The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-07-31

America, n extend to him our urgent
invitation either to accompany you,
with those who may be his COM
panions, or await the return of a COM
mittee of invitation and reception
which will wait upon him as soon as
II becomes definitely known that he is
with you.
I'm case he did not accompany you
on your return, it will be necessary
for you to return to London at once,
inviting him to a conference of great
Importance, which is o~ccasioned by
the ~exigencies of events which have
taken place tonight. In any case you
will report to us Immediately for in
structions."
Puzzled by this explicit message,
Bevins paused for a moment, with his
brows drawn down in thought, and
then returned to the drawing room,
where a shaded light rested in the CEN
ter of the table round which his
guests were seated. With a brief ex-
PLANTATION he handed the order to the
king. who calmly placed his glasses
upon his high, fine nose, leaned across
the table, and perused it.
Everything of the night was strange
and unusual. A few hours ago he had
gone to a theater to rest his nerves,
and here he was cro the Atlantic,
informally, and learning new lessons
or receiving astounding revelations
with each beat of time. He had gone
thus far, and would go through to the
end, and would go informally.
1--WE prefer to accompany you," was
all the reply he made, and the party
filed out into the night, where two big
automobiles brought for this very
emergency were in waiting. They
whirled away to the White House,
where they met in the blue room
by the president and his immediate
advisers. The king himself established
the basis of etiquette by extending his
hand to the president and his COM
panions. He assumed no department
of royalty; but as the first gentleman
Of England greeted the first gentle
man of America.
your majesty" the president be-
gan, "the time is at hand when the
United States has no further object in
%concealing the power at her COM
mand; the sole of concealment,
that of meeting the Chinese fleet, hav-
ing been nullified by the action Of that
country itself. China has broken her
alliance with Japan, is ready to make
such o%vertures as we wish for peace,
and is dispensing her feet"
The president paused for a moment,
and looked at those around him. The
king, steadily watching him, was i'm
pressed with his simple dignity. and
read Alright the great and high pur-
pose that shone in his eyes. Once
more he resumed:
ut has come to this issue, your
majesty, much sooner than I had ex-
pected; but events which make for
war and peace move fast. They are
in the hands of God Almighty, and
not of rulers. l desired this inter
view, because you can assist me in
what I have to do, and for which !
believe I am a mere instrument in the
hands of q power before whom all
must bow"
"Ands / am honored," the sovereign
instantly responded.
With his officials he was conducted
to the presidents private apartments,
where they were followed by the sec.
rotary of state and the secretary OF
the navy.
The king looked round the room,
which he had entered on but one
other occasion, long years before,
when as a prince and without hope OF
a throne. he had been received by 9
former president Of the United States
How many men had occupied 1t since
then, and how few Of them had left
any great individual mark on the
worlds history! He took the
proffered seat and waited for the pres
ident to speak, only half compre
bending that he was entering upon
one Of the most important conferences
that the world had ever known.
Your majesty and gentlemen" the
president began In, his low, finely
modulated voice. II told you wished
your assistance. I need more thar
that; / want your advice. I have beer
"a man with a dream, and that yol
may know how much 1t has meant t.
me, I must tell you something Of my
self. 1 leone of a race that for genera
80. aEEE2