The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1903-09-12

All realized an emergency. Not one
In that assembly but had hearl the
vivid soulful senteuce fron me throne.
Not one but wished In secret as Gaspon
and Haifout 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 i'm
her young life, that she was frail and
weak beyond all comparison. How
small she was 20 rule over those strong.
wise men OF hers. How feeble the
hand that held the scepterl
! my lords" she said, summonlng ali
her strength of mind and heart II am
! gratIfied to find you SO ready 10 respond
TO the call Of your whimsical sovereign.
Yesterday you came with hearts bowed
down and in deepest woe. Today | AS
semble you here that | may ask your
advice concerning the events Of that
strange day. Bolaroz will DO as lie has
promised. We are 10 have the extern
sion papers this afternoon, and Grau-
stark may breathe again the strong,
deep breath OF hope. You well remem-
Der my attitude on yesterday. III 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-
i ised 10 become the wife OF the man
who would have given his life for you
and for me that | love as 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 ii
word was uttered for many seconds.
| Then old Caspars tense muscles re
Taxed ana his arms dropped Imply
from their crossed position on his
| breast
"Nly child, my childr he cried life
lessly You cannot do this thing.'
But the people?7 cried Gaspon, his
eyes cleaning. You 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
| II 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. | have
come 10 ask you 10 revise our laws.
| My throne will not be disgraced by the
maa | would have share IL with me"
| She spoke ms calmly as If she were
making the most trivial request instend
Of asking her ministers to overthrow
and undo the laws and customs OF ages
and of dynasties
''The law OF nature cannot Ice chang
ed, muttcred Caspar as If to himself
I'm the event that the custom cannot
| be changed | shall bee compelled TO re
| linquish my right 10 occupy the throne
and 10 depart from among you 1t
would break my heart, my lords, 10 re
sort 10 this monstrous sacrifice. but /
love one man first, my crown and my
people after him"
You would not leave us-you would
not throw aside as dcspised the crown
| your ancestors wore for centuriesg 2"
cried Gaspon.
The others were staring with open
mouths and Icy hearts
"Yes. as much as Il would grieve me,
| would do all this" she answered
| firmly, not daring to look at her uncle
Her heart ached TO turn 10 him with
prayer for forgiveness. but there could
be no faltering now
IL ask you. my lords. TO acknowledge
the marriage Of your ruler 10 Grenfall
LofTy. | ann to Ice his wife. but | en-
treat you TO grant me happiness with
out making me endure the misery that
viii come TO me II / desert my fathers
throne and the people who have wor
SHIPPED me and 10 whom am bound 10y
tie that cannot bc broken. ] do not
plead so much for the right TO rule as /
do for The one who may rule after |
am gone. ! want my own 70 follow me
on the throne of Graustark.'
Then followed long, animated dis
NhNNibhf NiNNAilk Hii@hAfA hih AhhAN
hopeful as the speakers willing hearts
warmed to the proposition. Lorry was
favoritc but he could not be their
prince. Hereditary law prohibited
Many times the princess ana her wise
men met and overcame obstacles, huge
az first. minimized In tile end all be-
cause they loved her and she loved
them. The departure from tradition.
airy custom. as suggested by the pl'ln-
cess. coupled with the threat 60 abdi-
catc. was the wcightiest yet the most
delicate question that had ever come
before the chief men OF Graustark
For the first time In the history Of the
cauutry woman was sovereign; for
the first time there had been no direct
nnit heir TO the throne With the
Gaath OF old Prince Ganlook the mas
,4lfun side NJ tho ftiugtrloIs fornftv