Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-03-28

oNCI SIilC VI tSllllolS
~ which Henry III. had taken
from Titia as an indemnity for some
real or fancied wrongs done him. Va
leria, with it's great general and pow
erful army was too strong in those
days for Titia to do more than pro-
test and then to take its punishment,
which for some reason that was doubt
less sufficient to him Henry had seen
fit to make as easy as it might be by
giving his daughter, Adela, to Casimir
for wife.
The province of Murdol had always
been a standing menace to the peace
of the two countries. Titia had never
forgiven it's seizure, and Naleria was
afflicted with the plague of disaffected
subjects on it's very border.
But in truth the actual breach was
due to Il woman. The crown prince of
Titia had come a-wooing of the prin-
cess royal of Vaeria and had been twice
refused by her. King Frederick had
left the question entirely in her hands.
Her choice was her own, to marry OF
to decline. AS matter of state policy
NIiN llltltSil was SSlCsitlI GSSilCh W iiiiAA
and his ministers. They We're becom-
ing very weary of Murdol and the tur-
moil it maintained on the border and
the great force of troops required there
to preserve order. Murdol could be
settled upon the princess as her dover.
1t was an admirable solution Of the
whole veXing question. Yet, unlike old
l,n fof I,
fore he was the king, and, beyond tell
ing the princess frankly the policy
which moved him in the matter, he
did nothing to coerce her But the
ministers had no scruples of affection
nor of kinship to control them, and
they brought all sorts of persuasive
pressure upon her to obtain her con-
sent to the match. All this was known
to the kingdom and the vast majority
of the people were with the princess.
The army was with her to man.
For six months the matter pended,
and still Dehra held firm. Then Titia
modified it's army and demanded
decision within two days-either the
princess or Murdol. 1t got a NO in
two hours. The declaration of war
followed straightway.
But when Courtney and l landed it
was to find that Germany had offered
to mediate and that, while the two
Kingdoms were thinking it over,
truce had been declared. Consequent
ly, instead Of hurrying straight to the
Nalerian army, l journeyed leisurely
with Courtney to the capital. There
the first news that met us was that
Germany's mediation had been accent
ed and that the war was at an end
for the present, at least.
My room at the embassy overlooked
the avenue, and the writing desk was
formal report to the war department
of my arrival at Dornlitz and the
status, political and military, when the
clatter Of hoofs on the driveway drew
my attention. 1t was a tall officer in
the green and gold Of the royal guards,
and, pulling up sharply, he tossed his
rein to his orderly. 1 heard the door
in a few minutes he came out and
rode away with the stiff, hard seat of
the European cavalryman. l was still
watching him when Courtney entered.
What did you think Of him?' he
asked.
Il haven't seen enough of him to
think" said l..
Not even enough to wonder who he
was?"
l yawned Ellis uniform told me he
was a colonel of the guard. He was
one Of his majesty's aids-de-camp
bearing an invitation to the ball at the
palace tonight
For once saw Courtney's face show
surprise.
How did you guess IT." he said aft
er pause.
"a diplomat should watch the news
papers, said /, and pointed to this
item in the court news of that morn
inp's iSstla.