Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-24

He expresses the wish to be left alone. and
commands that none must disturb HIM
In the next room his maJestys adJutaht
waits. An hour passes. And a second houf
passes. The adjutant hears the king sign
heavily several times.
The council has assembled and waits \
third hour passes. The adjutant departs
for a moment to cali the kings chambe~-
lain. lie is to enter the kings ROOM 1t is
late at night.
The chamberlain enters the door and sees
the king sitting NJ the desk, with his head
upon it as if lie were asleep. Softly he calls:
Your majesty!
The king does not hear. does not move.
our ma jesty,
Be3suse the king still does not hear the
man steps nearer and sees
1t is dripping from the desk to the red
carpet. and it has the royal color of the
carpet. Dabbled with blood is the declara-
ton Of war that bears-no signature.
= #
The king is carried to his bed by adju-
tant ana chamberlain. The room is shut
Oft. 1t is announced: His ma iesty is in
disposed" The spiritus farniliars is On the
spot at once. The queen and the queen
mother are called. The queen falls at the
bedside one dead; the queen mother Is
rigid and strong. The kings servants are
sworn to silence, and that whole part of
the palace is shut off and guarded.
The council remains assembled
The doctors are asked how long his mai
esty will remain ''indisposed." Not fully
forty-eight hours more! Who is the sue
cessor? y stranger. Has the king no
brother? Oh, yes; but the brother has re-
nounced the succession. had to renounce
because his reign would be misfortune for
the nation. A secret deed is in existence
signed by him. Then, why yes! Then We
must call the stranger.
SO they debate, and al last they decide to
wait until it can be said
The king is dead-long live the king.''
And yet-they should let the brother
n 10 oil
One cannot know.
But he will come. He will GOMEZ He will
come to demand his rights, to step into his
Inheritance, to take the crown of his
fathers
The woman who loves him calls him!
Accompanied by faithful servant, the
countess leaves the capital. She reaches
the lake. There is only one path; it may be
the path of death.
She takes it.
When I arrived on the Sea-Alp with the
countess and her companion the night had
begun. / led the magnificent one into my
rooms. served her with refreshments my
self, and then proceeded personally to my
adjutant, to whom l said:
The king is dying. l am his successor,
designated by God! Your sister has come
to call me to preserve my rights at the
death to mount the throne, which your sis
ter shall mount with me, thanks to my
royal power and my passion.
in an hour l shall start to the capital
with the countess. Since the path has be-
come impossible through the fall of an ay-
alanche. we cross the lake. No matter how
I must. If you wish to accompany me,
come; if you would rather remain stay!
Which is your decision?'
For me there is only one decision
ITO remain?'
ITO do what l can in order to prevent
your royal highness from leaving the Sea-
Alp"
1 asked him: rs that your loyalty for
me?'
His answer was: Yes, that it isl
And l asked further, suppressing myself
nightly: You. too, will consider it a mis-
fortune If 1 become king?'
Yes
Misfortune for the land?"
Yes
Because 1 am unable to rule?''
TOO ill.,
That is impossible under the law of your
house"
Il shall make a new law that will make
the impossible possible"
Even then it will remain impossible
Because am married already?"
ITO an angel
'In whom you, however see an earthly
woman"
Pale and white he stood before me- with.
his secret love exposed by me and named
calmly by me. He struggled for words,
could say nothing for period, then ejacu-
lated with a hoarSe voice
i shall stu {, my utmost to prevent