The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-09-25

this was not possible II the hereditary
Prince of Posen was dying or dead, his
condition was due to some other agency
than the Romanee-ContI. Aribert bent
over him. and a powerful odor from the
mans lips at once disclosed the cause
of the disaster. 1t was the odor of
Iaudanum. Indeed, the smell of that
sinister drug seemed now to float heav-
lily over the whole table.
Across Aribert's mind there flashed
then the true explanation. Prince Eu-
gen, taking advantage Of Artberts at
tention being momentariiy diverted, and
yielding to a sudden impulse Of despair,
had decided to poison himself, and had
| carried out his intention on the spot.
The laudanum must have been already
In his pocket. and this fact went to
prove that the unfortunate prince had
previously contemplated such a proceed
Ing. even after his definite promise.
Aribert remembered now with painful
yividness his nephew's words: II with,
draw my promise. Observe that: 4
withdraw It"
It must have been instantly after the
utteraDce of that formal withdrawal
that Eugen attempted to destroy HIM
self.
IT'S laudanum, Hans" Aribert ex-
claimed, rather helplessly.
Surely his highness has not taken
the other. TITS laudanum. What are
we to do? Quick. man.
His highness must be reused, sire.
He must have an emetic: We had bet
| ter carry him to the bedroom.
They did, and laid him on the great
bed, and then Aribert mixed an emetic
Of mustard and water and administered
It. but without any effect
The sufferer lay moveless, every mus
, Gle relaxed. His skin was ice cold to
| the touch. and the eyelids, half drawn.
| showed that the pupils were painfully
contracted.
Say that Prince Eugen has been sud-
denly taken i'll, but that 1t isn't serious.
The truth must never be known"
He must be reused, SIRE" Hans said
| again as he hurried from the room.
Aibert lifted his nephew from the
bed, shook him, pinched him, fiicked
| him about: but to no avail.
At length he desisted, from mere phys
icaI fatigue, and laid the prince back
Every minute that elapsed seemed an
| hour. Alone with the unconscious or
ganism in the silence Of the great state
chamber. under the cold, yellow glare of
| the electric lights. Anbert became
prey to the most despairing thoughts.
The tragedy of his nephew's career
forced itself upon him, and it occurred
| to him that an carry and shameful
death had all along been inevitable for
this good-natured, weak-purpOsed, I'M
happy child of historic throne.
A little good fortune, and his charac-
ter, so evenly balanced between right
and wrong, might have followed the
proper path, and Eugen might have
figured at any rate with dignity on the
European stage. But now II appeared
that all was over, the last stroke play
ed.
And in this disaster Aribert saw the
ruin of his own hopes For AriDert
would have to occupy his nephew's
throne, and he felt instinctively that
nature had not cut linn out for a king.
BY a natural impulse, he inwardly re-
telled against the prospect of mon
Grchy. Monarchy meant so much for
which he knew himself to be entirely
united.
II meant a political marriage, which
| meant a forced marriage, a union
against inclination. And then what of
Nella-Nellai
Hans returned.
] Il have sen for the nearest doctor
Good said Aribert. II hope they
will hurry" Then he sat down ard
wrote a card.
Take this yourself to Miss Rack
sole. II she is out of the hotel, ascer-
| tain where she is. and follow her. I'm
derstand; it is of the first Importance.
Hans bowed and departed for the sec
ond time. and Artbert was alone again.
| He gaZed at Eugen, and made another
| frantic attempt to rouse him from the
deadly stupor. but IL was useless. He
| walked away to the window; through
| the opened easement he could hear the
tinkle OF passing hansoms on the en-
bankment below, whistles Of doorkeep-
ers and the boot Of steam tugs on the
| river.
The world went on as usual. II ap-
peared. 1t was an absurd world. He
desiring nothing better than to abandon
his prfncely title and live as a plain
| man, the husband of the finest woman
on earth.
But now-pah! How selfish he was.
to be thinking of himself when Eugen
lay dying. Yet-NellaI
The door opened, and a man entered
who was obviously the doctor. A few
curt questions, and he had grasped the
essentials of the case.
''Oblge me by ringing the bell, Prince,
/ shall want some hot water, an able
bodied man and a nurse"
who wants a nurse?' said a voice,
and Nella came quietly in. 81 am a
nurse" she added. to the doctor, and
at your orders"
The next two hours were a struggle
between life and death.
The first, doctor, a specialist who fol-