Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-04-04
There is bit MORE he said and re
sumed reading:

'"There is Il bit more" he said and re-
sumed reading:
The titles conferred upon Hugo shall,
however, remain III allegiance until claim
| ed anew by him or by his right heir male,
| nor shall the latter, be eligible to the
crown unless hereinafter specifically de-
creed SO To be, or in the event of a vacan-
cy in the royal dignity without such de-
| cree having been made, then by spe-
clal act of the house Of mobiles
"HENRY Ill, REX.
9e 9TH September, A. ID 17S5'
The king closed the book. That"
said he, lis the record and motioned
me to sit down.
obeyed mechanically. Through my
head was ringing those last few words
that made possible the crown of my
ancestors. Under the decree | was, de
Jure. the eldest male after the king. 1t
needed only his act to make me his
successor. A single line sealed with
his seal in that big book just beside
me and plain Armand Dalberg. major
Ill the army OF the United States of
America, would be heir presumptive
to one of the great Kingdoms of earth
And Dehra. | could get no further.
Crown and kingdom faded. and | saw
only Il woman's face.
Then the king coughed. and | came
Sharply back to life and visions fled.
But even then realities seemed almost
visions still.
turned to the king will your ma
Jesty permit me Il few days to consid-
er the matter!' ! asked.
AS many as you wish my boy" he
said kindly.
Ut is all so extraordinary. l am in
no condition to look at it with even
reasonable judgment"
IL Think said he, II can quite I'M
derstand.'
But there is something / can fore,
see even now" said l.
The King smiled. "rrouble?'
YES, trouble in plenty. May l ask
III the Duke of Lotzen knows of these
decrees?"
The heir presumptive is always made
acquainted with the laws of his house."
What think you then, sire. would be
his attitude in such an anomalous sit
Naleria as Hugo's heir?'
you mean, how would he view
rival for the crowm?"
| well. that's bit broader than | in
tended said 1.
The king laughed. There is no need
for us to mince words. The matter is
perfectly evident. Under the law here
| h11t IL.
elg1ble to the crown, and that neces-
sarily would displace Lotzen and make
you heir presumptive. How do you
think he would view it?"
| How would any man view itY" I
asked
| But what have Lotzen's views to do
with the matter?" Frederick asked
sharply. II am the king. Here are
the laws. What Dalberg would dis
pute themy
But, your majesty, Lotzen might
not be alone in disputing them. The
army and the house of mobiles might
join him. And, assuming that you
| would never intend to displace Lotzen
by lie, nevertheless, you would be put
into the embarrassing position of seem
ing to be coerced by your subjects"
"Coerced, coerced!' said Frederick,
hinging his cigar savagely into the
CRATE. do hear Dalberg fear that
for his king?"
NAY, sire" 1 protested; II did not
say that"
But the anger had already passed.
Nonsense, lad; understand you" he
said; only l know my kingdom bet
ter than you do, yet and he laughed.
But l protested again would 1t
not be wiser for me to- consider the
question only upon the hypothesis that
LotZen shall not be displaced?"
Don't be fool, Armand" Freder-
lex cut In. "Of course I cannot pre-
vent your renouncing all right to the
crown, but it will be most displeasiny
to me and against my express wish.n
Your majesty is very fattering."
His majesty is very selfish. Since
he has no son he wants the privilege
or choosing his successor. Well, take
your own good pleasure, Armand: only
the sooner you come to court the less
time you will waste"
or course l saw his meaning. II
shall ask but one day at the most"
Good" said he ''This is Friday
Dine with Dehra and me here tomor-
row evening. Come by the private en-
trance"
Then he went back to the princess
and Lady Helen. But what different
life had opened to me in the short alb
sence
The Decision.