Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-07-23
not as n princess"


word was uttered for many seconds.
Then old C8spars tense muscles re-
Taxed and his arms dropped Imply
from their crossed position on bis
breast
my child, my child" he cried life
lessly. you cannot do this thing"
But the peoplct" 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 nave in mind. The American
cannot go upon our throne. No man,
unless he be Of royal blood can share
1t 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 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 q es
and of dynaStics.
"Thc law of nature cannot be chang
ed" muttercd Caspar as If to himself.
an 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 |
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 ccnturies;"
cried GaspOn
The others were staring with open
mouths and icy hearts.
YES, as much as it would grieve me,
| would do all this" she answered
firmly, not daring to look at her uncle.
Her heart ached to turn to him with a
prayer for forgiveness, but there could
be no faltcring now.
Il ask you, my lords. TO acknowledge
the marriage Of your ruler to Grenfall
Lorry. am to be his wife. but | ell
treat you to grant me happiness with
out making me endure the misery that
will come to me if desert my fathers
throne and the people who have wor-
SHIPPED me and TO whom am bound by
a tie that cannot be broken. I do not
plead so much for the right to rule as
do for the one who may rule after I
am 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 to the proposition. Lorry was
a favorite. but he could not be their
prince. Hereditary law prohibited
Many times the princess and her wise
men met and overcame obstacles. huge
at first minmzed 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 most
delicate question that had ever come
before the chief men of Graustark.
For the first time in the history Of the
country a woman was sovereign: for
the first time there had been no direct
male heir to tho throne. With the
death Of old Prince Ganlooli the mas
culne side of the ilustrious family
ended. No matter whom his daughter
took for n husband. the line was bro
ken. Why not the bold, progressive,
rich American? argued some. Count
Caspar held ont until all were against
him, giving way finally in burst Of
oratory which ended in tears and sobs
and which made the sense of the gath
erinG unanimous.
The Princess Yetivc won the day. so
far as her own position was concerned,
but there was Lorry to be considered.
"Mr. Lorry knows thTt l called you
together in consultation, but he does
not know that | would have given up
my crown for him. | dared not tell
him that. lie knows only that | was
to ask your advice GA the question of
marriage. and that alone. fear he
will object to the plan We have agreed
upon" she went on. He is sensitive.
and it is possible he will not like the
idea of putting our marriage to the
popular vote OF the people.
Il insist. however. that the people be
considered in the matter" said Gaspon
I'm three months time the whole ma
ton can say whether it sanctions the
revision of our laws of heredity.'
Il have no hesitancy in saying tina
Graustark already idolzes this brave
American" said Halfont warmly. "H'
has won her affection. l will voucl
for ii that the whole nation will rise
and cry; Long live the princess Ions
live the princess, Long live the prince
consort""
Coin back, sec" said Sticky, the
guard, some months later, addressing
very busy young man who was hur
rying down the platform of the EdeI
weiss railway station toward the spe
cial train which was pulling impatient
ly.
Hello, Sticky, Is it you? I'm glad
TO see You again. Yes, we are goine
back to the land of the stars and
stripes" The speaker was Mr.. An
guish
You'll have fine company S fer as
Vienna too. u You ever see such Z
celebrations dcy're havin' here today
You'd tink lie whole world was inter
ested in de little visit her royal high
ness is goin' to pay 10 Vienna, DUN
med If de whole city, soldiers an all
amt down here to see 'cr off. Look a
de crowd, Ry glory, | don't b'lieve We