Evening star., 1909-07-11
A GENTLE KNIGHT
OF OLD BRANDENB URG
Continue honpo
Continued from page 9

"A oh, Gon, mother!' answered the Margrave,
burying his face in his hands, " a man that will
accept woman against her will deserves to
spend an eternity in hell.
But the Princess seems willing, though |
admit she's not enthusiastic" suggested the
Margarine
Not quite, interrupted Adolph.
But if you refuse her. she will suffer worse
fate Wessenfels. If you are great fool
as to refuse the hand of the Princess, I'll dis
own you'll
if you would advise me to accept the Princess
hand, | should dlsown you and get another
mother Yes, by the devil that's what I'd do.
Now, mother, listen to mel have for many
years listened to you, and to please you have
were wrong. Now hear what | have to say!
love you beyond all persons save one in the
world but am Johann Adolph, Margrave of
Schwedt. My State is my State; my people
past, and your day is done. In this matter
shall take the course believe to be right, what
ever that may turn out to be, and if you throw
one straw in my way you may look tor another
son, and shall try to find another mother, or
do without altogether
You surprise and shock me-" said the Mar
gravine timidly recognizing that Adolph had
come to his strength.
Il so intended replied Adolph, 'and
though should not cause you one moment of
pain if could avoid it, l wish to impress
your mind the fact that | do not want your
advice in this affair, and that if you would keep
my love you will not interfere, unless | ask you
to help me in carrying out my purposes, what
ever they may prove to be-
Thereupon the Margrave walked out of the
room, a braver, taller, stronger man than he
had ever been in all his life before.
There is leavening quality about courage
that seems like yeast, to propagate itself.
little leaven had come to Adolph through his
defiance of his mother, of whom he had always
stood in great fear Would it leaven the whole
loaf!
THE betrothal ceremony was to take place in
the afternoon. On the morning of the
eventful day, the great questions to be solved
by the Margrave were, first, what dress should
he wear; and, second, should he get himself
drunk The first question was settled after
long consultation with Henry and the Mar
gravine. She was very joyful in the belief
that as matters had advanced thus far, they
would continue happily to the end.
The serious consideration by the Margrave
he intended abandoning his project to refuse
Wihelmnas hand and had determined to al
low events to take their course, as guided by
Fate, and as outlined by Grumkow and the
King. 1t, at least, showed concluslvely that
Adolph had, up to that time, failed to summon
the courage to confront the Kings ire.
The second question, that of getting himself
drunk, seemed to indicate to Henry that the
Margrave wished to fOrt1fy MS courage Tor an
attack on Majesty at the last moment. Henry
had begun to hope that the Margrave's cour-
age would fail him; for Immediately back of
his refusal to marry the Princess stood the hor-
rible specter, Weissenfels.
The mother advised beer, that beverage be
ing her sovereign cure for all ills. Though the
time was full of trouble and grief for Henry, the
serious almost prayerful consideration of these
two questions by the Margrave and the Mar
gravine was SO ludcrous that he could not help
feeling the humor of the situation. When the
Margarine advised beer, Adolph turned an in
quiring face toward Henry, as if to ask, What
do YOU say, drunk sober?"
Henry answered the mute appeal :" If you
drink too much beer Margrave, you will 60 to
sleep If you don't drink enough, it will do you
no good
"Aeh! the Captain is right cried the
cited Margarine. Turning to Henry, she con-
tinued as if the Margrave was not present, :" If
the beer does not make him drunk, it makes
him look silly. When he is drunk and asleep
Captain, he is beautiful His face is as calm
and as sweet as childs. A6h, my liebiing!"
tenderlv cried the old mother, embracing her
son and lovingly placing her cheek against his
when you are asleep, you remind me OF your
babvhood
Yes, said the Margrave, nodding to Henry
and confirming his mothers words as seriously
as If he had often seen himself in his sleep.
So 1t was arranged that the Margrave should
take only sip of beer--say two quarts, or
such matter-just before starting to the cere-
mony, and Henry, heavy at heart and almost