Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-10

right to any privileges of any kind If my
wife has a retinue of servants, they may
not wear royal livery. She may not drive
in a royal equpage without me. In the
case of my death, my widow will get
handsome annuity but she must leave the
residence which she may have been shar-
ing with me. within a week, unless it hap
pens to be private property. She may take
with her only the private possessions Of
herself and her children.
So 1T goes on. 1 am wearied. nervous,
nauSeated.
The privy councillor has sent in his name.
He called by command Of my mother.
refused to see our spirituS familiaris He
would have capped the climax!
Did l write that my mother did not see
me alone for minute? Not minute.
l am angry because / did not tell my
mother at the luncheon that l considered
| the king in miserable condition, wearied to
death, positively ghostly. And l should
have added that found the queen pitiable
and ct the same time adorable. And
further, my bride was a celestial vision,
far too good for this world-at least, for
the world of court.
INCREASINGLY 1 should have spoken to my
illustriOus mother of the sick king, the sad
queen, my charming bride and my happi-
ness
That would have been something! In
stead of that talked all SORTS of nonsense
about the beautiful countess. Madly rage
because of my cowardice. But my mother
has a manner.
I sent nv excuses to the queen. with
whom I was to take tea in company with
Gebhardt and drove out to Solitude. with
out a cavalier, which is decidedly incorrect
But l permitted it to myself. l have the
FOOLS freedom.
It is barely an hours drive from the cap
ital to the little palace. If l should dwell
in it with Judica. 1 would have 1t changed
/ throughout so that no traces OF Its old use
should remain
act To 1yn
my child there, were 1t not for the park,
which dates from a later and different
time. The park is like forest with lakes
| and ponds. The gardens are full of foun-
| tains and a marble throng stands every
where. Judca will laugh at many of these
| Olympian gods. In the lakes are swans
| and water lilies. They will please my
child. And she will be pleased. too, by
| fields of blossoms 1 am delighted even
! now at the delight of my child.
| / was thinking this as l strolled along the
paths when 1 met lady, 1 recognized
| Gebhardt's sister. stepped toward her, and
| thought suddenly:
THANK the king once more for his kind
| ness, but decline absolutely to dwell here,
| even for a short time"
| l bowed to her and uttered some phrase
| to which she replied that she had strolled
| too far and must hurry to her carriage,
| because she had been commanded to appear
| at the dinner.
| / said politely:
| II hope to have the fortune to sit opposite
! to you tonight
| She looked at me, did not reply, but
! walked still faster. / felt impelled to make
| her speak. So l said in quite a different
| tone:
| II have often thought of our conversation
| in the ante-room of her majesty The
| thought of it gave me the strength-for, as
| you know. am no heroic win my life's
happiness"
| Your life's happiness?"
| faIt hof S1lrpinD nf h1nod bo hoA
| peated my words in so careless Indifferent
| a manner that it was actually insulting.
| With a doubly serious and forcible voice
! answered.:
| II call my bride my life's happiness"
| "Your royal highness will permit me to
offer my congratulations"
"Of the sincerity of which I am satisfied
| and, hence. thank you"
| Now we both spoke in typical courtly
phrases. which. after all. are the only cor
rect ones at court. / conducted the countess
closed coupe and returned to the capital to
put on evening clothes.
There is no doubt now: she despises me-
and all the more SO because of my marriage
| with one who is not my equal. And this
| What in the name of all things care for
the opinion of the Countess Thyra?
At dinner the king asked me:
Have you been to Solitude?"
| "Yes"
Then you will agree to it?"
| The countess sat opposite to me. At the
last question OF the king l looked at her
She. too. looked up accidentally and al
me-wtth most curious expression. az