Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-01-22
The FallOf the Empire

was towering. At thirty he found him
self the first general of his age. Not
content with being master of his W
kingdom, he sought to make himself
master of all kingdoms within his
reach.
While the kings traits were Napo-
leonic, there was n trait that was
not Napoleonic. Napoleon. while he
was a gallant, never permitted any
woman to influence him In matters of
government. He was not afraid of the
fair sex and took no precautions
against women The soldier-king, on
the contrary, feared their seductions.
He was aware that they governed the
world and considered that 1t would be
impossible for him to build UP the en-
pire he intended If he were himself
governed by a m A bachelor, he
proposed to remain a bachelor. And
for fear that he would be captured he
permitted only the homeliest women to
come near him. On one occasion when
he was told that q young girl had come
to his tent to beg for protection from
his soldiers he asked, SIS she comely?'
When answered in the affirmative he
replied, 'Then let her be yelled"
There was one petty duchy, Histeria.
still unconquered which was important
to the soldier-king. From its %geograph-
ical position 1t was the main link in
the states from which the empire vas
to be formed. Though small, its con-
quest would be difficult, for its terri
tory constituted IN elevated plateau
whose only approaches were through
mountain defles. The king sent a de-
mand for its submission. A reply was
returned that the duke would yield to
certain conditions. If not he would de-
fend his dukedom till every man in 1t
had been killed.
The king then sent q messenger to
ask the conditions. A reply came that
they would only be presented at a
meeting to take place between the two
sovereigns. Midway up a defile lead
ing to the duchy was a pocket well
adapted for a place of conference. The
duke proposed that he and the king
meet there and discuss the terms by
whlch MS DOMAIN shoulu pass unuer
the kings rule. The king might bring
all the guard he wished. The luke
pledged himself TO go alone
Inc KING, unWlling TO pe III
an exhlbition OF declared
nat ne, 100, Wouid go aione anu uh-
armed. All these matters haVlng peen
ADJUSTED, the KING roue' win u sinai
guard, TO the mouth OF the uehle'
Wnere ne iell tnem ana proceeded 70
the r~endezvous, Inc ouke was seen
coming Gown the n1ountaih' an oio
man Win a moving Whlle pearu anu
mar.
pavilion mat nad Deen erected LOT Tue
conference. The duke produced a gold
en- Key, unlocked the door ana motloh'
ed the 1 TO enter. When inside the
duke relocked the door. inns startied
the king, but he SAID nothing surely
Ii ~treachery were end he was a
match for this feeble old man. Ihen
the duke led the way into a handsome
ly furnished room, In the center OF
Wnlch were a table ana writing male-
rails. AT one end OF the apartment
blazed an open ire. The duke threw
the golden key In among the burning
logs. 1t Immediately fgnited. For a
moment the king stood In wonder at
seeing gold burn, then rushed forward
to rescue the Key. He was too late.
1T was OF wood, your majesty" SAID
the duke, and gilded. we are shut up
here together for his conference. Mel
Their can depart, for there Is no open
ing except the door which is locked
and no key with which to unlock 1t.
Let us proceed to business
As the duke spoke the last words he
threw his nat on the moor, pulleu on a
white wig and false beard, Invested
himself of his ducal robes and stood
- 80 H. 1f.., - ~ n r-Arr n rT0