The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-03-31

cOnnuentlal Naiet helps MIN into
hat and overcoat. BY a bijou elevn-
tor whose door initiates a bookcase he
desCends to the ground floor. Between
the emperors study and the waiting
limousine is a trip OF a short minute
saving n detOur OF half a mile by
suites of rooms. stairways and corri-
doris. lie walks 20 steps across the
little courtyard to the door, where a
limousine awaits him. There is no
special secrecy: II is to avoid cere-
mony merely. lie gives no directions;
the chauffeur knows where to go.
Quitting the frigid. solemn Hofburg,
out into the bright lit, bustling early
evening Of Vienna. past crowds has
tening TO theater and music hall. into
fair streets of residence. the auto
stops at n comfortable villa. The old
sovereign enters the gate alone. The
front door opens as he mounts the
three marble steps. When the door
shuts he is no longer the dread. lone
ly emperor and apostolic king, but
Herr Schratt. regularly called the
Colonel" careless. easy. phlegmatio
and slouchy. bright. warm. coy. snug
among good old friends.
Since the tragic death OF the En-
press Elizabeth, Francis Joseph is
widower, 81 years old. and II all
Vienna smiles at Monsieur Schratt" II
Is with respectful sympathy and under
standing. Years ago when the Burg
theater was a wing of the Hofburg. the
great actress Katharine Schratt-the
Sarah Bernhardt and Rejane of Vienna
was presented to Francis Joseph by
Empires Elizabeth herself. For long
she. too, has lived retired, and the
mourning emperor found her so intelli-
gent. SO fine and also good, that, great
love and sorrow having burnt out, an
affectionate friendship grew up TO
give him kind Of peaceful solace.
The court calls her the Bour-
geoise.' With Katharine Schratt, for
the first time in 65 years. he learned
what blessed relief from frigid Ell.
quette and numbing ceremony might
be. The woman of heart, the artistic
genius. who played the roles of great
queens on the boards OF the Court the
alter, before archduchesses and prin.
cesses. slowly and tactfully broke
through the crust OF the divinity that
, hedged and hampered the poor man
throughout his life
Leaving crown and scepter on the
hat-rack. he enters the bright little
card room that adioins two bijou par
, lors. and takes the best easy chair.
, while Nine. Katharine hastens with
. the foot warmer. He lights a cigar.
The bell rings and the partners OF
, interminable games Of Tarok-a sort
OF Austrian bridge-arrive: two an
cient friends Of the great actress be-
. come friends OF Herr Schratt, al.
. ways the same: Herr Palmer, director
, of the Bank des Pays Austrichiens and
, an international private banker SO ex.
; tremely illustrious that his name IL as
= well known as Francis Joseph's,
The banker and Mons. Schratt are
+ fast old cronies, TO the sorrow
= and scandal OF the Countess Cho-
$ tex. morganatic but directing wife of
q Francis Ferdinand. heir to the dual
s crown. Often the emperor loses all
e the money In his purse-a dozen nor.
n iue AZ Ahc nightly eoLic Vi ldrOk
]. He plays badly. None wants him for
s partner: so they cut to see who takes
J. him He laughs boisterously.
: At ten O'Clock the limousine is an
,, nounced and Ene. Katharine helps
J. the Colonel into hat and over
d coat.
L The auto rolls through the streets OF
J. Vienna, still bright and boisterous
J, to the cold. solemn Hofburg. II stops
! at the little door Of the small court
yard. The old man enters. and Q si
lent valet meets him