Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-18

Twenty by $50 miles, and yet call
cd n principality Once the proudcst
and most prosperous state in the east,
considering its size, reduced to that!
Ach, neutrality-suspicious., | cannot
think of 1t without tearing out a heart
string and suffering such pains as NOR
tai man has never endured. / lived in
Graustark's days OF wealth, power and
supremacy. God has condemned me to
live in the days of her dependency,
weakness and poverty. Let us talk 10
more of this unpleasant subject"
'Willngly, your cXccllcncy, since it
is distastcful 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, GasDon,
will be able to produce 1j.0CO0OO CAV
vos at the stated time, far from enough.
This amount has been sucked from the
people from excessive levy and las
been boarded for the dreaded day.
Try as we would, it has been iinpoSs-
Bile to raise the full amount. The poo
pic have been bled and have responded
nobly, sacrificing everything to meet
the treaty terms honorably, but the
strain has been too great. Our army
las cost vs. large sums. We have
strengthened our dcfcnses and could,
should we go TO war, defeat AXphain.
But we have our treaty to honor. We
could not take IN arms to save our
selves from that honest bond
Cur lcvicS have barely brought the
amount necessary to maintain an army
large enough to inspire respect among
those who are ready to leap upon us
the instant we show the least sign of
distress. There are about us powers
that have held aloof from war with us
simply because we have awcd them
with our show of force. 1t has been
our safeguard, and there Is not Il cit-
zen Of Graustark who objects to the
manner in which state affairs are con-
Quoted. They know that our army is
an economy at any price. Until last
spring we were confident that we could
raise the full amount due AXphain. but
the people in the rural districts were
unable TO meet the lcviCS on account of
the panic that came ut most unfortu-
nate time. That is why we were hur-
rying home from your country, Mir.
Lorry. GaSpon had cabled the princess
that affairs were in Il hopeless condi-
ton, begging her to come home and 90
what she could in final appeal to the
people, knowing the love they had for
hcr. She came and has seen these low
al subjects offer their lives for her and
FOR Graustark, but utterly unable to
give what they have not-money. She
asked them il she should dishand the
army, and there was n NEGATIVE vail
from one end of the land to the other.
Then the rlrny agreed to serve on half
pay until all was tidcd over. Public
officers are giving their services free,
and many OF our wealthy people have
advanced loans on bonds. worthless as
they may seem. and still we have not
the required amount"
Cannot the loan be extended a few
years" asked Lorry. angry with the
ruler in the north. taking the woes of
Graustarll rs much to heart as if they
We're his own.
Not one day! Not in London, Paris
nor Berlin"
Lorry lay back and allowed Anguish
to lead the conversation into other
channels. The count remained for half
an hour. saying ms he left that the
princess aud his wife had expressed a
desire 10 be remembered to their guests.
Her royal hghncss spent the even
Ing with the ministers Of finance and
war. and her poor head. | doubt not. is
rackinS from the effects of the consul
ration. These are wciEhty matters for
girl to have on her bands" sol"mnly
stated the count. pau$iu9 for an in
slant at the door Of the apartment.
After he had closed il the Americans
locked long and thouEhtfully ut each
other, each feeling respect for the
grim old gentleman tat they h,u usv-
Ell felt Tor Ran before.