The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-04-20

III NhNt Nlu tuC NtptO Il
MY lords" she said, summopipg all
her strength of mind and heart, II am
gratiicd 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. To-day / as
semble you here hat I may ask your
advice concerning tho events Of that
strange day. Bolaroz will do as he has
promised. We are to have the extern
l sion papers this afternoon, and Grau-
stark may breathe again the atronR,
deep breath Of hope. You well remem-
Der my attitude ON yesterday. II on
yesterday 1 would not let my kingdom
stnnd between me and my love, I can
not do 80 today. 1 have called you here
to tell you, my lords, that 1 have prom
ised to become the wife OF tho man
who would have given his life for you
and for me-that 1 love as a 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 child!" he cried life-
lessly. You cannot do this thing!'
but h peoplo2" cried 9aspon, his
eyes cleaning. You cannot Get against
the will 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
1t with you. If you marry him, the
laws Of our land-you know them we'll
will prohibit us from recognizing the
marriage"
Knowing that, my lords, I have
come to ask o to revise our laws.
My throne will not be disgraced by the
man 1 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 ages
and Of dynasties.
"The law of nature cannot be chang.
ed" muttered Caspar as IL t himself.
"In the event that the custom cannot
be changed L 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 1
low u 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 centuries2 2"
cried Gaspon.
The others were staring with open
mouths and icy hearts.
Yes, as much as 1t would grove me,
I would do all this" she answered
firmly, not daring to look at her uncle.
Her heart nclcd to turn to him with a
prayer for forgiveness, but there could
be no faltcring now.
II ask you, my lords, to acknowledge
the marriage Of your ruler to Grenfall
L.orry. l am to be his wife, but l en-
treat you to grant me happiness with.
out making me endure the misery that
will come to he IL 1 { desert my fathers
throne and the people who have wor-
SHIPPED me and to whom 1 am bound by
a tie that cannot be broken. I do not
plead so much for the right to rule as I
do for the II who may rule after l
am gone. l want my own to follow me
on the throne OF G~raustark."
Then followed q long, amin ated dis
c%ussion, growing brighter and more
hopeful rs the speakers willing hearts
warmed to the proposition. Lorry was
n f,vorite, but he could o be their
prince. Hereditary law prohibited.
Many times the princess and her wise
men met and overcame obstacles, huge
at first, mlnimlzcd In the end, oil be-
cause they owed 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 weightlest 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 n IN was sovereign; for
the first time there had been no direct
male heir to the throne. With the
death OF old Prince Ganlook the mas
culinc side of the illustrious 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 out until all were against
him, giving way finally in n burst Of
oratory which ended in tears and sobs
and which made the sense of the gath
cring unanimous.
The Princess Yctivc won the day, SO
far rs her own position was concerned,
but there was I.Orry to be considered.
"Mr. Lorry knows that I called you
together in consultation, but he does
not know that 1 would have given up
my crown for him. 1 dared not tell
Him that He knows only that I was
to ask your advice on the question Of
marriage, and hat alone. I fear he
will object to the plan we have agreed
upon," she went on. "IIe Is sensitive,
and 1t is possible lie will not like the
idea of putting Il marriage to the
popular vote of the people"
81 Insist, however, that the people be
considered I'm the matter" said Gaspon.
"In three months time the whole ma
ton can say whether 1t sanctions the
revision of our laws Of hcredlty."
II have no hesltancy I'm saying that
Graustark already idolizes this brave
American" snid 1Ialfont warmly. "He
has won her affection. 1 will vouch
for 1t that the whole nation will rise
and cry: Long live the princess! Long
live the princess! Long live the prince
consort!"
II a