River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-12-04

At six-thirty the telephone rang with
sudden shrillness that started all
and set them upon their feet. From
his chair the old minister arose. He
walked slowly toward the instrument
slowly, not because he was the less
anxious but because he was the more
fearful He listened; then, after
moment, he hung up the receiver,
'MademoiselIe and Gentlemen" he
said, Il have the honor to announce
to you her majesty has ratified the
treaty and left Berlin ten minutes ago,
accompanied by his royal highness the
prince consort."
For full half minute nobody spoke.
Then Clothilde came forward.
"Mynheer =" she began.
Gentlemen" said Won Grobelaar,
Her royal highness intends to cele-
brate the joyful news by playing the
national anthem upon the harpsichord
of William of Orange"
They trooped down the grand stair
way, the Princess Juliana in the lead,
whooping eXultantly as she raced
along.
There was not one wrong note, The
princess played with no bad execution
and her fingers instinctively felt for
and found each separate key. And
what had begun as a prank ended diff
ferently, for the setting of the scene
wrought itself upon the imagination of
all present, so that each eye was moist
even Won Grobelaar's, and at the
end he was swallowing hard. Paul
saw Clothilde turn her head away; he
touched her lightly upon the shoulder
and she started violently.
You taught her all this YOURSELF"
he asked
She stared at him like a madwoman,
and suddenly, brushing him aside,
broke through the crowd, gained the
passage outside, and ran down the
corridor, sobbing violently. Paul
turned to Won Grobelaar.
Il think that is the last we shall see
of Mademoiselle.' he said
"Why?" asked the minister quickly
The crowd had dispersed outside the
door, whittier they had been attracted
by the Princess Clothilde's behavior
and they stared after her curiously
The little princess was resentfully
complying with the admonitions of
the head nurse concerning retiring
time. Paul led Won Grobelaar to the
harpsichord and showed him the new
wire.
81 didn't understand" said Won
Grobelaar, looking at Paul with the
vague air of one absorbed in some
abstract cogitation. do you know"
he continued, that the sight of her
little highness there made me feel
like an old fool? When / think how
many such princesses have grown up
to be men and women -
I beg your pardon, said Paul. Did
you notice that Wire?'
81 what = which wire? Well,
what of it?"
81 was here last night when the
palace was asleep"
'Then, sir, you were grossly remiss
in your duty. You should have re-
manned in your room"
Possibly" answered Paul drily.
But the fact remains that that wire
runs out of the harpsichord and
through that statue and into my
room?"
What"
Won Grobelaar turned on him face
yellow with fear. He tottered and
seemed about to fall.
Il didn't hear you, my friend. You
spoke about some wire?"
THAT wfre," repeated Paul indul-
gently, connects with the chiffonier
in her majesty's -"
my Cod" yelled the minister, and
he dashed for the door. Along the
corridor he ran, Paul hurrying after
him. But, agile as he was, Paul could
not catch the old minister until he
came upon him at the door Of his own
apartment. Won Grobelaar did not
seem to notice him. With one sweep
Of the hand he consigned the chif-
fonier cover to the floor, with Pauls
brushes, keys, collar-boX and var
ious small articles of baggage. He
pressed thumb-nail to the polished
surface and tapped once. The We
neered top slid back, disclosing an
ivory button on which was printed,
in tiny type, Groningen.
He stared at it and turned on Paul
like a mailman.
1T is all gone!" he yelled. "Hol-
land is ne-dead-drowned under
the waves. That button connects with
the military defense works beside the
dykes. A touch blows Hollands bull
warks against the sea to pieces and
submerges the land, with five million
living men and women. The queen
and I, alone of all Holland, knew
where the secret lay. That button
was to be touched when Hollands
foes were at the gates of the Hague.
| knew they meant to blow up the
dykes, but never dreamed they knew
the secret" He shook his fist in PauPs
face You have killed five million
men and women, murderer" he
screamed. you were not put here to
guard the Princess Juliana. You were
put here to prevent anyone entering
and touching that button. / couldn't
reveal the secret to you. 1 thought
you would be true to your trust. God
almighty, they found the secret and
connected the wires below. And her
majesty-Ah, God, / can almost hear
the floods!"
Calm yourself" said Paul gripping