The Greenville morning herald. [volume] (Greenville, Tex.) 1890-1956, 1910-11-15
A Prince Poisoner
BY FREDERICK BINGHAM.
Copyright. 1910 by American Press
Association

There wns time In Italy when the /
Italians got rid Of those who stood IN /
their way 10y means OF poison
At that time ltnly was divided up /
into number OF petty princlpalitics |
and dukcdoms These former rulers
are still called princes and dukes. but
their power has been merged In the
king There was formerly grand
duke of one Of these little territories
whose power was absolute and who
used It simply TO crafty this poison
passion which pcrvadcd Italy at that
time He had way at feast Of
hunoring n guest In this wise. He
would send his glass to the guest with
his compliments, proposing to change
glasses with him. The guest who ~
ccptcd the honor would then rise, bow
and drink from the dukes glass. The
wine in II would be poisoned and the
last the guest would ever drink
The dukes domain took In princl
pality adjoining on the south. the duke
llsi llA llblN'ilfu ull Allf lltlllltlS WI
he reignug fumily-snve one princess
and then appropriated their domin
ion This princess he brought 10 his
capital and desired to marry her that
he might unite the two countries uu.
Ter II common dynasty. She was un'
willing and through motives OF policy
hc preferred to wait rather than force
i,.,p LAT o al
one night while the grand duke was
sitting nj a table on n raised dais.
/ number of guests seated ut tables be
meath him. The door opened and a
stranger walked in. unannouuccd aud
uninvitcd There was n vacant chair
beside the princess. aud after defcren-
| TALLY asking her permission hc~acccpt-
| ed 1t aud at once entered upon an ami,
/ mated conversation with her
The grand duke looked on aston,
! ished and mad with jealousy. While
he was homcly and misshapeu, the
stranger was nstonishingly handsome.
| He paid no more attention to the host
than If he had not been present The
/ duke turned to one Of his attendants
aud ordered Il glass OF wine The at.
teudaut. who was the official poisoner
went out and In few moments re
turned with glass OF wine on a
salver.
Take It TO the stranger said the
duke, with my compliments. and say
that / would pledge him with an eN-
change of glasses"
The glass. with the message, was
carried to the stranger, who took the
former from the salyer, arose and ad-
dressed the duke:
1T would be holiness indeed for me
to drink your hghness' wine when the
lady whom you are expected to honor
with your sovereign hand Is beside
me. will therefore pass the compli'
mcnt 10 her"
Holding the dukes glass in one hand
aud his own in the other, he was about
to offer the dukes to the princess wher
the duke Numbered;
who are you who dares insult u
by refusing our ducal favor"
The stranger set both glasses OH th
table and replied
81 ask your highness' pardon Hnv
offended?"
you have"
"Then apologize. The offense wa
unattended
Taking one of the glasses from tn
table, he placed It on the salver, aud
was taken to the duke, who. half IN
toxIcntcd AS he was and irriated wit
the man who might have cost tn
princess her life, as soon as he saw
that tho stranger had pledged him
drank II down 10 II few minutes hi
eyes were starting from his head, hi
face became purple. his tongue pro
truded. he fell over dead.
Then at II signal from the strange
several men from among the guests
starting from their seats. drew thcl
swords and stood beside him.
"My friends" said the stranger ad
dressing the company "l ain the onl
legitimate living male heir 10 onc-hal
this dukedom. For years / have bee
waiting for the tyrant to alienntc you
his subjects. that might reclaim m
own by sleight of hund change
the glasses after Selting Them ON tn
table and sent him back his own glass
He has come TO his end by drlukin
his own poison announce mysel
Prince of C., which ! declare SCI
arate principally and these gentle
men who have gathered around m
are my ministers The princess. III
cousin, viii return win me to my car
itaL'
the princess, the men who had jonc
him surrounded them, and they wake
out of the room Ihey hhd moi rrhchc