The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-12-21

Rqm Ch>pte,rE
W. TiSh4ecnIL

I II
reassuring reports until the public
II at large was so treasured as TO ask
for no more reports even OF the
most optimistic description. but the
state OF mind OF the few people behind
The scenes was very different STAFF
hitz's conclusion held sway there. The
time was shortl That was the ruling
thought and the governing fact. II
might he very short. and the end might
come without warning The secret was
well kept. but TO those TO whom he
spoke at all Natcheff spoke openly
The kings life hung on thread. which
the least accident might break. With
perfect quiet and tranquility he nigh;
live a year. possibly two years. Any
1 shock or ovcrstrain would prccipitatc
the enl Countess Ellcnhurg and her
confidential friends knew this. the king
knew It himself. and Lepage. his valet.
knew H. There the possession OF the
secret stopped.
I The king was gay and courageous.
Courage. az least. he had never lacked.
He seemed almost indifferent. The best
years were over. he said, and why not
an end? An end swift. without pain.
without waiting. There was much to
he said for IL. Lepage agreed with his
master and told him 50 In his usual
blunt fashion. They agreed together
not 20 cry about IL. and the King went
fishing still But the time was short.
and he pushed on his one great idea
with a zeal and an earnestnesS foreign
TO his earlier habit He would see his
son married or at least betrothed be
fore be died He would see the great
marriage IN train the marriage which
was TO establish forever the rank aud
prestige Of the house OF Stefanovitch.
The Prince Of Slavna must set forth ON
his travels. seeking n wife. The king
even designated princess OF most I'M
questionable exaltedness as the first
object Of his sons attentions or pur-
suit. With an unusual peremptoriness
and an unusual independence he sent
Stenovics orders TO communicate his
wishes directly 10 the prince. Stenovics
received the royal memorandum on the
day on which Lieutenant RastHtz re-
turned 10 Slavna with the fruits of his
observation at Volseni In his hand.
At first sight the Kings commands
were totally at variance with the In
terests OF the E,'cnburg ceteric ond
with the progress 81 their sFcat nlan.
They dii rot want thc house &C Stofauo-
witch strengthened and gioriiied In the
person Of It's present heir apparent.
But the matter was more complicated
than first glance showed. There were
the guns to be considered as well and
the gunners training M NOlseHL These
would be sources OF strength aud pres
tige 10 the prince. not less valuable.
more tangible. than even great match.
And now the prince was on the spot
Send him on his travels, The time was
short when the short time ended he
might be far away. Finally he might
go and yet take nothing by his Jour
ney. The exalted princess would Doe
hard TO win. The kings family pride
might defeat itself by making him
pitch his hopes and his claims too high.
On the whole. the matter was diti-
cult. The three chief couspiratnrs
showed their conviction OF this IN their
characteristic ways. Countess Ellen
burg became more plous than over;
General Stenovics more silent. ut least
more prone TO restrict his conversation
10 grunts. Colonel Stafnitz more gly
and Interested In life. He. too. was
fishing and I'm his favorlte waters. ard
be had hopes OF a big rise.
There was one contingency impossi-
bile to overlook. In spite OF his fathers
orders the prince might refuse 10 20
4 knowledge OF the state Of the king
health would afford him n very strong
excuse. a suspicion OF the plans Of the
coterie an overpowering motive. The
king himself had foreseen the former
danger and feared It's effect on his
dominant hopes. BY his express COM
mand the prince was kept in ignorance.
He had been amply treasured by Dr.
Netchef. On the latter point the CO.
terie had. they iiattered themselves.
nothing TO fear. On what ground. then.
could the prince Justify refusalf His
gunners?' That would be unwarrant-
able. The king would not accept the
plea. Did Rastatz's report suggest any
other ground for refusal? II II did Il
,uoa ono which IN tho ktno'e fuf-,d