Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-07-07
DAILY SHORT STORIES

nation at the objectionable treatment
for which no eXplanati ton was given
most affected the girl. who from hay
/ ing loved aud received the love of n
king was suddenly cast off. s Such
Observation-Disclosures usually become
more complicated and less explaina BILE
at every step. The second scene I'm
the drama was even more deplorable
than the first. The princess was as
founded to learn that her reader had
lied from her and taken up her abode
within the limits OF the royal park.
] Ihis begot another error. AS the
King believed that the princess Ind
4 given the guardSman his present. so
/ the princess believed that the reason
the king had broken with her was
that he might possess the actress.
| Ihls led TO third complication. So
phia returned TO the king all the
presents he had sent her except the
half hoop Of turquoises, which she
could not find 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 u 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 so
wroth and who, instead of suing for
forgiveness for the offense 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 he had re.
ceived. He spoke of this to his com
panion.
Gretchen came to q 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 confession. But
1t 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 IL she was to confess and
throw herself on his mercy how could
she hope for n more advantageous
situation than this moonlit scene? If
she was to succeed in winning n mar
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
astttpmt demon. Selling the kneel-
ing girl by the waist, he raised her
above the gunwHle 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 he was not
doomed TO live under the stigma of
murder. Some gamekeepers heard the
cries Of the drowning girl and. jump
ing into 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 cx-
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 TO 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 n hearing aud insulted
her by supplanting her with the wo-
man who had perpetrated the decep-
ton.
There are few cases where q king
has been sent about his business by
woman who has really loved him. and
10 is not likely in such affairs that the
indignant fiancec had long refused To
be conciliated. but Sophia maintained
the position she had assumed and nev
or became the wife Of Louis, King Of
Bavaria.
And yet this episode which separat-
cd a pair Of royal lovers turned out
blessing in disguise for the Princess
Sophia Louis outbursts OF temper
we're but the precursors Of insanity.
Later his mind gave way. and auoth.
ar took charge OF the government Of
bis kingdom, while the legitimate SOW
creign was confined under the caro- OF
physician.
The king was not violent and was
permitted 10 take walks with his at.
tcndaut doctor. One evening while
they were out together near lhc lake
which Louis had loved So well and
which had been the scene Of past
episodes iu his life nc made some ex
cuse 10 leave his guardian FOR few
moments lie seemed I'm such good