Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-05-05
CHAPTER XVIII.


men as they sat In the council cham
Der on the day following, awaiting thu
appearance OF their princess. at who's
call they wee Unexpectedly Assem-
bied
All realized an emergency. Not ont
in that assembly but had heard tn
vivid, soulful sentence from the throne
Not one but wished In secret as GaspoI
and Halfont had wished In oper
speech.
When the princess entered with th'
prime minister they narrowly scanned
the face so dear TO them. After thu
greetings she requested them TO draw
chairs about the great table. Seatini
herself in her accustomed seat, sh'
gazed over the circle OF anxious faces
and realized, more than at any time II
her young life, that she was frail ant
weak beyond all comparison. How
small she was to rule over those strong
wise men OF hers. How feeble the
hand that held the scepterl
my lords" she said, summonlng all
her strength Of mind and heart, II am
gratifed to find you 80 ready to respond
to the call Of your whimsical sovereign
Yesterday you came with bearts bowed
down and In deepest woe. Today 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 exten-
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 10 today. have called you here
to tell you, my lords. that | have prom
ised to become the wife OF the man
who would have given his life for you
and for mc--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-
laxed and his arms dropped Imply
from their crossed position on his
breast.
"My child, my childr he cried life
lessly. "You cannot do this thingw
But the peoplei" cried Gaspon, hls
eyes cleaning you cannot act against
the Will Of the people. Our laws, natu-
rnl 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
II with you. II you marry him, the
laws OF our land-you know them well
will prohibit us from recognizing the
marriage"
knowing that, my lords. l have
come TO ask you 10 revise our laws
My throne will not be disgraced by the
man would have share II with me"
She spoke as calmly as II she were
making the most trivial request instead
OF asking her ministers TO overthrow
and undo the laws and customs OF ages
and OF dynastles
The law OF nature cannot be chang
cd" muttered Caspar as II to himself
"In 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. II
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 centuriesr p
cried Gaspon.
The others were staring with open
mouths and Icy hearts.
"Yes, MS much as II would grieve me,
l would do all this" she answered
firmly, not daring to look at her uncle.
Her heart nched TO turn TO him with n
prayer for forgiveness, but there could
be no fnltering now
IL ask you, my lords, to acknowledge
the marriage OF your ruler TO Grenfall
Lorry. | am to be his wife, but en-.
treat you TO grant me happiness with.
out making me endure the misery that
Will come TO me II desert my fathers
throne and the people who have wor
SHIPPED me and TO whom am bound by
a tie that cannot be broken. do not
plead so much for the right 10 rule as |
do for the one who may rule after |
am gone. want my own to follow me
on the throne OF Grau,mrk"
Then followed long, animated dis
cussion. growing brighter and more
hopeful Os the speakers willing hearts
warmed 10 the proposition. Lorry was
favoritc, but he could not he their
prince. hereditary law prohibited
Many times the princess and her wise
men met and overcame obsta cies> huge
at first, mlnimlEed In the end, all be.
cause they loved her and she loved
them The departure from tradition.
AIRY custom, as suggested by the prln.
cess coupled with the threat 10 abdl.
cate was the welghtlest yet the most
delicate question thai had ever come
befop, the chief men OF Graustark
For the first time In the history of the
country woman was sovereign. for
the first time there had been NO direct
male heir TO the throne. With the
death " old Prince Ganlook the mas.
culne side OF the lllustrious family
ended, No mattcr whom his daughter
took Tor a husband, the line WAS bro
ken WHY not the bold. progressive.
rich Amerlcany argued some Count
COspar held out until all were against
him, giving way hually In a burst of
oratory which ended In tears aud sobs
and which made the sCnsc of the gath.
eriug unanimous
The Princess Ictlve won the day. so
far as her own position was concerned.
but there was Lorry 10 bc considered
"Mr. Lorry knows that called you
together In consultation. but he does
not know THAI | would have given up
my crown Tor him, dar,d not tell
him that lie knows only THAI WIS
to ask your advice on the Qu,lyioL s,
marriage. and that alone. fear he
will object 10 the plan We have agreed
a.