The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-07-08

you Will permit me to ask how much
you are short of the amount" said
Lorry considerably, yet curiously.
Our minister Of finance, Guspon,
will be able to produce 100000 CAV
yos 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 Dco-
Dle have been bleG and have responded
nobly, sacrificing everything to meet
the treaty terms houorably, but the
strain has been too great. Our army
has cost us large sums. We have
strengthened our defenses and could,
should we go to war, defeat Axphaln.
But we have our treaty to honor. We
could not take up arms to save our
selves from that honest bond.
"Our leyies 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 aWed them
with our show Of force. 1t has been
our safeguard, and there. is not a citi-
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 levies on account of
the panic that came at most unfortu-
nate time That is why we we're hur-
rying home from your country, Mr..
Lorry. Gaspon had cabled the princess
that affairs were in a hopeless condi-
ton, begging her to come home and do
what she could in a final appeal to the
people, knowing the love they had for
her. She came and has seen these 10y
al subjects offer their lives for her and
for Graustark, but utterly unable to
give what they have not-money. She
asked them if she should disband the
army, and there was a negative wall
from one end Of the land to the other.
Then the army agreed to serve on half
pay until all was tided over. Public
officers arc 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 few
years." asked Lorry, angry with the
ruler in the north, taking the woes Of
Graustark as much to heart as if they
were his OWN.
sNot 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 as he left that the
princess and his wife had expressed a
desire to be remembered to their guests.
'Her royal highress spent the even
ing with the ministers Of finance and
war, and her poor head, doubt rot Is
racking from the effects Of the consul
tation. These are weighty matters for
a girl to have on her hands," solennly
stated the count, pausing for al in
slant at the door Of the apartment
After be had closed it the Anne r1cans
looked long and thoughtfully at each
other, each feeling respect, for the
grim old gentleman that they had lev
er felt for man before.