Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-08


could not fnd and supposed had been
lost.
The evening after the receipt of his
gifts the king and the .ex-actress-ex-
reader were out on the lake The
boat, shaped like a swan, was fitted
up in royal style. The moon shone
down upon them. its soft light in
tensifying the girls beauty. That
they might be alone the oarSmen had
been left on shore. the king having
himself pulled the boat out on TO the
lake.
But Louis mind was on the prin-
cess. with whom he had been sc
wroth and who. instead of suing for
forgiveness for the oGfense of which
he had accused her. had broken the
last link of the chain that had bound
them together by returning his gifts.
Moreover. he had noted that the half
loop which had made all the trouble
was not among the gifts be had re-
ceived. he spoke of this to his COM
panion.
Gretchen came to a sudden resolu.
ton.
What influences people is not always
known even to themselves. much less
to others. 1t seems singular that the
woman who had brought about this
rupture of fiery king with the girl
he loved should while he was still hot
have determined on a confession. But
it must be remembered that she had
gained whatever sway she held over
her royal lover by the senses. Doubt
less she could not endure her secret
forever, and if she was to confess and
throw herself on his mercy how could
she hope for a more advantageous
situation than this moonlit scene? IL
she was to succeed in winning a par
don no better time or place could be
hoped for.
Throwing herself at Louis feet, she
told the story of her crime.
Not only were her hopes Of forgive
ness dashed. but death stared her in
the face. That fiery nature which the
king had already often displayed and
which doubtless presaged the insanity
which fell upon him later flashed out
as from a demon. Selling the kneel-
ing girl by the waist, he raised her
above the gunwale Of the boat and
threw her into the water. Then, tax
ing up the oars. regardless Of her
cries, he pulled furiOusly to the shore.
Fortunately for Louis. be was not
doomed to live under the stigma Of
murder. Some gamekeepers heard the
cries of the drowning girl and. jump
ing into a boat. pulled out in time TO
save her. AS soon as she had reached
the shore she fed from Bavaria.
The king hurried to Possenhoffen.
burning to undo the wrong he had
done his betrothed. 1t was to be ex-
pected that he would have some diff
Guilty in winning her forgiveness. But
was not her lover king?
Reaching the chateau, he sent word
that he begged 10 see her in order
that he might explain and ask forgive
ness for his treatment of her. Word
came back to him that she would not
see him; that she would never be the
wife of a man who had turned her
away without a hearing and insulted
her by supplanting her with the wo-
man who had perpetrated the decep-
ton.
There are few cases where a king
has been sent about his business by
woman who has really loved him. and
it is not likely in such affairs that the
indignant tiancee had long refused TO
be conciliated. but Sophia maintained
the position she had assumed and new
er became the wife Of Louis, king of
Bavaria.
And yet this episode which separat-
ed a pair of royal lovers turned out
blessing in disguise for the Princess
Sophia. Louis outbursts of temper
were but the precursors of insanity.
Later his mind gave way. and anoth-
er took charge of the government OF
his kingdom. while the Legitimate SOW
ereign was confined under the care Of
a physician.
The king was not violent and was
permitted to take walks with his at
tendant doctor One evening while
they were out together near the lake
which Louis had loved so well and
which had been the scene Of past
episodes in his life he made some ex-
cuse TO leave his guardian for Il few
moments. He seemed in such good
mental condition that consent was
given. Presently the doctor heard
splash. Hurrying TO the lake. he saw
his charge in the water. Jumping IN.
he seized the king. but the latter was
too strong for him and. getting him
under water. held him there till life
became extinct. Afterward the dead
bodies of the king aud the physician
were found in the lake.
Another tragedy involving the death
of one born at Possenhoffen was The
of the Empress Eliza
beth of Austria at Geneva by an an
nrchist. Indeed. the place and the pc
riod were full of remarkable happen
ings TO the royal houses Of Austria
and Bavaria.