The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-08-26

gazed over the circle Of anxious faces
and realized, more than at any time in
her young life, that she was frail and
weak beyond all comparison How
small she was to rule over those strong,
wise men Of hers. How feeble the
hand that held the scepter!
'My lords" she said, summoning all
her strength Of mind and heart, 81 am
cratifled to find you so ready to respond
to the call Of your whimsical sovereign.
Yesterday you came with hearts bowed
down and In deepest woe. Today as
semble you here that I may ask your
advice concerning the events Of that
strange day. Bolaroz will do as be has
promised. We are to have the extern
sion papers this afternoon, and Grau-
stark may breathe again the strong,
deep breath Of hope. You well renem-
Der my attitude on yesterday. If on
yesterday I would not let my kingdom
stand between me and my love, I can
not do 50 today. have called you here
to tell you, my lords, that I have prom
ised to become the wife Of the man
who would have given his life for you
and for me-that love as a woman,
not as a princess"
The silence Of death stole into the
room. Every mans eyes We're glued
upon the white face Of the princess,
and none could break the spell. Not q
word was uttered for many seconds.
Then old Caspar's tense muscles re-
laxed and bis arms dropped Imply
from their crossed position on bis
breast.
''My child, my child" he cried life
lessly. "Tou cannot do this thingp'
"But the people" cried Gaspon, his
eyes cleaning. "You cannot act against
the will Of the people. Our laws, natu-
raj and otherwise, prescribe the very
act you have In mind. The American
cannot go upon our throne. No man,
unless he be Of royal blood, can share
It with you If you marry him, the
Laws Of our land-you know them we'll
will prohibit US from recognizing the
marriage"
"Knowing that, my lords, l have
come to ask you to revise our laws.
Ny throne will not be disgraced by the
man would have share it with me-
She spoke as calmly as If she were
making the most trivial request instead
Of asking her ministers to overthrow
and undo the laws and customs Of ages
and Of dynasties.
"The law Of nature cannot be- chang
3D." muttered Caspar as If to himself.
'In the event that the custom cannot
be changed I shall be compelled to re-
linquish my right to occupy the throne
ard to depart from among you. 1t
would break my heart, my lords, to re-
sort to this monstrous sacrifice, but I
love one man first, my crown and my
people after him."
''You would not leave us-you would
not throw aside as despised the crown
your ancestors wore for centuries :"
cried Gaspon.
The others were staring with open
mouths and icy hearts.
eyes, as much as it would grieVe me,
I would do all this" she answered
firmly, not daring to look at her uncle.
Her heart ached to turn to him with
prayer for forgiveness, but there could
be no faltering now.
81 ask you, my lords, to acknowledge
the marriage Of your ruler to Grenfall
Lorry. I am to be his wife, but I en-
treat you to grant me happiness with
out making me endure the misery that
will come to me if I desert my fathers
throne and the people who have wor-
SHIPPED me and to whom I am bound by
a tie that cannot be broken. 1 do not
plead SO much for the right to rule as
do for the one who may rule after I
am gone. / want my own to follow me
on the throne Of. Graustark. ~
Then followed a long, animated dis
cussion, growing brighter and more
hopeful as the speakers willing hearts
warmed to the proposition: Lorry was
a fayorite, but he could not be their
prince. Hereditary law prohibited.
Many times the princess and Der wise
men met and overcame obstacles, huge
at first, minimized IN the end, all be-
cause they loved1her and she loved
them. The departure from tradition
ary custom, as suggested by the prin-
cess, coupled with the threat to abdl-
cate, was the weightiest yet the most
delicate question that had ever come
before the chief men Of Graustark.
For the first time in the history Of the
country woman was sovereign; for
the first time there had been no direct
male heir to the throne. With the
death Of old Prince Ganlook the mas
culine side Of the illustrious family
ended. No matter whom his daughter
took for a husband, the line was bro
ken. Why not the bold, progressive,
rich American? argued some. Count
Caspar held out until all were against
him, giving way finally in burst OF
oratory which ended in tears and soDs
and which made the sense Of the gath
ering unanimous.
The Princess Yetiye won the day, SO
for as her own position was concerned,
but there was Lorry to be considered:
''N1r. Lorry knows that I called sou
together in consultation, but he does
not know that I would have given up
NV crown for him. / dared not tel
him that. He knows only that was
to ask your advice on the question OF
and that alone. fear ne
will object to the plan we have agreed
upon," she went on. "He is sensitive,
and it is possible he will not like the
idea Of putting our marriage to the
popular vote of the people"
81 insist, however, that the people be
considered in the matter" said Gaspon.
"In three months time the whole ma
ton can say whether it sanctions the
revision Of our laws Of heredity."
81 have no hesitancy in saying that
Graustark already idolizes this brave
Americana said Halfont warmly. he