Connecticut western news., 1908-01-16
A STROKE FOR
 CONFIDENCE.

[OriginaLl
 The shah of Persia was chatting with his prime minister.
 Have a care of your women," said the minister. They are treacherous and oftentimes as ambitious for pow CT us men. Your majesty would do well to watch especially your concu- bine MeDa. You are much under her influence. She will not hesitate to rob you even of your scepter if you give her an opportunity"
 What, Mena? She Is devoted to me-"
 Do not trust her."
 You are q good adviser on affairs of state, but you know nothing of wo men, especially this woman. To show you that she is true to me I will put her in my place. You will see how readily she will resign it at my re quest"
 Your majesty"-
 Il have spoken"
 The minister knew that to protest would cost him his head and with drew without another word. At the kings command the beautiful Mcna came, and the shah said to her:
 You are ny favoritc of all my won en. and know how well you love me. To show my implicit trust in you I ha ge resolvcl to resign my scepter to you. If 1 am not mistaken. you will surrender 1t when 1 call for 1t. If trust you too well, you may rule so long as you lIve.''
 Mena gave the sovereign a reproach- ful look. ITO test me Is to doubt me- my lord. Nevertheless I know that when your royal word has passed no one Is great enough to gainsay it."
 So the shah signed an edict resigning his power to his concubine, and she was proclaimed In his stead. Mena was the daughter of one of the princi- pal officers of the army, and the day after she was proclaimed the. com manding general was dismissed and her father put In his place. The prime minister would have been spirited away by Mena's order, but he was no- where to be found. The grand cham berlain of the palace was sent on for eign mission. All the heads of de- partments were changed. The ex- shah saw these moves and trem bled. Instead of asking for his scepter to be returned to him he began to make preparations to save his life by flight. He was too late. On the second morn ing after his abdication he was arrest ed by Mena's order and confineD in his private rooms under guard. But this was not known to his people, who sup posed their sovereign had gone into retirement.
 Meanwhile Mena instituted several reforms that had been long wanted by the ex-shah's subjects, and they were received with great delight. Deputaz tions began to pour in, congratulating her on her accession, and within few days after assuming the royal author ity she became the most popular sov ereign Persia had had for many years.
 One day it came to her ears that the prime minister had been discovered in the guise of private citizen and was to restore the ex-shah. Mena sent an order for his arrest. q, -''5"
 When she had become so enthroned in the hearts of her people that no enc my could displace her, she ordered that the shah and the prime minister be brought before her. At their entrance she was seated on her throne dressed in her richest robes and decked with the splendid jewels of the Persian The shah supposed that he was being brought to her to have hls head stricken off in her presence, but he walked erect never once deigning to look at her. The prime minister, on the contrary, came in with bowed head.
 My lord" said Mena to the ex-shah, you were pleased to put me to test, since your minister warned you against all women, especially me. have administered the affairs of your kingdom to my best ability. Therc cannot be two sovereigns, so I have de prived you of the power to resume crown you have voluntarily reiin- quished. I have established my royal authority by placing those devoted to me in positions of trust and by pleas lug lue peOplS- nave nO" Seill lOE you to know If you are satisfied with my acts"
 "Satisfiedr exclaimed the shah bit terly. "Was I not so demented as to resign my crown, trusting to you to give it back to me when I called for it?"
 You have not called for It."
 The shah looked puzzled. Not called for it! I do so now. I demand my kingdom"
 Without a word Mena descended from the throne and, taking the crown from her head, placed 1t on that of the shah. Then she sank In reverence at his feet.
 The monarch could not believe his eyes.
 "Mena." he stammered, what does this mean? Can it be possible that after making yourself absolute mis- tress of my kingdom you have re turned it to me? Why have you done this thing?"