The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-06-24
CHAPTER XVIII.
TIE MAID OF GRAUsTARK.

SldEk > nlulSAtIS anu ntE NhlcA
men as they sat i'll the council cham
Der on the day following. awaiting the
appearance of their princess. at whose
call they were Unexpectedly assem-
bled.
All realized m emergency. Not che
in that assembly but had heard the
vivid. soulful sentence from the throne.
Not one but wished in secret as Gaspon
and Halfont had wished in open
speech.
When the princess entered with the
prime minister they narrowly scanned
the face so dear to them. After the
greetings she requested them to draw
chairs about the great table. Seating
herself in her accustomed seat. she
gazed over the circle of anxious faces
and realized, more than at any time in
her young life, that she was frail and
weak beyond all comparison. How
small she was TO rule over those strong,
wise men of hers. How feeble the
hand that held the scepter.
my lords she said, summoning all
her strength of mind and heart, Il am
gratified to find you so ready to respond
10 the call of your whimsical sovereign.
Yesterday you came with hearts bowed
down and in deensst woe. Today ! as
semble you here that may ask your
advice concerning the events of that
strange day. Bolaroz will do as be has
promised. We are to have the eXten-
SIGN papers this afternoon, and Grau-
stark may breathe again the strong,
deep breath of hope. You we'll remem-
Der my attitude on yesterday. If on
yesterday | would not let my kingdom
stand between me and my love. / can
not do so today. have called you here
to tell you, my lords, that | have prom
ised to become the wife of the man
who would have given his life for you
and for me-that ! love as a woman,
not as a princess"
The silence of death stole into the
room. Every mans eyes Were glued
upon the white face Of the princess,
and none could break the spell. Not Il
word was uttered for many seconds.
Then old Caspar'S tense muscles re-
Taxed and his arms dropped Imply
from their crossed position on his
breast.
My child, my child!' he cried life
lessly. You cannot do this thing
But the peopIe?' cried Gaspon, his
eyes cleaning. Yen cannot act against
the will of the people. Our laws. natu-
raj and otherwise, prescribe the very
act you have in mind. The American
cannot go upon our throne. No man,
unless he be of royal blood. can share
it with you. If you marry him. the
laws of our land-yOu know them well
will prohibit US from recognizing the
marriage"
knowing that, my lords, l have
come to ask you to revise our laws.
My throne will not be disgraced by the
man ! would have share it with me-"
She spoke as calmly as if she were
making the most trivial request instead
of asking her ministers to overthrow
and undo the laws and customs of ages
and of dynasties.
Tie law of nature cannot be chang
ed" muttered Caspar as if to himself.
"In the event that the custom cannot
be changed | shall be compelled to re-
linquish my right to occupy the throne
and to depart from among you. 1t
would break my heart. my lords, to re-
sort TO this monstrous sacrifice. but l
love one man first, my crown and my
people after him."
You would not leave us-yOu would
not throw aside as despised the crown
your ancestors wore for centuries?"
cried Gaspon.
The others were staring with open
mouths and icy hearts.
Yes. as much as it would grieve ms,
| would do all this" she answered
firmly. not daring TO look at her uncle.
Her heart ached t. turn to him with "a
prayer for forgiveness. but there could
be no falter.ng now.
Il ask you. my lords. to acknowledge
the marriage Of your ruler to Grenfan
Lorry. / am to be his wife. but | en-
treet yoI. to grant me happiness wit&-
CT. making me endure the misery thai
viii come to me if | desert my fathers
throne ana the people who have wor
shipped me anu TO whom | am bound by
a tie that cannot be broken. | do moi
plead so much for the right to rule as
do for the one who may rule after ]
ar gone. want my own to follow me
on the throne of Graustark."
Then followed a long. animated dis
cussion, growing brighter and more
hopeful as the speakers willing hearts
warmed 10 the proposition. Lorry was
q fayorite, but he could not be theil
prince. Hereditary law prohibited
Many times the princess and her wise
men met and overcame obstacles, huge
at first. minimized in the end, all be
cause they loved her and she loved
them. The departure from tradition
airy custom. as suggested by the prin
cess. coupled with the threat to abdi
cate. was the weightiest yet the mos
delicate question that had ever come
before the chief men of Graustark
For the first time in the history of tho
country a woman was sovereign; fol
the first time there had beer no direct
Esa -