Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-08-23

tudt IL Is uOl
cunning forgery"
Forgery roared the duke. "Read
this one from the late king of Ju,
gendheit to Arnsberg then If you still
doubt"
Herbeck read slowly and carefully.
Then he rose and walked to the
nearest window. studying the letter
again In the sharper light.
Herbeck returned to his chair. 81
wish that you had shown me these
long ago. You accused the kingT'
Certainly, but he denied it."
"In letter."
eyes. Here, read It."
Herbeck compared the two. "Where
did you find these?"
"In Arnsberg's desk" returned the
duke-"Arnsberg, my boyhood play
mate, the man loved and trusted and
advanced to the highest Office in my
power. Is that not the way? Well.
dead or alive. 10000 crowns to him who
brings Arnsberg to me dead or alive"
"You are very bitter" said Herbeck.
"And have not cause? Did not my
wife die of broken heart. and did
not become a broken man? You do
not know all. uerbeck-not quite all.
Franz also sought the hand Of the
Princess Sofia. He. too. loved her, but
7 We'll Lt., ho uo
been sweet to him."
"But your daughter has been restor-
ed to her own"
due to your indefatigable efforts
alone. All, Herbeck, nothing will ever
fill up the gap between, nothing will
ever restore the mother" The duke
bowed his head.
Herbeck opened another drawer and
took forth long hood envelope crest
ed and sealed
"Your highness, here is letter from
the prince regent Of Jugendheit for
mally asking the hand of the Princess
Hildegarde for his nephew Frederick.
who will shortly be crowned. My ad-
vice is to accept. to let bygones be by
gones."
write the prince that I respectfully
decline"
"Do nothing in haste, your highness.
Temporize. Say that you desire some
time to think about the matter. You
can change your mind at any time. A
reply like this commits you to moth
ing, whereas your abrupt refusal will
only widen the breach"
"The wider the breach the better"
mo, no, your highness: the past has
disturbed you. We can stand war,
and 1t is possible that We might win,
even against Jugendheit, but war at
this late day would be colossal blum.
der. Victory would leave us where
we began thirty years ago. And an
insult to Jugendhelt might precipitate
war"
"Have your way, then"
The duke departed, stirred as he had
not been since the restoration Of the
princess. He sought his daughter.
She was in the music room. my
child" he began, taking Hildegarde's
hand and drawing her toward win
dow seat. "the king Of Jugendheit asks
for your hand"
"Then I am to marry the king OF
JugendheitT There was little Joy In
her voice.
"Ah. we have not gone so far as
that! The king. through his uncle, has
simply made proposal"
ut is for you to decide. father.
Whatever your decision Is shall abide
by It,"
ut is a hard lesson we have to learn,
my child. We cannot always marry
where we love. Diplomacy and poll
tics make other plans. But fortunate
ly for you you love no one yet, and
the king is young. handsome, they say.
and rich. Politically speaking. 1t
would be great match"
81 am In your hands. You know
what Ia best"
The duke was poignantly disap-
boInted. Why did she not refuse out.
right. as became one Of the house OF
Ehrenstcin?
What Is he like" she asked.
THAT no one seems to know. BE
has been to his capital but twice In ten
Years. The young king has been In
Paris most Of the time. That's the
way they educate kings these days
They teach them all the vices. Your
father loves you, and II you are inclln'
ed toward his majesty, II 1t is In your
heart to become queen. shall not
let my prejudices stand In the way"
She caught up his hand with O
strange passion and kissed II.
"Father, | do not want to marry any
one." wistfully. But queen" she
added thoughtfully. would 1t be fol
the good Of the stater
Here was reason. "Yes; my objec
tions are merely personal" said the
duke.
"For the good Of my country l M
ready to make any sacrifice"
every well, but weigh the matter
carefully. There Is never any retrac
Ing a step of this kind" BE pauset
and then said:
"You are all I have, GIRL"