Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-04-13
''There is bit more.'' he said and re-
stunned reading:

~There is a bit more" he said and re-
stunned reading:
1.-The titles conferred upon Hugo shall.
however. remain in 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 so made. then by spe-
cial act of the house of mobiles
HENRY III, REX
I'VE It'll September, A D. u.s.
The king closed the book. 'sThat,"
said he, sis the record" and motioned
me to sit down.
1 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 Da1berg, major
in the army of the United States of
America, would be heir presumptive
to one of the great kingdoms of earth
And Dehrai I could get no further.
Crown and kingdom faded, and l saw
only a woman's face.
|
sharply back to life and visions fed
But even then realities seemed almost
visions still.
1 turned to the king. "Will your ma
jesty permit me few days to consid-
er the matterT' 1 asked
"As many as you wish, my boy" he
said kindly.
1T is all so extraordinary. 1 am in
no condition to look at it with even
reasonable judgment"
Il think" said he, 81 can quite I'M
derstand.''
but there is something 1 can fore
see even now" said1.
The king smiled Trouble 2"
Yes, trouble in plenty. May 1 ask
| if the Duke Of Lotzen knows of these
DEGREES? 2"
1.-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
uation as would follow my presence in
Valera as Hugo's heir?''
you mean, how would he view a
| rival for the crown?'
"Well, that's a 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
it needs but my decree to make you
eligible 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 it?' 1
asked.
But what have Lotzen's views to do
| no Sl- cd
sharply. 81 am the king Here are
the laws. What Dalberg would dis
pute them?"
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 me, nevertheless, you would be put
into the embarrassing position of seem
ing to be coerced by your subjects
''Coerced, coercedr' said Frederick,
f1inging his cigar savagely into the
CRATE. do hear Dalberg fear that
for his king?"
NAY, SIRE" protested; "I did not
say that
But the anger had already passed
Nonsense, lad; 1 understand you," he
:. said; 'on1y I know my kingdom bet
ter than you do, yet and he laughed
But I protested again. would it
not be wiser for me to consider the
question only upon the hypothesis that
Lotzen shall not be displaced?'
Don't be a fool, Armand" Freder-
lex cut In. 'Of course I cannot pre-
vent your renouncing all right to the
crown, but it will be most displeasing
to me and against my express wish"
''Your majesty is very hattering."
His majesty is very selfish Since
he has no son he wants the privilege
of choosing his successor. Well, take
your own good pleasure, Armand; only
the sooner you come to court the less
time you will waste
OF course 1 saw his meaning al
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
senceI
|