Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-05-18
A RECONNAIS-
SANCEIN FORCE
By ELLEN ADA SMITH

VOr1Ce daughter In6ckla- Her GXJraOr-
binary deviation from all grand ducal
precedents was causing him to lead
his chancellor such life that his ex-
cellency had been heard to declare
himself at the end of his patience.
Her serene highness Theckla moved
ali this devastation as saucy as you
please, her head tossed lightly in
scorn of opposing forces. For the
grand duke had called up reserves in
the person of Prince Cedric of Wasser-
trUdinger who, in spite of being a
Widower, was formally betrothed to
the Serene Theckla
When the prince arrived, naturally
his first inquiries were directed to-
wards the possible illness of his lady.
The grand duke announced that she
was better than she deserved to be.
But what has happened that she
is not here to greet me?"
sfShe is in the clock tower on a
spare diet of bread and water" re-
piled the grand duke.
And for why is this asked Ce-
dTic. What grave crime has she COM
united"
MY good Cedric, it is grave mat
ger, something too awful for words.
Do. you remember Bluthenheimer's in
the Hofplatz?'
'Bluthenheimer's Assuredly. You
mean the pawnbroker?"
Cedric! that should live to tell
you of such an unprecedented folly.
Can you credit that there was a man
of the name of Schnitter serving be-
hind that unspeakable counter one
week, to become famous the next by
the publication of an ephemeral book
0f love verses dedicated to Theckla.
which has completely turned her
head" Prince Cedric turned little
pale and he endeavored to keep his
head as the grand duke was SO plain
" losing his, wig and all.
Solitary confinement is bad for
that sort OF thing-she feels herself
a martyr = Schnitter a hero. Are
his verses good?"
They are so d-n bad" said the
grand duke, that doubt if I can
ever suffer the look and smell of
white vellum again" -.
Poor verses, eh-then the poet
must be handsome-they have met, of
course?"
Unfortunately, yes. There is
plenty of him. if that is being hand
some. l fined him down in the fort
ress"
The man who was younger and
wiser shook his head.
so Schnitter is in the fortress and
Tneckla in the clock tower. You are
playing into their hands if they really
mean marriage"
Cedric, how dare you mention any
thing so impromer in my presence.
Improper? Marriage is very re-
spectacle if it is not royal But my
cousin I see a way out of this by re-
versing everything
He impaired his plan in confidence,
and the grand dukes eyes nearly start
ed out of his head.
What! is all the world gone stark
staring mad or am I? Can you be
sane when you suggest that l should
palace and let him bill and COO with
Theckla until further notice? Why,
st is like throwing oil on flames and
the upshot viii be
The prince quietly took up the
word
The upshot will be disillusion-
ment; let him come here and let her
see all his little failings in the glare
OF court life-all his little yulgarities
which no counter jumper can pos
sibly escape. know Theckla-she is
willful, headstrong, but she is very
royal all the same. Let her come
to us here and l will place the case
before her and l will also stay to
see the play played out
Overcome by the stronger mind,
the grand duke sent for his daughter,
who entered gaiN in the flush of her
triumph. and was not even taken
aback by the sight of Prince Cedric.
"Cousin!' she cried, Il am delight
ed to see you-as a cousin. [ expect
you induced my father to let me out
il was not very bad except when the
clock struck, that was awful; every
stroke seemed hammered out on my
head" ta
And |, too. am delighted to see you,
Theckla; kiss your hand as cousin
merely
Her betrOthal had been an affair OF
state truly, still she had not expected
TO be so tamely yielded up-it was
unromantic to say the least of it.
Your cousin has given you chair,
but 1 do not permit disobedient chill
dren to be seated in my. presence y
said the grand duke sternly to his
blooming daughter.
Theckla rose at once: so did Ced
ric-a nice point in his conduct that
any woman would have noticed even
had she been fathOms deep in love
with a poet.
my cousin" said Cedric, "as you
s,o,-o aoo;5od 20 foH-o,. the SYif Of HnrY