Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

a1a1fS Tor winch the Princess WAS III no
way responsible Schwedt or Weissen
fels." continued the Queen. And | am
glad of it-glad of it! 1t is what you de
serve for being a poor spiritless, mean
hearted fool. Your sister Don't Care
would have shown her teeth, and would
have used them too, had she been in your
place. See what she did when your father
and Grumkow suggested marrying her to
the lean, lank, poverty stricken Prince OF
Bayreuth! She gave your father to UNI
derstand that she would have no pauper
skeleton for husband
Indeed | did," said Don't Care, who
was standing nearby, laughing at her Sis
ters discontinue. 81 detied Stumpy to
his face, and harassed him until he was
only too glad to let the matter drop.
II wish | could follow your example"
said the weeping Wilhelmina; but / am
helpless, and l have grown to care very
little what my fate may be
That is where the trouble hes.
screamed the Queen. You are so meek,
SO weak, SO limp and listless, that your
father and Grumkow drive you hither and
thither as sheepdog drives sheep! I'm
tired of quarreling and storming on your
behalf. I'm going to stop, and you can 60
to the devil or any place you choose when
ever you wish! If you won't lift hand
to save yourself, III stop fighting for you"
But what shall do Tell me, mother,
what shall do?" pleaded Nina.
Tell your father that YOU will marry
neither Schwedt nor Weissenfels, re
turned the Queen impressively. Tell
him that he may kill you, but that you
will neither choose nor have either of
these men. He has not yet ordered you to
make choice; but the command will come
within a few DAYS. When it comes, defy
the King, and he will have to yield to your
will Then he will reinstate the English
negotiations"
Although Nina dreaded marriage with
the English Prince quite as much as with
WeiSsenfelS or Schwedt, she hoped that
the Queen was right; for the English ne
gotiations were sure to drag and their re-
opening would at least give her time. She
therefore determined to take the Queen
advice and make a brave stand against
the terrible King and the still more terri
bic Grumkow.
1t came to pass as the Queen had
prophesied at least, it came to pass in
part, for within fortnight the order came
to Wilhelmna that she should choose for
her husband either the Margrave of
Schwedt or the Duke of Weissenfels
nURING the period intervening be-
tween W1lhelm1na s conversation with
the Queen and the day of the Kings final
order, events happened that made it easy
for his Majesty and Grumkow to force
their will on the Princess.
The Crown Prince, having determined
to try to escape from the clutches of his
father, told Wilhelmina of his plans and
when she endeavored to dissuade him he,
as on former occasion, accused her of
selhshness and closed the argument by
angrily telling her that his going was no
affair of hers. and that she need not med
die in what concerned him only.
The Prince, like every other selfish per-
son, failed to appreciate the fact that his
acts might seriously affect all who were
near him; yet of all persons he was the
most prone to bring trouble to others. In
this case. what he did brought many
others into frightful trouble, and helped
to make it impossible for his sister, whom
he dearly loved, to refuse to obey the
commands of Grumkow and the King
The Prince tried to escape; but he was
captured. His friends, Keith and katt,
were with him. Keith succeeded in max
ing his way safely out of Prussia; but
katt was taken with the Prince. Both
were charged with dese-tion. The Prince
was confined in his room, a prisoner.
awaiting trial for treason. katt was sent