Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-28
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Rope and the Ring-By F. A. Mitchell.
COPYRIGHTED 1910 by Associated Literary Preea

ne strolled away. In q card room he
saw a young man covered with deco
rations, some Of them worn only by
royalty, hanging over the woman he
had kissed. His face was pale, and
his lips were set firmly, as If repress-
ing some strong emotion. But neither
he nor the princess looked at Prince
Ferdinand.
AS Ferdinand was about to go up to
his suit of apartments an officer In
the uniform OF the royal household
guard stepped up to him, bowed cere-
moniousIy and asked If his serene
transparency would accord him a few
minutes interview. Ferdinand knew
that the blow was about to fall. He
graciously granted the request and
asked IL the officer would visit him in
his apartments. The officer assented
and followed him
In Ferdinand's reception room. after
many ceremonial observances, the Of
flcer said:
81 am the bearer of message from
his royal highness the Grown Prince
Adolph of Meklen-Swinitz. asking
satisfaction for the insult offered by
you 10 LuG IlHCeSS Tic anu
dukes betrothed. From the nature
of that insult it will of course appear
to your serene transparency that no
apology can be accepted"
Prince Ferdinand replied to the mes
sage as became a prince Of the blood
and referred the officer TO the Duke Of
Zwingen, whom Ferdinand had enter
tanned at Munich. The two seconds
arranged meeting for the next morn
ing at sunrise IN a wood in rear of the
palace where the dishonOr consequent
upon the kiss could be washed away
In blood. There Prince Ferdinand and
the crown prince met the next morn
ing, and as soon as the former set
eyes on the latter he recognized the
man he had seen the evening before
hanging over the Princess Maria.
He had been waiting for his be-
trothed as she mounted the staircase
and had seen the kiss.
In those days the napier was the usu-
al weapon IN such affairs, but Prince
Ferdinand chose pistols. They were
clumsy affairs, and the crown prince
scowled when he heard of his oppo-
nent's choice. The principals were
posted and the signal given. A single
shot was. heard. that of the crown
prince. Ferdinand slowly raised his
arm and fred toward the heavens, then
sank down on the ground.
Moved by Prince Ferdinand's refusal
to defend himself, his opponent went
to him and with the others bent over
him sympatheticslly.
"WilI your royal highness be the
bearer of my apologies to the Princess
price paid for what / received a mere
bagatelle.''
Prince Ferdinand lay at the point of
death for a time, then slowly recov-
cred. When able to travel he was TAX
en- back to Munich, where he eventu-
ally regained his lost strength.
There were at that time strained con-
ditions among the German states. Ba-
varia and several other principalities
in the eastern portion of Germany
were chafing under certain breaches of
treaty by the king Of Prussia, who
headed coalition of the more western
soyereigns. among whom was the
Grand Duke of Meklin-Swinitz. The
king of Bavaria, incensed at what he
conceived in the serious wounding of
Prince Ferdinand by the crown prince
Of Meklin-Swinitz to be an insult offer
ed to a guest, broke or negotiations
that were pending and declared wal
against the grand duke. This involved
all the powers concerned In the exist
ing status and precipitated a genera.
conflict
Prince Ferdinand took a prominent
part In the conflict. in which the east
ern principalities In time conquere,
a peace. When the capital Of tn,
grand duchy OF Meklin-Swinitz lay
the mercy OF the opposition allies the
sent his most skillful dip4o-
mat to discover on what terms they
would eyacuate his territory. The am
bassador found himself compelled to
treat with the king Of Bavaria.
go and tell your MASTER" said the