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

would seem more unwarrantable still
There is no big game without It's risk
but. after fun consideration. Stenovies
and Stafnitz decided that the kings
wishes were In their Interest and
should be communicated TO the prince
without delay. They had more chances
for them than against them. II their
game had its dangers the time
might be very short
In these days Countess Ellenburg
made practice OF shutting herself up
In her private rooms for as much as
two additional hours every day. She
told the King that she sought quiet
time for meditation and prayer King
Alexis shrugged his shoulders. Mcdi.
tation wouldn't help matters, aud. In
face OF DR. Natchefrs diagnosis OF the
condition OF his heart he must confess
10 serious doubt even about prayer.
He had outllved his love for the count
ess. but 10 the end he found In her a
source OF whimsical amusement dlvin-
Ing II not her ambitions at least her
regrets. understanding how these re-
grets. when they became very acute
had to be met by an access Of piety.
Naturally they would be acute now Ia
view OF Natchen's diagnosis. He
thanked her for her concern and babe
her by all means go and pray.
What was the stun OF her prayers
the stun behind the wordsg No doubt
rhe prayed for her husbands life. No
doubt she prayed for her sons well be-
Ing. Very likely she even prayed that
the might not be led into temptation or
( 20 do anthlng wrong by her love for
her son. for II was her theory that the
prince himself would ruin his own
chances and throw the crown away u
IS not easy always TO be sure Of CON
scious lnslncerity.
Yet the devils advocate would have
had small difficulty IN placing fresh
face on her prayers. In exhibiting what
lay below the words. In suggesting
how Il was that she came forth from
her secret dcvotlons not happy and
lranQu,lized. hut with weary eyes and
ner narrow Tips close set On stern SELF
control. Her prayer thai 'hc might do
hothns wrong was n PRAYER that the
prince might do nothing right II that
prayer were granted sin "a her part
would become superfuous she prayed
not TO be led iato temptation that
sounded quite orthodox. Was she TO
presume 10 suggest 90 Heaven the
means by which temptation should he
avoidedi
Stcnovlcs sknlfully humored this
shade Of hypocrisy. Wien he poke TO
her there We're in his mouth 10 such
words ms plans or schemes or hopes or
ambitions nor claims nor rights.
II was always the possibilities we are
compelled 10 contemplate" the steps
We may be forced Into taking the
necessities 81 mere self defense" "thc
( interests OF the Kingdom" the su-
preme evil OF civil strife" which last
most respectable phrase meant that u
was much better o. Jockey the prince
out OF his throne than 20 Ggbt him for
It. Colonel Stafufz Bit his lip and
gnawed his mustache during these In
/ terviews The countess saw and hated
him. She turned back 20 Stenoylcs'
churchgoing phmses aud impassivc
b face. Throughout the whole affair the
general probably never once mentioned
to her IN plain language the one and
only object Of all their hopes anI ef'
forts. In the result business took rath-
er longer 60 transact. the churchgoing
phrases ran TO may syllables, but con
cessions must be made 20 picty. Nor
was the countess 50 singular. We
should often fofego what we Ike best
n we were obliged 70 define II accurate
ly aud aloud.
After one OF these conferences the
countess always prayed. II may be
presumed that she prayed against the
misfortune OF cast iron terInlnoloey
Probably she also URGED her views. FOR
prayer Is In many books and mouths
more Of an argument than n petition
that all marriages were on one and IN,
same footing and that Heaven knew
naught Of a particular variety named
in some countries morGanatic. or the
lfAMA VI fNNAlA'An 'VlaA ~ W
the presumed views 81 Heaven we are
all aware that churches. and sometimes
states. too. are apt TO know or count
nothing
Such were the woman and her mind
Some pity may go out 10 her In the
end. behind all her prayers and inspir
ing them. nay. driving her TO her knees
In fear. was the conviction that she
rlsked her soul. When she felt that
she pleaded that II was for her sons
sake. Yet there lay years between her
son and mans estate The power was
for some one during those years.
"If I had the countess views and
temperament | should grow potatoes
and II possible grow them worse than
my nelghbors." said Colonel Stafnitz-
IF lived duly should at least die
in peacer'
CONTINUED In Next Issue)