Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-20

streets. thought that they had scored a great victory and in-
 dicted deep humiliation on the unpopu-
 lar martinet who ruled and harried them. They celebrated the event with
 noisy but harmless revels, and when 1 Captain Hercules was seen about again he submitted to a fortnights con-
 fnement to barracks with feelings in
 which thankfulness, though not grati-
 Jude, predominated-he found his popu-
 larity with them greater than ever.
 But in the higher circles-the inner
 ing-of the party he served his recep-
 'icn was not so cordial. Stenovics
 would not sec him. Stafnitz saw him
 )nly to express most uncompromising
 judgment cn his conduct.
 Yielding in appearance. in point of
 substance the Prince of Slavna had
 scored heavily. The big guns were or
 lered from Germany. The prince had
 the money to pay for them. and they were to be consigned to him. These were the guarantees which he had asked from Stenovics. When the guns came-and he had agreed to make an extra payment for early delivery-his situation would be very different. With trusty men behind them it would go hard with him if he were not master of Slavna. and he had already obtained the kings sanction to raise and train a force of artillery from among his own men in Volseni and its neighborhood. The men of Volseni were proof against Mistitch's bragging and the 'n:btle in- diligence by which Stafnitz held his power over the rank and file of the army. They were true to the prince.
 The idle kings family pride was touched. It was the one thing which could rouse him. At his sons express request. and at that only. he acquiesced in the release of Mistitch and his satel- lite Sterloff. but he was determined to make his own attitude clear and to do what he could to restore the prestige of his family. The prince said dryly that the prestige would profit best of all by the big guns. The king was minded to supplement their effect by something more o-nate. He created new order and made his son grand master of 1t. There was no harm in that. and Ste movies readily consented. He declared that something more must be done for the lady to whom his son owed his life To be made keeper of the tapestries might be a convenient recompense, but was not honor enough. Stenovics de- clared that any mark of favor which his majesty designed for Mile de Gruche might most properly be hers. Finally the king instructed StenOvics to concentrate all his energies on the matrimonial negotiations. A splendid marriage for Sergius with a German princess would enhance and strength CT the prestige more than anything else. StcnOvics promised zealous obe- dience ard withdrew full of thought. 1 The order was an easy matter. and honors for SOphy Gid no harm. The marriage was ground much more deli l cate. II touched the big stake" which l. Colonel Stafnitz had so enpha:lcally 1 warned the general not to play on the | bad hand dealt to him by Mistitch's l But. with the big guns in ] position and the sturdy men of volseni 1 behind them, would a good hand ever | come?
 There were but three in the inner l secret cf the scheme. but they were ! three of the longest heads in Kravonla. | Countess EIlenburg was a pious wo- man and of exemplary demeanOr; but, as Markart told Sophy. women are am bilious. and she had borne the king a son Stenovirs sa~ himself cast aside 1 like an old glove if Prince Sergius came to the throne Stafnit= was a born fisher in troubled waters and threw a I skilIful net Twice tefcre i1 the coun- try's history intrigue had made revOlu- ti01 and changed the order of succes- sion in the housa of Stefanovitch. The three waited Cn chance. brr inc chance Eas not ret. If inc king were at en- r1ity vffh his s31 or if there was a fe1ize Of the crown while the prince uss not ca tie Epot to IcCk after his in- te-ezts. tse-p might Ife the opportunity. B=t now the ks1- Eas all cortIiaiity for Ei- heir aU1ars1t. tse prince was on