The Raymer enterprise., 1912-01-04

EuWaru GFey, IN Oroer
@ to receive instructions
4 y upon some delicate
mission to be per.
formed. Since my successful journey
to Washington. which have recorded
previously, had fallen into some
favor with the king. I was not, there.
fore. taken wholly by surprise when
one morning I received telegram
directing me to proceed to Bucking.
ham palace without delay.
The sentry knew me and presented
arms. The page at the door had evi.
IDENTIFY received instructions concern.
ing me. for Immediately that he saw
me he led me into an ante-chamber
half way down the Red Corridor: and
had not been there more than
couple Of minutes before two gentle.
men entered briskly-Sir Edward Grey
and his majesty himself.
The English sovereign had always
displayed an aversion for formalities
OF any kind when these interfere with
the progress of business matters. |
was aware Of this, and assumed, there.
fore. those manners that business
man shows toward his superior, ex.
pecting to be relieved Of my suspense
by an immediate statement as to the
cause OF my summons. To my sur.
prise. however. both the king and the
foreign secretary appeared to hesitate
for words.
1t was the king who broke the awk.
ward silence. "The mission upon
which l desire you to go. Captain
Adams" he said. requires not only
tact and secrecy-such as you have
proved yourself to possess abundant
ly-but something more. In plain
words. would you be willing to lie in
order to avoid plunging friendly ma.
ton into civil war? The nation is Bel.
giuns and, II she became weakened.
Germany would put into action GER
tain designs Of her own upon Antwerp
which would embroil all Europe. 1t Is
therefore OF the utmost consequence
that our plan be carried into effect"
Well. think a soldier should be
reader to fight for his sovereign than
to lie for him. do not know quite
what answer ! stammered out upon
the spur Of the moment. but the look
of distress upon his majesty's face was
80 genuinely sincere that ! hastened
to add that offered my services un.
reservedly.
Then let me tell you the facts In
this case" said the king. seating him.
self and motioning to us to follow his
example. "You have doubtless read in
the newspapers some references to the
condition OF affairs at Brussels. Three
days ago King Leopold died. Before
his death the Baroness Vaughan man.
aged to install herself in the palace
II was always supposed that she oc.
cupied no official relation In regard to
him. being simply a woman upon
whom the old monarch had been
pleased to bestow his approval. It
turns out that she is married to him
and vel. legally indeed his wife.
THE morganatic marriage Is cred.
tied with being the worst and yet the
most tenacious royal custom In Eu.
rope. But this marriage Is more than
morganatic. 1t appears that. by vir.
- tatr 10 ,tn
In the organic laws OF Belgium, she Is
actually queen OF Belgium-or at least
can put forward a very substantial
claim to so being. In consequence. as
the king left no direct heirs, her eldest
son Is de facto claimant to the Bel.
gian throne.
mo doubt In such a case the courts
would declare against his candidacy.
on grounds OF public policy. But the
situation Is complicated by two facts.
The first Is that, owing to Leopold's
unfortunate attitude toward Europe In
the matter Of the atrocities on the
Belgian Congo. he has brought the
monarchy into contempt among his
subjects. so that his nephew, who
would ordinarily succeed him. has lit.
tie or no popular approval and pres.
tlge. The second is that the Socialist
party has definitely pledged itself to
support the claims Of the baroness, In
order to oppose the loyalists and to
create a diversion for It's own ends. A
plot Is afoot to proclaim the baroness
regent In the name OF her son the day
after tomorrow. The army Is half
won over. And unless We can pre-.
vent her from accepting this nomina.
tion. Belgium will be rent with civil
war"
But. sir. how can | prevent thls?'
I stammered.
There Is only one way" replied his
majesty. "Sir Edward Grey has sug.
gested the project. and. fantastic
though It appears. am confident that
II can succeed. You read how his
majesty died?"
"Quite suddenly. just as his recoy'
cry seemed certain" replied. "And
the baroness was refused admittance
to his bier"
"Precisely." replied the king. Now
Captain Adams. picture the state Of
mind of a woman under such clrcum