Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-11-30

anxious TO welcome your coming.
Ferdinand. They have watched that
flag with burning eyes. They will
come soon. the rest OF the reception
committee. Listen-three raps and
siIence-two and silence-one and
then three. II Is they, Bratinau. Open
the door while / guard this ass in
lions skin that will cease to bray at
midnight"
I deplored my folly in delaying the
attempt at Ferdinand's rescue. Even
now, while Bratinau rushed TO the
door to draw its bolts, should. have
fired az Starva had he not been kneei-
Ing at Ferdinand's side, twisting a cord
about his wrists to fasten him IN the
chair in which he sat. The action ex-
posed Ferdinand: Starva's body was
shielded by that OF the king. The ad-
vent Of the conspirators had taken
Locke and myself completely by sur
prise. And when we had heard the
knocking on the door we had hoped
that timely rescue had come
counted five Of them. Locke and I
were hopeiessly outnumbered now. We
hSd missed our chance. confess that
something very like fear clutched at
my heart when I heard the bars CRATE
back In their sockets. ] know that
Locke himself was pale enough. IN
less some accident favored Us. not
only was Ferdinand doomed. but per
haps ourselves as well.
But / forgot our own danger in the
extraordinary scene that followed
Starva had sprung on a chair close to
Ferdinand. With ribald Jest he intro
l-duced each Of his confederates as they
stood about the two in a half circle.
As each mans name was mentioned
he stepped In front OF Ferdinand and
Knocked him
Your Majesty" cried Starva. bow
ing low, 'all OF your reception commit
tee is present except one. He will
come presently-and his news will
arouse you from the ennui that seems
to Cypress you. In the meanwhile let
me have the honor OF introducing. to
you each OF these,gentlemen:
col. Ignatien. OF Roumanial He is
an admirer Of the ladies. and he viii
be charmed to present them with a
lock OF your hair as q souvenir"
/ prefer your heart. Ferdinand. to
be preserved IN a beautiful funeral
urn for myself" cried the ruHan.
"Dimitri Gortschakoff. Of Serviai He
is groom OF the bedchamber OF King
Alexander. He should be concerned
with his own duty this night"
But | have unselfshly sacrificed
myself to administer 10 your comfort. %
was the brutal comment
Count Nicholai Pitcschti. Of Bosnia,
You should feel az home-you see we
have aristocrats present"
Il am SO much Of an aristocrat that
I am Jealous OF one who Is above me
In rank 70 dwarf my own Importance. -
"GOrnjl. OF Montenegro He is only
a common soldier. and is better known
by his sobriquet. The Cat He will
use his claws presently"
a cat can look at a king. they say.
Yes. l can scratch we'll enough. A
kings tyranny has made me groan: T
hope YOU viii not die so quickly. Ferdi-
nand. that shall not have time TO
laugh at your groans." He struck
Ferdinand a violent blow with his
clenched fist
"Oh. la. la, Ia! Lese Majestei"
shouted Bratinau. Restrain your en-
thusiasm, comrade"
otto Kuhn. Of Macedonia He IS
an old acquaintance Of your Nfajesty's.
But you will not have the 10Y of thrust
ing your hand. Ferdinand into his
pocket for his American dollars. They
are 10 be spent in a better cause. And
lastly (for Councillor Bratinau and I.
OF Bulgaria. are old friends and need
no introductory, Councillor Gingaja. OF
Moldavia."
You see. your Majesty" Grief Ig-
natieff. "this is an international affair.
VIII II be a comfort to you TO know
that you Will not be the only king that
sets out on his last mysterious Journey
during the next "a hours? Il is not
Bulgaria alone or Servia that are TO
taste the sweets OF liberty. though
King Alexander and his paramour and
yourself are to lead the procession this
night"
And now, messieurs." shouted Star
va, that we are introduced, and his
Majesty is thoroughly at his ease. LEI
us eat, drink and be merry, for at mid
night he diesl"
A scene of riot and savage revelry
ensued. In the veins OF this ruffianly
/ crew flowed the hot blood Of races hall
oriental half baYbaric. II was boiling
now TO a degree of frenzied, savage
excitement Already these men were
as dangerous and as blind to reason
: as a cage OF savage beasts. Theil
/ ferocity would be stirred to an ecstacI
Of madness by drink.
} My friend Jacques had wheeled ;
table from the dining-room into the
r hall. 1t was loaded with viands anC
bottles. Savage toasts were drunk
there were cries Of liberty and free
: dom; glasses we're held tauntingly a
+ Ferdinands mouth; every indignit,
/ was showered on HIM.
There is & glamor about a crowI
5 that daZzles even a democrat. let hin
!. boast his Indifference as he may.
! am not ashamed TO say feIt strang'
= horror as saw the prince disdaipfull,
: facing his enemies in silence. A vail
a monarch Ferdinand might be. and N
\ ! doubt his reign had not been alto
S gether a wise. one, but his calm cour
.