Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-02-08

SN~'N~
.s.s...... 1. !. !. s-.s +4-f++
lclwelss. Hundreds Of graves in the
lev to the south attest the terrors OF
at siege. The castle was stOrmed.
d Prince GanlOok. with many of the
ief men Of the land. met death. The
-ince was killed in front of the castle
ties. from which he had sailed in
81 brave attempt to beat off the con-
leTors bronze statue now marks
o spot on which he fell. The prin-
IS. his wife. was my sister. and as |
ED the portfolio of finance it was
rough me that the city surrendered,
ringing the siege to an end. Fifteen
ears ago this autumn--the Goth of No
ambcr. to he explicit-the treaty of
cace was signed in Sofia. We were
compelled to cede portion of territory
n the far northeast. valuable for its
mines Indemnity was agreed upon by
he peace commissioners, amounting to
20 OOO. 900 gavyos, or nearly S30,OO0,OOO
n YOUR money. In fifteen years this
money was to be paid, with interest.
IN the Goth of November, this year,
he people of Graustark must pay 25.-
100 900 gavvos. The time is at hand,
and that is why we recall the war so
vividly. It,means the bankruptcy OF
the nation. gentlemen"
Neisher of his listeners spoke for
some moments. Then Lorry broke the
silence.
You mean that the money cannot
be raised?' he asked. +
1T 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
10 pay the levies. You must remem-
her that we are q small nation and of
limited resources. Your nation could
secure $4,000, 900 in one hour for the
mere asking. To us it is like a death
blow. | am not betraying a state Sc
cret in telling you of the sore straits
i'm which we are placed, for every man
in the nation has been made cOgnizant
Of the true conditions. We are all fac
ing it together"
There was something SO quietly he
role in his manner that both men felt
pity. Anguish, looking at the military
figure, asked:
You fought through the war, your
exceHencyE"
4 resigned as minister, sir, to go to
the front | was in the first battle
and l was in the last" he said simply.
And the princess-the present ruler,
l mean.-was a mere child at that time.
When did she succeed to the throne!
asked Lorry.
"Oh. the great world does not re-
member our little history! Within
wear after the death of Prince Can
look his wife, my sister, passed away,
diving of a broken heart. Her daugh-
ter their only child was, according to
our custom, crowned at once. She mas
rpigned for fourteen years, and wisely
since assuming full power. For three
years she has been ruler de facto She
has been frugal and has done all II
her power to meet the shadow that is
descending"
And what is the alternative in CASE
the indemnity is not paid? asked
Lorry breathlessly, for he saw some
thing bright in the approaching calam
ity.
The cession of all that part of Grau
stark living north of Edelweiss. includ
ing fourteen towns, all of our mine
and our most productive farming ant
grazing lands. In that event Grau
stark will be no larger than one of tn
good sized farms in your western coun
nv. There will be nothing left for he
~
small that the word principally wi
be travesty and jest-this city an
twenty-five miles to the south, a strl
about $50 miles long. Think of i
Twenty-Five by 80 miles, and yet cal
ed a principality! Once the proudeS
and most prosperous state in the cas-
considering its size, reduced TO tina
Ach. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., l cann'
think of it without tearing out hea
string and suffering such pains as mo
tai man has never endured. IVed
Graustark' days of wealth. power al
supremacy. God has condemned me
live in the days of her dependent
weakness and poverty. Let US talk
more of this unpleasant subject"
Willingly. your excellency, since
is distasteful to you. l hope. howev
YOU will permit me to ask how mu
you are short of the amount" 81
Lorry considerably, yet curiously.
Our minister of finance, Gaspt
will be able to produce 100000 81
vos at the stated time. far from enou;
This amount has been sucked from
people from excessive levy and
been boarded for the dreaded d.
Try as we would, it has been impo'
BILE TO raise the full amount. The
pie have been bled and have RESPOND
nobly. sacrificing everything to M
the treaty terms honorably, but
strain has been too great. Our ar
has cost US large sums. We h;
strengthened our defenses and COT
should we go to war, defeat Axphi
But we have our treaty TO honor.
Oh IN IN save @