The Elbert County tribune., 1912-05-03
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boat steamed slowly out, The Hungarian or
chestra struck up lively csardas
Elizabeth tainted, The Countess Sztaray
cut her corset strings and found a tiny tri-
angular wound below the left breast.
Quick. doctor. The empress is woundedl
There was no doctor. and the boat put pack
to Geneva. Opening her eyes Elizabeth asked;
What is the matter?"
do you suffer?" faltered the countess.
Elizabeth smiled mo" and feebly waved her
hand in time to the jaunty music OF the csar-
das There was melancholy smile on ner
face as she slowly shut her eyes.
Elizabeth had died in beauty.
An aged emperor dimes alone gold plate
from the famous service whose central decora-
tive piece is worth $4,000. There is but one
guest-a general aidede-camp or high oihciai
OF the court The proudest monarch OF Europe
Is alone with one guest Etiquette demands H.
Five gorgeous funkeys in pale blue. bun.
pink and gold serve the two men. There have
been no flowers the table since the tragic
death OF the Empress Elizabeth; but the lights
OF wax candles CLINT the golden service and the
rare wines In cut glass. They fit from his
toric tapestries to carved wood furniture and
panels such as no museum possesses and
make dancing shadows in the distant corner.
Silence.
The aged emperor is dreaming OF the gor-
geous gala dinners OF the past. He sees the
Ideal throngs or other days Again ne nehrs
the three taps OF the grand chamberlain's
cane to announce the entrance OF their i'm
perial and royal majesties. How lonely is the
immense palace. full of hiding courtiers. func-
tionaries, servants. 1t is still early. not yet
seven.
Francis-Joseph rises. His guest takes cere-
monious leave and the sovereign goes to his
study.
His real life begins.
confidential valet helps him into hat and
overcoat. BY bijou elevator, whose door imi
tates bookcase. he descends to the ground
floor.
He walks twenty steps across the little court
yard to the door. where auto-limousne
awaits him. There is no special secrecy-it ia
to avoid ceremony merely. He gives drec-
uons; the chauffeur knows where to go.
Quitting the frigid. solemn Hofburg, out into
the bright-lit bustling early evening of Vienna
past crowds Fastening to theater and music
hall, into fair streets Of residence, the auto
stops at a 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
and easy. negligent and slouchy, bright. warm
cozy, snug among old friends
Years ago. when the Burg theater was a
wing of the Hofburg. the great actress Katha-
rina Schratt-the Sarah Bernhard and Rejane
of Vienna-was presented to FrancisJoseph by
Empress Elizabeth herself For long, she too
has lived retired; and the mourning emperor
found her intelligent, fine and also good
that old loves and sorrows having burnt out
an affectionate friendship grew up to give him
a kind Of peaceful solace.
Leaving crown and scepter on the hat rack
he enters the bright little cardroom that ad-
joins two bijou little parlors and takes the
best easy chair, while Madame Katharine has
tens with the foot-warmer.
Herr Schratt sprawls in unspeakable content
The bell rings and the partners of intermin-
able games of tarok-a sort of Austrian bridge
arrive. They are two ancient friends OF the
great actress. become friends of Herr Schratt.
always the same; Herr Palmer. director Of the
Bank des Pays Autrichiens. and an interna-
tional private banker SO extremely illustrious
that his name Is well known as Franz-Jo-
SETS. and-a thing that never ceases to upset
the court-an Israelite by race. birth and reli-
gon in the strict sense.
The Jewish banker and Monsieur Schratt-
not the head of the Holy Roman empire-are
fast old cronies to the and scandal of
the Countess Chotek. morganatic but directing
wife of Archduke Francis-Ferdnand heir TO
the dual
Often the emperor loses all the money in his
purse-a dozen fiorins--at the nightly game of
tarok. He plays badly. None wants him for
partner; they cut to who takes him He
laughs bosterously. Meanwhile tea is prepared
In the adjoining dining room.
At ten o'clock the auto-limousine is an
nounced. and Madame Kathrina helps the .col
onel" into hat and overcoat.
The auto rolls through the streets OF
Vienna. still bright and boisterous, to the
cold. solemn Hofburg. 1t stops at the little
door Of the small courtyard. The old man en-
ters. and a silent valet meets him. Up the
bfjou elevator they ride. to the study he had
left three hours ago. The confidential valet
takes his hat and coat
The emperor has returned