The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-08


was advancing toward the couch, tall,
easy and the pcrsonification OF cor
diality.
81 could not retire until had salts
fed myself as to Mr.. Lorry's condition
and his comfort" said he in his broken
English. He seated himself near the
couch and bent sharp, anxious eyes on
the recumbent figure.
"Oh. he's all rishtr' volunteered All
cuish readily. BE able to so into
battle again tomorrow"
"That is the way with you aggressive
Americans, am told. They never give
up until they are dead" said the count
courtcously. Your Lead is better"
1T does not pain ne as it did, and
I'm sure III he able to get out tomor-
row. Thank you very much for your
interest" said Lorry. "May l inquire
after the health Of the Countess Hal
font? The excitement Of last nlsht
has not had an unpleasant effect l
hope"
s.She is with the princess, and both
are quite we'll. Since our war, gentle
men. Graustark women have rotalns
to ACQUIRE in the way Of courage and
endurance. You, of course, know moth
inc of the horrors Of that war"
But we would be thankful for tue
story of it, your excellency. War is Q
hobby of mine. read every war scare
that gets into print" said Anguish
eagerly.
1--WE Of Graustark at present have
every reason to recall the last war and
bitterly to lament its ending. The war
occurred just fifteen years aso-Dut
will the recital tire you, Mr.. Lorry! :
came to spend G few moments socially
and not to go into history. At any
other time shall be-
"It will please and not tire me. l
am deeply interested. Pray, go on"
Lorry fastened to say, for he was IN
tercsted more than the count suspect
ed.
Fifteen years ago Prince Ganlook
of this principality, the father OF our
princess, became incensed over the dep
relations of the A1phain soldiers who
patrolled our border on the north. lie
demanded restitution for the devasta-
ton they had created, but was refused.
Graustark is i province comprising
some 500 square miles Of the best land
in this part of the world. Our neigh
Dor is smaller in area and population.
Our army was better equipped, but not
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
cd 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
laborcrs and the nobility itself-few to
arms in defense of the city. For over
q month we fought, hundreds Of our
best and bravest citizens going down to
death. They at last began lombard
ment of the city. Today you can see
the marks on nearly every house IL
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. Inc
prince was killed in front Of the castle
gates. from which he had sailed in a
last brave attempt to beat off the con-
euerors. A bronze statue low marks
the spot on which he fell. The prin-
cess, his wife, was my sister, and as |
held the portfolio Of finance it was
through ne that the city surrendered,
bringing the siege to an end. Fifteen
years ago this autumn-the goth Of No
ye.nber, to be explicit-the treaty OF
peace was signed in Sofa. We We're
compelled to cede portion q territory
in the far northeast, valuable for its
mines. Indemnity was agreed upon Dy
the peace commissioners, amounting to
2O,OO0,00O gavyos, or nearly S3O,0OO,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 2o,-
100000 gavvos. The time lis at hand,
and that is why we recall the war SO
vividly. It 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'
atins from the effect Of that dreadful
invasion that they have been unable
to pay the levies. You must remem-
ber that we are small nation and OF
limited resources. Your nation could
secure S30,O00,00O in one hour for the
mere asking. To us 1t is like a death
blow. I am not Detraying 4 state Sc
crct in telling you of the sore straits
In which We are placed, for every man
In the nation has been made cognlzant
of the true conditions. We are all FAC
ing it together.
There was something so quietly be-
roic in his manner that both men felt
pity. Anguish, looking at the military
figure, asked:
You fought through the war, your
cxccllency:'
II resigned rs minister, sir, to so 10
the front. l was i'll the first Dattse
and I was in the last he said simply.
And the princess-thc present ruler,
I ucan-was a mere child at that time.
When did she succeed to the throne"
asked LoTy.
"Oh, the great, world does not re-
member our little history! Within q
wear after the death Of Prince Can
look his wife, my sister, passed away
tlyin. of broken heart. Her daush-
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