Milford chronicle., 1908-10-30

b
race at the door haunted her.
The two men were talking Of the
new order Of things in Vienna.
"The trouble is" said the ambassa-
dor, that Austria Hungary is not a
nation. but what Metternich called
italy-a geographical expression. Where
there are so many loose ends a strong
grasp is necessary to hold them to-
gether."
"And a weak hand" suggested Judge
Claiborne. might easily lose or scat
ter them"
Precisely. And a man OF character
and spirit could topple down the card
house tomorrow, pick out what he liked
and create for himself new edifce-
and a stronger one. | speak frankly.
Van StrOebel is out of the way. the
new emperor-king is a weakllng. and If
he should die tonight or tomorrow
The ambassador lifted his hands and
snapped his fingers.
Yes. After him, what?"
AFTER him his scoundrelly cousin
Francis. and then stronger than Won
] 5NAtNhNA AAAA-nA EASAAl ldAl " lOlu lLle
disjecta membra Of the empire to
gether."
But there are shadows on the
SCREEN" remarked Judge Claiborne.
There was Karl the mad prince"
'Humphl There was some red blood
in him, but he was impossible. lie
had taint of democracy, treason, re-
bellion."
Judge Claiborne laughed.
81 don't like the combination Of
terms. IL treason and rebellion are
synonyms of democracy. we Americans !
are in danger"
mo; you are a miracle-that is the |
only explanation" replied Marhof.
But a man like Karl-what if he
were to reappear in the world A lit |
tie democracy might solve your prob
lem"
'No, thank God. he is ont Of the
way! He was sane enough to take
himself off and die"
But his ghost walks. Not a year
ago we heard of him, and he had a
son who chose his fathers exile. What
if Charles Louis, who is without heirs,
should die and Karl or his som
In the providence Of God they are
dead. Impostors gain a little brief no
tOriety by pretending to be the lost
Karl or his son Frederick Augustus.
but Won Stroebel satisfied himself that
Karl was dead. l am quite sure of it.
You know dear Stroebel had a genius
for gaining information"
II have heard as much" and Shirley
and the baron smiled at Judge Clai
bOrne's tone.
The storm was diminishing, and Shir-
ley grew more tranquil. Soon the am
bassadOr would leave and she would
send Armitage away, but the mention
Of Stroebers name rang oddly in her
ears, and the curious way in which
Armitage and Chauvenet had come +
into her life awoke new and anxious !
questions.
Count Won Stroebel was not a dem !
1crat, at any rate" she said. lie be- S
ieved in the divine right and all that"
80 do l. Miss Claiborne It's all S
we've got to stand on" /
But suppose a democratic prince
we're to fall heir to one Of the Euro
'ean thrones, insist on giving his crown -
o the poor and taking his oath in a r
rock coat, upsetting the old order en- d
rely
He would be fool, and the people Is
rOuld drag him to the block in a E
Ieek." declared the baron vigorously. Is
They pursued the subject in lighter n
Elm a few minutes longer; then the n
arOn rose. Judge Claiborne summon II
q the waiting carriage from the sta Ff
!u, and the baron drove home. "a
Il ought ~ work for an hour on that
'anish claims NATTER" remarked the
Idge, glancins toward his curtained -
en-.
You will do nothing of the kind I
light work is not permitted in the val
y" Sci
Thank you. l hoped you would say nu
lat, Shirley. believe | am tired. to
I'd now if you will find Il magazine
II me I'll 20 to bed. Ring for Thorn. Col
to close the house" Oct
Il have few notes to write. They'll
Ike only minute and I'll write them r
re"
She heard Eer fathers door close, lis
ned to be quite sure that the house
as quiet and threw back the curtains
'mitage stepped out into the library.
You must go! You must go!" she
lispered, with deep tensity.
Yes; l must go. You have been
nd. You are most generous"
But she went before him to the hall,
lited, listened, for one instant; then
rev open the outer door and bade
n so. The rain dripped heavily from
: caves, and the cool breath of the ID
shened air was sweet and stimulat- n
:. She was Immediately relieved to
We him out of the house, but he lin
red on the veranda, staring helpless
about.
1 shall go home" he said, but so un-