forth the advantages
OF such an alliance, and departed with
a message that the matter should have
most serious consideration.
The old princes proposition was a
blow to the princess, who was placed
In trying position. BY sacrificing
herself she could save her country, but
in so doing her life was to be plunged
into interminable darkness. She did
not love nor did she respect Lorenz,
who was not favorably supplied with
civilized intelligence.
The proposition was laid before the
cabinet and the nobility by the princess
herself. who said that she would be
guided by any decision they might
reach. The counselors to a man re-
fused to sacrifice their girlish ruler, and
the people vociferously ratified the res.
olution. But the princess would not
allow them to send an answer to AK
phain until she could see way clear
to save her people In some other man
ner. An embassy was sent to the Prince
Of Dawsbergen. His domain touched
Graustark on the south. and he ruled
and herdsmen. This embassy sought
TO secure an Endorsement of the loan
from Prince Gabriel sufficient to meet
the coming crisis. Gabriel, himself
smitten by the charms of the princess,
at once offered himself in marriage,
agreeing TO advance, in case she ac-
Cepted him, s2O,OOO.OOO gavvos at a
rather high rate of interest for fifteen
years. His love for her was so great
that he would pawn the entire prin-
Cipality for an answer that would
make him the happiest man on earth.
Now, the troubled princess abhorred
Gabriel. or the two. Lorenz was much
to be preferred. Gabriel flew into \
rage upon the receipt OF this rebuff and
openly avowed his intention to make
her suffer. His infatuation became a
mania, and up to the very day on which
the countess told the story he persisted
in his appeals to the princess. In per-
son he had gone to her to plead his
guilt on his knees. groveling at her
feet. He went so far as to exclaim
madly In the presence OF the alarmed
but relentless object OF his love that
re would win her or turn the whole
earth into everything unpleasant.
So II was that the Princess OF Grau-
stark. erstwhile Miss Guggenslocker.
was being dragged through the most
unhappy affairs that ever beset a SOW
eroign. Within month she was to
sign away two-thirds of her domain,
Transforming multitudes OF her be-
loved and loving people into subjects
OF the hated Axphain or to sell herself,
body and soul, TO a loathsome bidder in
the guise OF a sutton, and. with all this
confronting her, she had come to the
realization Of truth so sad and dis
tracing mat II was breaking her tor
tured heart. She was in love, but with
no royal prince or this, however, the
countess knew nothing, so Lorry had
one great secret to cherish alone.
Has she chosen the course she will
pursue?" asked Lorry as the countess
concluded her story. His face was
turned away.
she cannot decide. We have wept
together over this dreadful. this horri-
Bile thing. You do not know what 1t
means to all of us, Mr.. Lorry. Wo
love her, and there is not one in our
land who would sacrifice her to save