Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1913-09-04
By Courtesy Of
Cohan & Harris

vladimir has never ceased Intriguing
for
Prince vladimir" she broke In an.
grily. How l hate him. | hate him as
bitterly as If Id really seen him instead
Of only herring how abominable he is"
Why" faltelpd the king in confu-
sion. that makes it very awkward,
lrma; for, the fact is, everything il
changed now. Prince Vladimir and I
are dear friends"
"FriendsY' gasped lrma. incredu-
lously.
"The very best of friends" her father
assured her. "And you mustn't hate
him any longer. my dear, because. YOU
see. you are going to he Prince Vladi-
mfrs Wife
"oh. no. lts-you're joking. 1t isn't
pSssible." the princess cried. her face
pnling.
| I'm diplomacy everything is possible.
A treaty was Signed today between
myself and Nladimir-h between the
house of Oberitch and the house of
Halberstadt. And after spending q
century at each others throats we're
falling OIL each others necks."
And am to marry him? Marry q
man hate? \ man I've been taught
to hate because he is the enemy Of our
house,"
Can you imagine more fitting re.
ycnge?"
but don't want to marry him. |
don't want to marry anybody"
You inherit that from me. Trma. ]
didn't want to marry. either. But /
did it. And my only child is daugh.
ter. which makes my sacrifice useless
1t Is your turn now. dear. to sacrifice.
You can do your country tremendous
service. You can save it from blood
Shed and revolution. This treaty Is q
great benefit to Rorrovina 1t insures
us perpetual peace and security. II
makes Vladimir and yourself my sue.
cessors on the throne"
The princess dropped her head sadly.
Tears came into her eyes.
But" she suddenly cried. with de-
termination. IF had to marry at all
why couldn't marry some one I love ~
And her glance again strayed toward
the summer house.
THAT is the price Of royalty, my
DEAR" answered the king THE seat
Of royal affections is not in the heart,
but in the foreign Office. Come. come,
little girl. You mustn't cry. Prince
Vladimir and the chancellor will be
here in moment. told them to wait
until had broken the news to you.
They mustn't find you crying. There,
there! Remember. this marriage is not
forced on us. We consent to 1t will
ingly, proudly, royalty"
For the sake Of our country" she
whispered more to herself than to the
king. ito bring peace and safety and
happiness to the dear land love, to
serve the kingdom that is dearer to me
than all the world-yes. 1t is worth the
sacrifice. no matter how terrible that
sacrifice must be"
That's right" approved the king.
That's good, brave little girl. So!
They're coming
He took her by the hand and stood
beside her in the garden walk. GER
tain dignity ennobling his meager fig
ure. The girl. too. forced herself to
choke back the tears that blinded her
and to stand proudly at her fathers
side to receive the group Of men who
were coming forward from the palace.
Anthony Hamilton Hawthorne took q
quick step forward from his hiding
place behind the summer house His
bronzed face had gone dead white His
alert eyes were ablaze. And his mus
cular body was tense.
History is going to be made here in
minute or two" he muttered under
his breath And maybe trouble too.
And, as usual. the U. s. A. is going to
be right on the spot when things begin
to happen. Now for it!''