Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-06-03

arms in defense Of the city. For over
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 In
Edeiweiss. 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. The
prince was killed In front Of the castle
gates, from which he had sailed In a
last brave attempt to beat of the con.
querors. A bronze statue now marks
the spot on which he fell The prin-
cess. his wife, was my sister, and as l
held the portfolio of finance It was
through me that the city surrendered,
bringing the siege to an end. Fifteen
years ago this autumn-the Goth Of No
vamber, to be explicit-the treaty Of
peace was signed In Sofia. We were
compelled to cede portion OF territory
In the far northeast, valuable for its
mines. Indemnity was agreed upon by
the peace commissioners, amounting to
10000. 900 gavvos, or nearly $50. .O00, 900
I'd 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 g..
100000 gavvos. The time Is at hand,
and that is why we recall the war 30
vividly. 1t 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 raisedY' he asked.
at Is not in our treasury. Our peo-
ple have been taxed 90 sorely in re-
building their homes and in. recuper-
ating from the effect Of that dreadful
invasion that they have been unable
to pay the levies. You must remem-
Der that we are o small nation and OF
limited resources. Your nation could
secure 10000, 900 In one hour for the
mere asking. To us 1t Is like a death
blow. am not betraying state se-
cret in telling you Of the sore straits
in which we are placed, for every man
in the nation has been made cognizant
of the true conditions. We are all fac
Ing it together"
There was something 30 quietly he.
roic in his manner that both men felt
pity. Anguish. looking at the military
figure, asked:
"You fought through the war. your
e1cellency?"
II resigned as minister; sir, to 60 to
the front. was In the first battle
and was in the last" he said simply.
"And the princess-the present ruler.
I mean-was mere child at that time.
When did she succeed to the throneT
asked Lorry. - 20 j.
"Oh, the great worM does not re-
member our little history! Within 2
year after the death Of Prince Can
look his wife, my sister, passed away.
dying of a broken heart Her daugh-
ter, their only child, was, according to
our custom, crowned at once. She has
reigned for fourteen years, and wisely
since assuming full power. For three
years she has been ruler de facto. She
has been frugal and has done all In
her mower TO meet the shadow that Ii
descending"
"And what is the alternative IN case
the indemnity Il not paidF asked
Lorry breathlessly. for he saw some
thing bright in the approaching caiam-
ity.
1.-THE cession Of all that part Of Grau-
stark lying north Of Edelweiss, includ'
ing fourteen towns, all Of our mines
and our most productive farming and
grazing lands. In that event Grau'
stark will be no larger than one OF the
good sized farms in your western coun'
try. There will be nothing left for her
royal highness to rule save tract 30
small that the word principally Will
be travesty and jest-this city and
twenty-five miles to the south, strip
about $50 miles long. Think Of It!
Twenty-Five by $50 miles, and yet call
ed a principality! Once the proudest
and most prosperous state in the east,
considering its size. reduced to that!
Ach, neutrality-suspicious., / cannot
think of 1t without tearing out heart
string and suffering such pains as NOR
tai man has never endured. l lived IN
Graustark's days Of wealth, power ana
supremacy. God has condemned me to
live in the days Of her dependency
weakness and poverty. Let US talk no
more Of this unpleasant subject"
"Willingly. your excellency. since 1t
is distasteful to you. hope, however,
you will permit me to ask how much
you are short Of the amount" SAID
Lorry considerably, yet curiously.
"Our minister Of finance, Gaspon,
will be able to produce 100000 CAV
vos at the stated time, far from enough.
This amount has been sucked from the
people from excessive levy and has
been boarded for the dreaded day.
Try as we would. it has been impossi-
BILE to raise the full amount. The peo-
pie have been bled and have responded
nobly, sacrificing everything to meet
the treaty terms honorably, but the
strain has been too great Our army
has cost US large sums. We have
strengthened our defenses and could,
should we 60 to war. defeat Axphain.
But we have our treaty to honor. We
could not take up arms to save our.
selves from that honest bond.
"Our levies have barely brought the
amount necessary to maintain an army
large enough to inspire respect among
those who are ready to leap upon us