Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-04-04

tenton.
OF his descendants had been specifically
preserved by royal decree you would
accept our offer!"
YES" said l. cor at least 1 would
give it serious consideration" | added.
with laugh.
The king turned slowly and for a
space kept his eyes fixed steadily on
my face, as though searching there for
an answer to something about which
his mind was undecided. Have you
ever had a monarch or one high in
authority look at you so? If you have
you are likely to remember ii many
days.
Then he arose abruptly and, crossing
to large vault built in far corner,
returned with a heavy black box curl
ously bound with brass and inlaid with
silver. Placing it on the table between
us, he took from his watch chain a
small antique key and, pushing 1t with
queer side motion into the lock. it
opened with sharp snap, and he threw
back the lid. Then he lifted out thick
leather covered book with heavy metal
hinges.
He shot quick glance at me as he
opened the book and began to turn the
heavy parchment pages, which / could
see were illumined in beautiful colors
ana with strange, large lettering
Presently these ended, and the char
acters seemed to be in ancient script
which gradually grew more modern
AT one Of these later pages the king
stopped and addressed me:
You have said that unless Hugos
rights and the Dalberg legitimacy of
his descendants We're preserved by
special decree made during Hugos
life you would decline to return to
court" He paused a moment. then
went on: ut would almost seem that
old Henry had some presentiment of
a certain stubborn minded grandchild,
for he provided for just such con
dition as you have made. This book
is the laws Of the house of Dalberg.
Listen to what is written touching
Hugo, son of Henry Ill"
lnstinctively | arose and stood at at
tention.
The king read
Section one hundred twenty-frst. For
1nasmuch as our second son, Hugo. hath
In defiance of our specific prohibition this
day left our kingdom and gone over sea
to the North American colonies of Great
Britain. there to join the forces of one
George Washington, who is leading re-
volt against his lawful sovereign, the king
of Enplar1 wifi who I
1t is hereby decreed that the said Hugo
shall forfeit all titles and emolurnents
heretofore conferred. and his name is
hereby stricken from the family roll.
From this day he ceaseth to be Dalberg
of Valeria. HENRY I'LL, REX.
Ye 18th October, A d. I'M
Frederick glanced up. "rhat was the
Judgment" said he Listen, now, to
the pardon:
Section one hundred twenty fifth Where
as we have learned that our second son,
Hugo, hath served with much honor in
the American army under General Wash
1ngton and hath since the termination of
hostilities married into a good family in
one of the said American states called
Maryland and hath assumed residence
therein, and whereas he hath never sought
aid from us nor sued for pardon, now,
therefore, in recognition of his valor and
self reliance and true Dalberg independ-
ence II is decreed that section one hundred
twenty-one, supra, be annulled, al. HUI
COS name is hereby reinstated on the
family roll in it's proper place. the same
as though never stricken therefrom And
1t is further decreed that the marriage Of
Hugo and the marriage of his descendants
shall be deemed valid and lawful the
same as though their respective consorts
were of the blood royal
rs that sufficiently definite. sir?" the
king asked.
1T is very traordinary." IAsaid in
wonder.