The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 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 tiny tri-
angular wound below the left breast
Quick, doctor. The empress is wounded!
There was no doctor, and the boat put back
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 a melancholy smile on her
face as she slowly shut her eyes.
Elizabeth had died in beauty.
An aged emperor dimes alone on 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 official
of the court. The proudest monarch OF Europe
is alone with one guest. Etiquette demands It,
Five gorgeous funkeys in pale blue, bun,
pink and gold, serve the two men. There have
been no flowers on 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 MIS-
toric tapestries to carved wood furniture and
panels such 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 of other days. Again he hears
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.
FrancisJoseph rises. His guest takes cere-
monious leave and the sovereign goes to his
study.
His real life begins.
A confidential valet helps him into hat and
overcoat BY bijou elevator, whose door imi-
tates a bookcase, he descends to the ground
floor.
He walks twenty steps across the little court
yard to the door, where an auto-limousine
awaits him. There is no special secrecy-it is
to avoid ceremony merely. He gives no direc-
tons; 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
nall. into fair streets of residence, the auto
stops at 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
Sclratt regularly called the colonel" careless
and easy negligent anS slouchy, bright, warm
cozy, snug among old friends
Years ago, when the Burg theater q
u,
rina Schratt-the Sarah Bernhardt and Rejane
of Vienna-was presented to Francis-Joseph by
Empress Elizabeth herself. For long, she too
has lived retired; and the mourning emperor
found her so intelligent, SO fine and also good.
that ole 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.
ioip tJyo fak ho
best easy chair, while Madame Katharine has.
tens with the foot-warmer.
Herr Schratt sprawls in unspeakabe 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 extremely illustrious
that his name is as well known as Franz-Jo.
SETS, and-a thing that never ceases to upset
the court-an Israelite by race birth and rell
gion in he strict sense!
The Jewish banker and Monsieur Schratt--
not the head of the Holy Roman empire-are
fast old cronies to the sorrow and scandal OF
the Countess Chotek morganatic but directing
wife of Archduke Francs-Ferdnand heir to
the dual crown.
Often the emperor loses all the money in his
purse-a dozen forins-at the nightly game Of
tarok He plays badly. None wants him for
partner; so they cut to see who takes him. He
laughs boisterously. Meanwhile tea is prepared
in the adjoining dining room.
At ten o'clock the autoLimousine is an
nounced, and Madame KATRINA helps the "col-
onel" into hat and overcoat
The auto rolls through the streets OF
Vienna, still bright and bosterous, to the
cold, solemn Hofburg. 1t stops at the little
door of the small courtyard. The old man en-
ters and silent valet meets him. Up the
bijou elevator they ride, to the study he had
left three hours ago. The confidential valet
1t Lo+