The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-09
'TheFaIlOf the Empire


was towering. AZ thirty he found him
self the first general Of his age Net
content with .being tlmster Of his own
kingdom he soneiR se h,atc himself
master Of all kingdoms within his
reach
While the tinss traits were Napo-
leonic, there was one trait that was
not Nopoleonic Napoleon, while he
was u gallant never permitted any
woman to influence him IN matters Of
government He was not afraid Of the
fair sex and took nc precautions
against women The soldier.kiHF. on
the contrary. feared their seductions.
He was aware that they governed the
world and considered that II would be
impossible for him to build up the en-
pire he intended IL he were himself
governed by woman. A bachelor, he
proposed to remain bachelor And
for fear that he would be captured he
permitted Only the homelest women 70
come near him On one occasion when
be was told that young girl had come
to his tent to beg for protection from
his soldiers he asked. els she comelyT'
When answered in the affirmative be
replied. 'Then let her be veiled"
There was one petty 6uchy. HlsteTia
still unconQuered which was important
TO the soldier-king. From its geograph
iCal position It was the main link In
the states from which the empire was
TO be formed Though small. Its con
quest would be difficult. FOR It's terri
tory constituted an elevated plateau
whose only approaches were through
mountain deGies. rhe king sent de.
mand for its submission. 4 reply was
returned that tho duke would yield TO
the inevitable If the king would grart
certain conditions. II not he would de-
fend his duNedom till every man in It
had been killed.
The king then sent o messenger TO
ask the conditions a reply came that
they would only he presented at a
meeting 10 take place between The two
sovcreigns. Midway mp n dcilc lead
ing 70 the duchy was pocket well
adapted for place of conference The
duke proposed that he and the king
which his domain should pass under
the kings rule The king might bring
all the guard he wished. The duke
pledged himself to 90 alone
Tile king. unwilling to be outdone In
au exhibition Of confidence, declared
that he. too, would go alone and un-
armed. All those matters having been
adjusted, the king rode. with a small
guard TO the mouth of the dctile,
where he left them and proceeded to
the rendezvous. The 0yke was seen
coming down the mountain. an old
man with flowing white beard and
hair. st
The sovereigns met at the door OF a
pavilion that had been erected for the
conference. The duke produced n gold
en- key. unlocked the door and motion
ed the king to enter. When inside the
duke relocked the door This startled
the king, hut he said nothing Surely
II treaohery were intended he was a
match for this feeble old man. Then
the duke led the way into handsome
Iy furnished room. In the center OF
which were table and writing mate
rails At one end Of the apartment
blazed an open fire The duke threw
the golden key In among the burning
logs II Immediately Ignlted. For a
moment the king stood IN wonder at
seeing gold burn, then rushed forward
to rescue the key. He was too late
"Ii was Of wood, your majesty said
the duke, "and gilded. We are shut uI
here together for this conference. Nei
ther can depart, for there is no open
ing except the door which Is locked
and no key with which to unlock It
Let us proceed to business"
AS the duke spoke the last words he
threw his hat on the hoor, pulled or O
white wig and false lizard, dlYested
himself OF his ducal robes and stood
before the king in superb dress, a wo
man OF transcendant beauty.
IL was to meet the GUke." STAN
mered the king drawing back.
II am the sovereign of Histerla. My
father has abdicated in my favor"
The king put his hand before hi
face TO shut out the vision of lowell
ness.
These are my terms" continued th'
duchess, "the only terms on which
Shall surrender I will pay your maj
esty 500 pieces Of gold annually al
tribute for ten years"
The King made no reply, but, drop
ping his hands, stared at the sym
metrical creature. Her features wer
those Of cameo. her complexion tina
Of white nnd red roses, and her eye
were a marvel OF lovellness
"Your nace," he said, dropping Ol
his knee. Il am at your mercy"
The duchess pointed to the writing
materials The King wrote:
The independence OF tho duciiy OF Ills
terra is ACKNOWLEDGED and guarantecd
The duchess read and turned he
great eyes, III by II heavenly smile, ol
Ihe monarch Then. touching sprin
in the table, drawer few open. sh
selzed key aud started for the door
The king Followed ami caught her
his arms She looked back. and he
lips werd pressed by his.
when the King rcjoined his attend