The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-04-07
u:opy,isht. 1896, by w. r. uearst.)

q most frugal life. and no field work
Mas below his dignity, for the parish
was poor and his salary far from suf-
fcient to provide for the seven children
with which his marriage had been
blessed.
1t was then quite natural that he
was anxious TO go to some more veal
thy parish, where his services could be
better appreciated and better paid. But
his prospects We're, sad to relate, not
very bright, for in the revolutionary
yeal-l848-he had become imbued
with the spirit of liberty. and in an in
spired monen he had made d speech
for which Il ruling prince could new
er forgive him, especially as his words
had been added to and garbled TO such
an extent before they reached the
princely ears that he himself would
never have recognized them.
But the %antipathy of the prince. who
was a great hunter, against the poor
minister had still another reaSon-in
no part of the country was so much
poaching done as just in this parish,
which was w with game, and
all efforts of The princely police and
game wardens to catch the thieves had
been in vain.
Il would like to know why we pay
these people" he prince blurted out
when the loss of Il magnificent elk was
reported to him, when they II
teach these peasants to respect my
property. Altogether that whole part
of the country is a fine community,
and those clod-hoppers think that
when they go to church once a week
filled all their duties. And God knows
what kim of sermons they get from
that old anarchist of a minister. And
he wants a promotion, l hear. Well. he
can just wait for it. Not while l am
tie ruler of this country will he get a
better parish"
Now it happened that an old college
friend of Minister Gotthardt was made
prime minister, and the preacher again
began to hope. So when one of the
a new pastor he went to the capital to
try to induce his friend the prime mfr
lister to use his influence in favor of
him.
He Was received with open arns. and
when they were enjoying cigars and
wine in he minister's private office
Gotthardt told his friend why he had
come. The minister knew perfectly
well that his friend was persona non
grata With his serene highness, so he
could not give him much hope, but he
promised to leave no stone unturned to
give him the church. and when the
dominic left for home he was in the
best of humor.
The next day. when the prime min
'ster as usual went to see the prince,
he found him very nue. excited. His
chief game warden had just reported
10 him that he had discovered new evil
ience of wholesale poaching at Wal
~tershausel. Like q Gagged lion the
prince kept pacing to and fro in his
room while he told his minister of the
new outrages. This gave the minister
of state the idea that he might use his
princes anger in favor of his college
friend.
Your serene highness." he said, this
DOCS ,,D, 1DDl- Nh ttA. ,.-Nr1 - z..---
~poacherS. l am sure that your game
wafdens are on the wrong track. Your
highness knows, if l am not mistaken,
.he Minister Gotthardt at Waltershau-
SEM
AS stung by an adder The prince
jumped to his feet.
1T l know that ungodly revolution
st" Why, of course do; but you do
mean to insinuate that"
Il insinuate nothing, but one some
times gets curious ideas. The poor
DEVILS salary is only $50 thalers Il year.
temptation is there always. and l hap
pen to know that the Rev. Gotthardt
Is an excellent shot. Really one could
not blame him very much if he"
Why, of course" the prince said, "of
course he is the thief. l shall have him
arrested Immediately"
But the prime minister interrupted
him.
IF your serene highness permits. it
would be a very dangerous thing to do
that. w have absolutely no proof
against the man, n what a scandal
1T would be If we had to let him go
again. l have. however. another pro-
posal to make-why not transfer him
to another parish?"
Well, maybe you are right. AS you
say, we have no proof. But Where will
we transfer him to: is there Il vacancy
anywhere"
Il happen to know replied the prime
minister, there there is Il vacancy at
Guntersdorf.'
The prince shook his head.
AT Guntersdorf. Why, thai, is The
best position in the state. No, that is
far too good for that criminal. Dc you
know of no other place."
Il am afraid there is no other va
cancy, your highness, and if you will
not transfer him to Guntersdorf ! sup
pose we had better leave him where he
is, though ii is too bad for the game.
But something may turn up later. If
your highness pleases. we will then
take up the business of the day"
No. that affair must be settled right
now. Damn 1t! that miserable poacher
may spoil the whole hunting this year.
Let US transfer him to Guntersdorf. but
make him understand that under no
conditions will / see him. And now for
our business"
The same day an official letter an
nounced to the delighted minister that
it had pleased his serene highness to
transfer him to Guntersdorf. while at
the same time he received a letter from
his old friend:
Dear Friend: am exceedingly
pleased to be able to tell you that /
have succeeded in having you appointed
rector of the best church in the state.
that of Guntersdorf. How did must
forever remain my secret. So please
never ask me. The prince has COM
manded me to tell you that under the
existing circumstances you need not
appear before him to thank him. May
be you will have a chance later. Wher
you come to the city drop in and let
US have a good friendly chat. Your sin
cere friend, Karl Won Leubech
Several years have passed since then.
and the Rev. G%otthardt was a happy
His income was more than suf-
fcent for all his needs and had en-
abled him to send two Of his sons to
college. His old friend. the minister,
often visited him, and they spent many
happy hours together, hut the story of
the transfer was never mentioned be-
tween them.
1t happened now that the prince on a |
trip through the ountry stopped at
Guntersdorf and the Rev. Gotthardt