Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-11-01

~ the post of secretary to
"a ~ what might fairly be call
E4..7'% III ed the most exalted club
zffsEszsat in Europe. A young man.
l---.z7-a5ll barely turned thirty, after
y a brilliant career at Ok
ford, he had declined the
uOnors that might ~legitimately 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
part behind the noisy politicians in
whose control the destinies of Europe
are supposed to lie. At present how
ever, he was engaged in a wider
sphere of operations than the field of
English politics allowed. He was sec
rotary to what was picknamed among
its exalted members the BLACK Cab
inet"-more Familiarity, 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 II, was taken up with alac-
rity. In these days of democracy
kings must preserve the dignities of
their order, even IL 1t necessitates the
formation of a royal trades union.
What more fitting, then, than that the
club should be inaugurated in Paris,
where kings and emperors love to
spend their holidays, far from the
cares of state and pomp of power?
Most of the ruling sovereigns, and
not few prospective 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 discouDtenance
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
It 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 Haa-
kon of Norway. Outside" members;
who were looked on with a certain
suspicion, on account of their spirit
of adventure and reckiessness. though
they were nominally of the club, were
the car, the kaiser and Ferdinand OF
Bulgaria.
Given the black, the red must be
created II 1t does not exist. The
Reds" were not members. but 1t 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
for their support Of Polish ambitions
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 Il 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 hac
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 ranl
among the ancient families of Eu
rope he was aware. that she scorneo
him as a mere moneyed American he
suspected. But the memory of hel
burned in his heart like an fnextfn
gufshable fire, and the impossibility
of even gaining audience with her EN-
FILTERED him. In his dependency he
preached 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
patty with our cause?
TT was because I believed in the
cause" said Paul somberly. But,
he added naively, undoubtedly it was
the charming personality Of Mademoi
selle-"
Yes. OF Mademoiselle," answered
Rosny dryly.
Let us call her that, then, Pau
Lane responded. 1T was that which
had a 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 Mademoiselie again? Why
is It not enough, Paul, to know tina
she watches you. that she approves o
your work. to feel that some day yol
shall assuredly meet her again? NJ
dear Paul. trust yourself to us, will
the knowledge that by each success
you hasten the day when all that you
desire will be revealed to you, ant