Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-11-29
Copyright. 1913, BY W. G. Chapman.


up Austria into her original provinces.
Think what that means, Paul Lane,
Austria wiped off the map, a series
OF republican states in place of her,
and monarchy will have received a
wound at its heart This must not
be. The League has said it shall not
be. But the League has been pro-
scribed in many countries; it cannot
meet as an entity again; none dares
interfere And four nights from to-
night on St Bartholomew eve. the
coup will take place
"Stepan and his aides, the officers
of the Vienna garrison, who have been
selected from among the Croats,
/ Serbs. Ruthenians and other non-Ger-
man elements of the empire, have
planned, fifty Of them, to seize his
majesty in his castle at Hofberg on
that evening. There are none there
but the Imperial Guard and a
host of timorous flunkeys My uncle
will be compelled TO sign his abdica-
ton, and a republic will be declared
under the presidency of Stepan,
There will be none to offer resistance.
There seems nothing TO hinder the
carrying out of the plan. | learned
this from the lips of Stepan himself
when he came to me in my prison TO
offer me his hand again, Dragging Of
his approaching greatness"
What are we to do?" asked Paul.
Il shall seek out the emperor, stop
his carriage and throw myself upon
his mercy" said the princess, Once
! in his castle, ! can make arrange
ments, summon the loyal element to
his aid. bring home to him the mean
ing of the conspiracy. But had | at
tempted to reach him when flying
from my prison | should have been
captured and detained. | want mere
ly one who will defend me. Monsieur
Lane, till | can see my uncle and
throw myself into his arms. We must
intercept him as he is driving in his
/ park, and make ourselves known to
him"
In ten minutes she had elaborated
her scheme. They set out for Vienna
on the next day, travelling as a lady
and her groom. On the third morn
ing they descended from the train at
the central station of Vienna, and
that afternoon saw them in the vi
cinity of the castle of Hofberg
He takes his drive at four, after
the heat of the day is over said
Paul's companion. See, they are
bringing up his barouche to the cas-
tie gate. Only two outriders and one
of his six attendant officers will &C
company him. He drives round the
park; we can intercept him at the
Faun's bridge. Gomez"
Hand in hand they struck out
through the underground of the leafy
forest, running like two children,
sometimes fording a little brook,
sometimes knee-deep in ferns and flow
cry grasses. Her eyes sparkled from
the exercise; she seemed to Paul the
incarnation of youth and beauty and
everything that was to be desired
Only the thought of the urgency Of
the situation prevented him from re-
newing his protestations.
At last they emerged upon a rustic
bridge, built of hewn trunks, just as a
| little cloud of white in the distance
betrayed the approach of the emper-
or's carriage. The princess motion
ed Paul back into the underground
Come when / call. whether for aid
or to present you to his majesty"
she said, and stepped forward into the
middle of the road. The carriage roll
ed slowly on. In it, as 1t rounded a
bend in the forest path, Paul could
see young officer, seated bolt up
right, with folded arms, and at his
side the aged emperor, his white
beard sunk on his breast, his head
beut forward. He was nodding, dream
ing his old life away. Suddenly the
coachman saw the princess, the horses
swerved, stopped. snorting; the out
riders sprang to the ground, the young
officer stood up, hand upon holster.
| But Princess Clothilde was already
within the carriage and at the emper-
or's knees.
Uncle! Uncle Franz" she cried.
embracing him in tears.
The old man stirred, and the
dreams of his haf-forgotten youth
vanished as his eyes opened He start
ed slightly, for he had thought him
self back upon the battlefields of sixty
years ago, fighting the rebel Magyars,
a young man, full of the pride of life;
and here he was a greybeard, nodding
in the carriage within his park of
Hofberg.
His eyes fell upon the princess,
whom the young officer, recognizing.
had discreetly abstained from order
ing away. The old man raised her In
his arms.
Why, it's little Clothilde, and grown
to be a woman" he said, looking at
her in wonder. II thought you were
still little girl, my dear. What have
you come to see your old uncle about?
What. crying?"
Yes, / am very unhappy, uncle and
l have come to stay with you" sob
bed the princess. And | have my
aide with me-" She looked back
Paul" she called. And Paul came
forward blithely with his finger upon
the brim of his hat.
sit up by the coachman, PAUL."