Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-20
.Graustark
.--.'--..>-s-----1
BY GEORGE BARR M'cuTcHEoN
Copyrighted 1901, by Herbert S. Stone.
gulsh readily. BE able to go into

battle again tomorrow.
THAT is the way with you aggressive
Americans, am told. They never give
up until they are dead said the count
courteously Your head better!'
lit does not pain me as 1T did. and
I'm sure I'll be able to get out tomor-
row. Thank you very much for your
interest," said Lorry. May l inquire
after the health of the Countess Hal
font? The excitement OF last night
has not had an unpleasant effect,
hope"
"She is with the princess, and both
are quite we'll Since our war, gentle
men, Graustark women have nothing
to acquire in the way OF courage and
endurance. You, of course, know moth
ing of the horrors of that war"
But we would be thankful for the
story of it. your excellency. War is a
hobby of mine. l read every war scare
that gets into print" said Anguish
eagerly.
I'VE of Graustark at present have
every reason to recall the last war and
bitterly to lament Its ending. The war
occurred just fifteen years ago-but
will the recital tire you, Mr. Lorry!
came to spend few moments socially
and not to go into history. At any
other time shall be-
at will please and not tire me.
am deeply interested. Pray, go on"
Lorry fastened to say, for lie was In
terested more than the count suspect
ed.
Fifteen years ago Prince Ganlook
of this princlpality, tile father OF our
princess. became incensed over the dep
relations of the Axphain soldiers who
patrolled our border on the north. He
demanded restitution for the devasta-
ton they had created, but was refused.
Grausturk Is a province comprising
some 500 square miles of the best land
in this part Of the world. Our neigh
Dor is smaller in area and population.
Our army was better equipped, but not
SO hardy. For several months the fight
ing in the north was in our favor, but
the result was that our forces were
finally driven back to Edelweiss, hack
ed and battered by the fierce thousands
that came over the border. The nation
was staggered by the shock, for such
an outcome had not been considered
possible. We had been too confident
Our soldiers were sick and worn by
six months of hard fighting, and the
men of Edelweiss-the merchants. the
laborers and the nobility itself-flew to
arms in defense of the city. For over
month we fought. hundreds Of our
best and bravest citizens going down to
death. They at last began lombard
ment OF the city. Today you can see
the marks on nearly every house in
Edelweiss. Hundreds of graves in the
valley to the south attest the terrors Of
that siege. The castle was stormed,
and Prince Ganlook, with many Of the
chief men of the land, met death. The
prince was killed in front OF the castle
gates. from which he had sailed in
last brave attempt to beat OF the con-
querors. A bronze statue now marks
the spot on which he fell. The prin-
cess, his wife. was my sister, and as l
held the portfolio Of finance 1t was
through me that the dty surrendered,
bringing the siege to an end. Fifteen
years ago this autumn-the Goth of No
va1nber, to be explicit-the treaty Of
peace was signed in Sofia. We We're
compelled to cede portion of territory
in the far northeast, valuable for it's
mines. Indemnity was agreed upon by
the peace commissioners, amounting to
100000 gavvos, or nearly $4,000, 600
in your money. In fifteen years this
money was to be paid. with interest.
On the Goth Of November. this year,
the people of Graustark must pay 25,-
1000 gavvos. The time is at hand,
and that is why we recall the war so
wildly. 1t means the bankruptcy Of
the nation, gentlemen"
Neither of his listeners spoke for
some moments. Then Lorry broke the
silence
"You mean that the money cannot
be raised?" he asked.
at is not in our treasury. Our peo-
pie have been taxed SO sorely in re-
building their homes and in recuper-
ating from the effect OF that dreadful
Invasion that they have been unable
to pay the levies. You must remem-
her that we are small nation and OF
limited resources Your nation could
secure $3O,O0O,0 900 in one hour for the
mere asking To rs 1t Is like death
blow. / am not betraying state Sc
cret in telling you Of the sore straits
IN which we are placed, for every man
In the nation has been made cognizant
of the true conditions. We are all fac
ing 1t together"
There was something SO quietly he
roic In his manner that both men felt
pity. Anguish, looking at the military
figure, asked:
"You fought through the war, your
excellency?"
IL resigned as minister, sir, to go to
the front. I was in the first battle
and was in the last" he said simply.
And the princess-the present ruler,
mean--was a mere child ut that time.
When did she succeed to the throne"
asked Lorry.
"Oh. the great world does not re-
member our little history! Within
year after the death of Prince Gan
look his wife. my sister, passed away,
dying of a broken heart. Her daugh-
ter. their only child, was, according to
our custom, crowned at once. She has