Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-07-28

esteem in WnlCn TIC WIS Hclu ny 'uc
classes and the masses. Socially he
was n great favoritc. He enjoyed the
freedom of the most exclusive homes
in Edclwciss.
There was but one man connected
with the government to whom the pop
ularity and influence Of John Tullis
proved dstastcfu. That man was the
Duke of Persc On more than one
occasion the cabinet had chosen to be
guided by the sagacity Of John Tullis
in preference to following the lines
laid down by the astutc minister OF
finance. The decision to offer the new
bond issue in London and Paris was
due to the earnest. forccful argument
Of John Tulls-outsidc the cabinet
chamber. to he sure. This was but
one instance in which the plan of the
treasurer was Overridden. He resent
ed the plain though delicate influence
Of the former Wall street man. Tullis
had made 1t plain to the ministry that
Graustark could not afford to place it
self in debt to the Russians. Into whose
hands sooner or later the destinics Of
the railroad might be expected to fall
The wise men Of Graustark saw his
point without force Of argument and
voted down in the parliament the
dukes proposition to place the loan in
ST. Petersburg and Berlin. For this
particular act of trespass upon the
dukes official preserves he won the
hatred Of the worthy treasurer and his
no inconsidcrnble following among the
deputies.
But John Tullis was not IN Edel-
weiss for the purpose Of meddling
with state affairs. He was there be-
cause he elected to stand mentoI to
the son Of his lifelong friend even
though that son was a prince Of the
blood and controlled by the vii! Of
three regents chosen by his own sub
jects.
To say that the tin! prince loved
his big. broad shouldered. ruddy check.
ed, adoring mentor would be putin =
it too gently; he idolized him Tulis
was father. mother and big brother
to the little fellow in knickers
One woman in Graustark was the
/ source of never ending and constantly
/ increasing interest to this stalwart
companion to the prince. That woman
was. alas. the wife Of another man.
Moreover. she was the daughter of
the Duke of Perse
/ The young and witty Countess OF
/ Marlanx came often to Edelweiss. She
was favorite ut the castle. notwith-
standing the unhealthy record OF her
ancient and discredlted husband. the
Iron Count. Tulls had not seen the
count. but he had heard such tales OF
him that he could not but pity this
glorious young creature WHO called
him husband
At present we are permitted to at
tend meetinc of the cabinet. which
sits occasionally III solemn collective
ness just OIL the throne room within
the tapestried walls Of 4 dark little
antechamber known to the outside
world as the room of wrangles.
The question under discussion relate:
to the loar of 5000 COG gavvos. befor,
mentioned at the heal of the louc
table. perched upon an augmentar
pile of lawbooks. surmounted by lit
tie red cushion. sits the prince. almcs
lost in the huge old walnut chair O.
his forefathcrs.
The prince was a sturdy. curly haired
lad. with big brown eyes and a lam
cntably noticeable scratch on his nose
acquired in less stately but more prof
liable pursuits. Ut seems that III
had peeled his nose while sliding t.
second base in certain American
game that he was teaching the juve
nile aristocracy how to playJ
About the table sat the three regent.
and the other men high in the admins
tration of affairs. among them Gen
eral Braze of the army, Baron Putt;
Of the mines. Rosion of agriculture
The Duke OF Perse was discussing tn,
great loan question. The prince wa
watching his gnunt. saturnine fact
with more than usual interest.
"Of course it is not too late to rescint
the order promulgated at our last sit
ting. There are five bankers in st
Petersburg who will finance the LOAF
without delay. We need not delay tn,
lnterminable length Of time necessar.
to secure the attention and co-opera
ton Of bankers In France and Eng
land. 1t is all nonsense to say tina
> Russia has sinister motives in the mat
, ter. We need the money before tn
winter opens. Why should We prefel
England? Why France?"
For some unaccountable reason h,
struck the table violently with his ifs
and directed his glare upon the aston
ished prince. TIL,
~ explosive demand
: CWl caught the rule
+ ! 4. ! !: !
! & by surprise. Ill
gaspcd and hi
~ 4n1 lips fell apart
A@A Then It must hav,
: Mb1 occurred to hin
that the question
D &&E, could be answered
| by no one saw,
' the person Il