Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-10-02

NMA ~ what might fairly be call
pu|TfT ed the most exalted club
GFS; ( "a in Europe, A young man,
k--->c-,5-:>,e>s barely turned thirty, after
= a brilliant career at Ok.
ford, he had declined the
honors that might leeitimately have
been his, and had chosen instead
to wander from court to court
among the highways of Europe.
Wherever he went he made friends.
He was one of those silent Treshams
who have played and still play so large
a part behind the noisy politicians in
whose control the destinies OF Europe
are supposed to lie. At present, how
ever, he was engaged in wider
sphere of operations than the field OF
English politics allowed He was sec
retary to what was nicknamed among
its exalted members the BLACK Cab
inet'-more familarly, the Blacks
Rumor ascribed to the aged en-
peror of Austria Franz Joseph, the
formulation of this unique conception
of a club of reigning monarchs. Ger
tainly the proposition, whoever had
prOpounded it, was taken up with alac-
rity. In these days of democracy
kings must preserve the dignties OF
their order, even if it necessitates the
formation of royal trades union.
What more fitting then, than that the
club should be inaugurated in Paris,
where kings and emperors love to
,l, II; hn
cares of state and pomp of power?
Most of the ruling sovereigns, and
not a few respective or deposed ones,
were members of the club, but not all
were of the first order. The Blacks,
in fact, comprised a limited number
of the graver rulers, who were pledged
to diverse things but mainly to stand
by one another and discountenance
the spread of republican doctrines, to
preserve the peace OF Europe, and TO
act together in case that peace were
menaced by the ambitions of the
smaller. restless kings. The club was,
theoretically, always in session, though
1t had no fixed meeting place. Lord
Claude Tresham was travelling secre.
tary, and carried the minutes of the
meetings under his hat. The leaders
of the BLACKS" were: Franz Joseph
OF Austria, Gustav of Sweden, George
Of England. Victor of Italy, George of
Greece Charles of Roumania and Eaa.
kon of Norway. "Outside" members,
who were looked on with q certain
suspicion, on account of their spirit
of adventure and recklessness, though
they were nominally of the club, were
the czar the kaiser and Ferdinand OF
Bulgaria.
Given the black the red must be
created If 1t does not exist. The
Reds" were not members, but it was
understood that they, too, were
pledged to support each other in their
various schemes. They comprised AL.
fonso of Spain, ex-King Manuel OF
Portugal, Peter of Servia, Nicholas OF
Montenegro and a number Of leading
statesmen, pledged in the main to
overthrow democracy and the consti'
tutional monarchies and to revive the
spirit of absolutism in Europe. But
they might have numbered the Waver.
ing Car Nicholas among their mem.
bers. They were represented In west
ern Europe by Jean Rosny of Paris,
and it was to him that Paul Lane,
American millionaire and would-be ad.
venturer of fortune, made his reports.
The successful issue of his Moroc'
can mission had given Paul the hope
that admission to the secret councils
Of the Reds" might be his, that the
mysterious woman whose urging had
induced him to devote himself and his
fortunes to the League of Lost Causes
would again be seen by him, would re-
veal her identity and let him plead his
love. That she was in high rank
among the ancient families of Eu.
rope he was aware, that she scorned
him as mere moneyed American he
suspected. But the memory of her
burned in his heart like an ineXtin'
guishable fire, and the impossibility
OF even gaining audience with her en-
bttered him. In his despondency he
broached the subject to Jean Rosny
anew.
The latter looked at him quizzical.
ly.
Paul, you are impatient" he said.
Tell me one thing; did you ally your.
self with us in the hope Of gaining
your lady's affections, or out of sym
pathy with our cause?"
1T was because I believed in the
cause" said Paul somberly. But"
he added naively, Undoubtedly 1t was
the charming personality of Mademoi.
selle-"
Yes, of Mademoiselle," answered
Rosny dryly.
Let us call her that, then" Paul
Lane responded. 1T was that which
had leading influence upon my deci.
sion. Rosny, my money is indispensa-
BILE to the league. You have admitted
as much to me. Then why"
why should you be debarred from
meeting Mademoiselle again? Why,
is it not enough, Paul, to know that
che watches you, that she approves of
your work, to feel that some day you
shall assuredly meet her again? My
dear Paul, trust yourself to US, with
the knowledge that by each success
you hasten the day when all that you