Evening star., 1909-05-16

vast difference between beng laughed at
and laughed with. saw the Princess two
years ago, and, as YOU know, her beauty and
sweetness made me lose my heart. | thank
God saved my head, though also came near
losing it, I've carried burden of unrest ever
since True, it IS not killing me"
No, no. my son! No, no, it is notl'
but I'm no such fool as to want to add to
it. The Princess saw me- and you attributed
her laughter to lneXpeTlence and youth. You
see. mother. to be laughed at need but to be
seen; and seen too oft, familiar with my face,
I'm not endured, nor pitied, nor embraced. A
woman is more apt to love man who she fears
will kill her, than one at whom she Incllnes to
laugh. Farewell, a long farewell, dear mother.
to all your dreams of greatness I'm welded
to nv beer, and II remain true to the one mis-
tress that know will be true to me.
WHAT will the Princess Nina have to do
w with the choice of husband?" asked the
Margarine Her mad old father, brute that
he is, will not consult her He will consider
himself overindulgent if he notifies her when he
makes his choice. His will is law throughout all
Brandenburg and Prussia. and every other will.
to whomsoever it may belong, must be opposed
for the pure love of stubbornness. Above all,
neither Nina nor the Crown Prince Fritz shall
have their way in any respect, however Just
or reasonable that way may be. Therefore,
Mina's inclinati ton toward man would ruin his
prospects with the King.
1T is true that Grunkow rules the King;
IL
plishes his purpose by pretending to oppose the
will of his master. Grumkow says the King
hates Fritz and Nina: no one knows why.
But it is surely true that he hates his own flesh
and blood and many persons at the courts of
Berlin and Potsdam believe that he wishes the
Prince and the Princess dead.
:" Grumkow also says that the Prince IS
dissolute young fellow and dlsobedlent son,
and that he would be tried and executed as any
other guilty. citizen if his disobedienCe reached
fhatc he " 10
King to be treason Yes, it's hard to believe,
but it is doubtless true, that the old King would
not for moment stand IN the way OF justice or
of injustice, if his was on trial for treason.
Grumkow has often told me that he believes the
old Kings bad heart would rejoice if his son
could be courtmartialed and shot. Oh he's
crazy, that old king,-mad mad
Not so much as he is bad" suggested
Adolph.
Yes, my son, he's mad and soon will die
Mark my word Adolph, you, who are the first
Prince of the Blood, may become King of
Prussia and Brandenburg without a dissenting
voice, if the Crown Prince should be taken, and
if YOU were the husband of the Princess Will
hemina Ny uncle, the Emperor of Austria,
ardently desires the match and our cousin.
King George of England, who hates his brother
in law, King Frederick William, would rejoice.
King Frederick William likes you | know not
whv,-perhaps because YOU drink SO much
beer,-but for some reason he likes you, and if
we are at Berlin when the English betrothal is
broken, Grumkow and Baron Won Seckendorf,
my uncle's spies at the court Of Berlin, will see
that the hand of this beautiful GIRL the Princess
Nina, is offered to you-my son, IS offered to
you!
But mother, l could not marry a woman
against her will objected Adolph.
That need not be, my son. returned the old
lady impatiently Il tell you the Princess is
not only sweet of nature and beautiful of person,
as YOU well know, but she is wise. learned, and
witty, and will in time your worth and
value it If she does not love you at first she
will soon learn it after marriage; for any man,
unless he is fool can win woman if he has
her always by his side.
The old lady uttered the last sentence hesitat
ingly, and her doubt seemed to infect the Mar
grave You do not believe what you say,
mother said Adolph sleepily.
The Margarine was getting we'll on toward
three o'clock. II think do son. ven
tured the old lady. But, in any case, I'm
sure YOU could win the Princess, and know
she would be contented and happy in your
arms.
no you believe what you saying mother?"
- asked the Margrave, arousing himself and
speaking earnestly Il would give half the
years of my life if | could even dream of the
bliss of possessing her and her love In all the
world no heart bears a greater burden OF love
than mine holds for this beautiful Princess, and
even a faint hope of winning her would make
me the happiest man in Europe. But should
not take her without her love. | would die
E--&