Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-03

There have been public meetings. demon
STATIONS in the parks and squares
He was searching her face for a sign Of
fear, but he saw none. He went on:
Il don't know whether you realize the
danger. 1t means revolution unless you can
trust your army. And your army is not to
be trusted
Nonsense" said the princess.
1t is not nonsense, but the truth that
am speaking. as you may too soon discover.
And that is why now obtrude myself"
"Yes?"
"To offer to release you from an engage
ment which you did not desire. and which
seems pregnant with consequences which
none of us foresaw'
BY all the laws of logic she should have
| been grateful to him. He expected to be
thanked and dismissed. But she surprised
him.
His icy, punctilious Indifference had
moved her. She had the burning desire to
say something that should sting him to the
| quick; and here was her opportunity.
| "Of course, if you're afraid to marry
not afraid, and he on his part, never
| doubted that she knew 1t. But he an
swered without emotion:
"Of course, if my reputation for ordinary
courage is at stake
He knew that she did not mean that,
and he paused. leaving her the loophole.
But she sought no loophole. His COM
posture and his resolute adhesion to his
making were the things that irritated her.
| Her petulance overruled every other feel
| ing. She flashed out at him in her naughty
schoolgirl manner:
You must have been afraid. There
| can't have been any other reason"
And after petulance pride spoke-the
| pride of the daughter of kings.
I'm not afraid Who are these people
| who presume to interfere with me and
| dictate to me? The mob. The canaille!
Let them shout! Let them riot! But DON It
| let them think they are going to dictate to
| me!'
She was insulting him and confiding in
| him in a breath. He noticed it and smiled.
| Perhaps, If he had chosen at that moment
| to unbend-but though he was tempted to,
| he would not. remembering his resolution.
| He merely bowed and said:
! Princess. you have decided for me. 1
am your obedient. humble servant"
| But. of course, the decision did not really
rest with either of them. 1t depended upon
| the events outside the palace, and upon
the view which the queen regent and her
| advisers took of them. And the course
| of those events was more than unsatis-
| factory, and the royal advisers were more
| than anxious.
| 1T has come to this, majesty" said the
prime minister. that We must give way
| or be swept away
| II do not like concessions to popular
| feeling" said the queen regent II OBJ
| ject to them on principle"
| ION principle" was the reply, "your maj
| esty's advisers object to them also. But in
| practice they see that they must be made. -
| Give them an inch and they will take an
| ell, quoted the queen regent
| Refuse them an inch and they will take
| a fathom-or perhaps a league" corrected
the prime minister; and then he dropped
| metaphor for plain words, and gesticulated
| with wise and vehement forefinger, add
ing: Mark my words, your majesty.
1t is not the cabinet that is In danger-it
| is the throne. Would your majesty imperil
| her sons throne? Your majesty has not
! the right to do so. 1t is not a possession
! but a sacred trust. Our judgment has been
| at fault, and We must own 1t. We have
| taken a Jonah on board the ship of state
and we must sacrifice him. 1t is the only
| way to save the ship"
| "A shameless way" the queen regent
| threw in. Indignantly.
THE only way. And for your majesty's
| sons sake"
Then L will think about it. Give me
time"
Your majesty must think quickly. for
| the time is Short
The time. in truth, was shorter than
either Of them knew. The revolutionary
| tide was running fast. The streets and
| Radical leaders were delivering inf1amma-
| tory speeches, the alleys and slums were
| pouring out their angry hordes, the shops
of the armorers were being pilaged. From
| the upper windows of the palace the roar
! of murmuring multitudes could be plainly
| heard. They -roared for the blood of the
| young prince who was harbored in the pal
| ace. 1t was already doubtful If the sacri-
| flee would satisfy them or IL they would
| let him go in peace
II will not let him go. I dare not ]