Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-04-25

~ EXPECTANCY, concern, the
dread of uncertainty marked
IL the eountenanees of G a,'au.
men as they sat i'll the council cham
Der on the day following, awaiting the
appearance of their princess, at whose
call they were unexpectedly assem-
bled.
All realized an emergency. Not one
in that assembly but had heard the
vivid. soulful sentence from the throne.
Not one but wished in secret as Gaspon
and Halfont 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 ner accustomed seat. she
gazed over the circle of anxious faces
and realized, more than at any time in
her young life, that she was frail and
weak beyond all comparison. How
small she was to rule over those strong,
wise men of hers. How feeble the
hand that held the scepter!
"My lords,'' she said, summOning all
her strength of mind and heart. Il am
gratified to find you so ready to respond
to the call of your whimsical sovereign.
Yesterday you came with hearts bowed
| down and in deepest woe. Today l as
semble you here that | may ask your
advice concerning the events of that
| strange day. BolarOZ will do as he has
promised We are to 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. If on
yesterday | would not let my kingdom
stand between me and my love, | can
not do so today. l have called you here
to tell you, my lords, that l have prom
ised to 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 a
word was uttered for many seconds.
Then old Caspar's tense muscles re-
Taxed and his arms dropped Imply
from their crossed position on his
breast.
My child. my childr' he cried life
lessly. "You cannot do this thing"
But the peopleI" cried Gaspon, his
eyes, cleaning. You cannot act against
the viii 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
it with you. If you marry him, the
laws of orr land-yOu know them wei
will prohibit us from recognizing the
marriage
knowing that. my lords. l have
come to ask you to revise our laws
My throne will not be disgraced by thu
man l would have share it with me-
She spoke as calmly as if she wer,
making the most trivial request instead
of asking her ministers to overthrow
and undo the laws and customs of age
and of dynasties.
The law of nature cannot be chang
ed" muttered Caspar as if to himself.
4 I'm the event that the custom cannO
n be changed I shall be compelled to re
t linquish my right to occupy the thron
e and to depart from among you.
O would break my heart. my lords, to TT
@ sort to this monstrous sacrifice, but
love one man first, my crown and m
q people after him.
You would not leave us-you woul
: not throw aside as despised the crow
your ancestors wore for centuries
K cried Gaspon.
; The others were staring with ope
< mouths and icy hearts.
J.