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


Wilhelmina was lost for moment; but soon
retorted Father has put no command upon
the Queen, and as long as she IS not dlsobeylng
him, cannot keep the scriptural injunction to
obey my parents when their commands con-
flict"
Grumkow laughed and said, Your Highness
is a rare logician and for the present you are
right But we shall see that the Queen receives
her command, and l advise you to make your
choice. or the King will make it for you. Yes,
he will save YOU from the sin of dlSobey1ng
scriptural injunction by giving his commands
to the Queen at once"
In that case shall dsobey both the Scrip
lures and my father" answered the Princess.
There will be many ways of inducing you
to obey both" said Grumkow showing his
teeth and walking away with satanic smile on
his face.
When Grumkow left, Wihelmina was sum-
moned to the Queens side and closely ques-
toned concerning the conversation. Wilhel-
nina told her mother all that said, and for
once Queen Sophia approved her daughter S
act and spoke kindly to her
WITHIN an hour Grumkow reappeared and
addressed the Queen. The King COM
mands me to say to your Majesty that your
stubborn disobedience pains him grevously.
That your Majesty should SO far forget your
duty to your husband. your King, and to your
God as openly to defy the Kings commands is
matter of wonder and grief to his Majesty.
force, he feels it is his duty to say to your Maj
esty that if Princess Wilhelmina remains OBJ
durate and does not. within three days after
tomorrow noon, make choice of husband as
already indicated, his Majesty will choose for
her. If she still refuses to marry the of his
choice, she will be locked up in Spandau Castle
with the Duke of Weissenfels, and when she
comes out she will be glad enough to marry any
man who will have her"
The Queen was almost Frustrated and could
np1 'Te he no he will
death if he carries out his threat"
Tell the King for me-" said Wilhelmina,
speaking softly but firmly, that he may carry
out his threat; but that will not choose either
of these men for my husband. nor will marry
either of them if he makes the choice for me-
Within three DAYS you will be glad enough
to choose. You am .he Queen will be on your
knees to his Majesty, begging the privilege to
obey answered Grumkow, bowling stiffly and
withdrawing.
THE events of the next two days were so hor-
rible that they shall be mentioned as
briefly as possible.
Doris Ritter. than whom there was no purer,
truer maiden, dragged naked at a carts
tail through the streets of Berlin and un-
mercifuly logged for no other reason than that
she was friend of the Crown Prince and Will
hemina. katt was beheaded in front of the
Crown Princes window; and Fritz was forced
to witness the execution.
Henry was on duty at Spandau during all
this period and knew nothing of Grumkow's
horrible deeds. Wilhelmina and the Queen, of
course, knew of the tragedies and were dis
tracted with grief. They tried to see the King,
to beg him to spare katt's life; but Grumkow
careful to prevent their meeting with his
Majesty.
After katt's death, Grumkow appeared be
fore the Queen and Wilhelmina. The two poor
women were almost Frustrated and could not
even protest Grumkow lost no time in cere-
mony. He spoke briefly and to the point:
His Majesty commands me to say that the
friends of the Princess, beginning with Made
moiselle Sonnsfeld. will be served as Doris Rit-
ter was treated. and that the courtmartial now
sitting in judgment on the Crown Prince will
undoubtedly nflict on his royal Highness the
fate suffered by Kat, unless Princess Wilhel-
nina. before tomorrow night, makes choice of
a husband directed by her kind and gracious
father. Furthermore, if the choice is not made
the King will, after tomorrow night, order the
Princess to marry the Duke of Weissenfels and
if the punishment inflicted on her brother and
her friends does not subdue her stubborn WILL
she shall. | have already told you, go to
Spandau with his Grace, the Duke"
Il will marry the Margrave of Schwedt!"
cried Wilhelmina and Grumkow took his leave
THE evening of the same day the Margrave
approached the Princess in the Queens
parlor. for the purpose of publicly thanking
her for having chosen him. He bowed low
took her protfered hand and lifted it to his lips
Il thank your Highness for the honor you
have done me, and my life shall be devoted to