Evening star., 1909-07-11

eyes were red with weeping when she took her
place beside the King; but soon tears began to
stream down her face, and she, poor woman!
was so nearly Frustrated that she could make
no effort to stay them.
Beside the Queen stood Don't Care, looking
happy and very much amused. Next to Don t
Care sat the Margarine of Schwedt. AT the
Kings left stood the Crown Prince on whose
young face mask that no one could read.
Beside the Crown Prince was Grumkow,
clothed in true satanic red. Back in the room,
near the outer door leading to the garden, was
Fritz Henry, and what his face told could have
been easily ready by anyone who knew what was
in his heart
The room was filed, save a small place in
front of the royal dais, with beautifully gowned
women and men IN gorgeous uniform. AZ ere
standing and when the Queen began to weep
most of the ladies followed her example; for
they knew they were present to celebrate a
tragedy.
After long, painful silence, broken only by
the half suppressed sobs of women, and cough
now and then from sympathetic man, the
crowd parted and left aisle leading from a
side door to the open space in front of the royal
dais Then another long, sob-laden period of
silence ensued, and the Margrave of Schwedt,
with pale Wilhelmina resting on his arm,
walked down the human aisle and took his
place facing the King. When Henry saw the
Princess enter with the Margrave, he felt that
her fate was sealed, and the pain he endured
could not easily be described.
WHEN the Princess and the Margrave had
W taken their places before the King, the
little minister, our friend of The Tabagie
stepped before them and offered long prayer.
After the prayer the minister addressed Adolph,
saying:
DO you, Johann Adolph, Margrave of
Schwedt, now plight your faith to this woman,
whom you hold by the hand, and do you prom
Use, in Gods good time, to enter into the holy
bonds of rnatrimOnV with her2'
The Margrave very pale, dropped the
Princess hand stood trembling for moment,
and said, Before God. do-not!'
A buzz of astonishment ran over the room,
and Grumkow stepped toward the King with a
mixed look of terror, surprise, and disgust in
his face.
His Majesty, hardly understanding what the
Margrave said leaned forward in his chair, and
asked of the little minister, What does he say?
What does he say?"
The moment Intervening between the Mar
graves words and the Kings question had
given Adolph time to summon his courage. He
had need of it all, and it came to him quickly.
He did not wait for the minister to answer the
Kings question, but cried out excitedly:
mo, Frederick William King of Prussia and
Brandenburgl | do not promise to plight my
fate to Princess Wilhelmina, though to do SO
would bring happiness to my life such as have
never known. No man who is half man
would accept woman's hand against her will
should have notified your Majesty ere this of
my intention: but was weak, SO cowardly.
so craven, that could not bring myself to face
the terrors of your wrath. Now | am brave,
and | am able to thank your Majesty for the
great honor you have done me, and to tell you
that | will not be party to your cruelty nor
will l aid and abet that archvilfain, Baron
Grumkow, in his fiendish designs against Prin-
cess Wilhemina, and his reasonable purposes
against your Majesty! repeat his treason
able purposes against your Majesty"
Grumkow started angrlly toward Adolph:
but the Margrave, now thoroughly aroused and
excited almost to the point of frenzy, met the
Baron halfway.
You would make me King of Prussiar' he
cried. :" know your purposes, and l give fair
warning to you as my enemy, beware, bewarei"
The Margrave held up the palm of his hand
to Grumkow and stood for full minute like the
statue of Warning.
Grumkow drew back from Adolph con-
vinced that there was more meaning in the
Margrave's words than appeared on the sur
face
Votaire has said that fear follows guilt and
is its punishment. Grunkow was usually brave
in his evil deeds; but the weight of villainy he
carried on his conscience would have made a
coward of any man. Following rapidly in the
train of the Margrave's words came to Grum-
kow d consciousness of their truth and the
Baron's one thought was that his fine plots had
been discovered. SO when the King rose
angrily intending to assault the Margrave
Grumkow stepped to his side whispered word
in the royal ear, and the King stood still for
moment, looking as if about to explode
IF you were not SO great a fool, | should