Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-04-02

quarrel over which peach was the bet
ter production.
mo one aver saw a peach" said the
prince, referring to the countess work.
"of a hue like that-a yellowish brown.
And look at the specks on it-they are
unnatural"
Il grant, your royal h~ighness,'' re.
torted the captain. that the other
peach is a representation of better
fruit. but as to naturalness, why, any
M can see easily that It is made of
wax"
d you mean 20 tell me-" retorted
the prince, that shrunken thing Is a
more perfect work of art than the
luscious fruit beside it? You are q
fooIr'
Were | of the same rank as your
royal highness," the captain retorted
angrily. Il would teach you that you
cannot call an officer of the garde du
corps a fool
Il waive my rank"
VERY well; l will send one of my
comrades to your royal highness i'm
mediately."
There were but two other persons
in the room at the time, and the
prince gave them the choice between
keeping the matter secret and incur
ring his royal d~ispleasure. Both per-
sons promised not to tell, but the af-
fair leaked out and was soon the talk
of the court. The prince and the cap
tain were regarded respectively as the
champion OF the princess and the
countess.
Never before was such a hubbub
raised In a court Of Germany. The
king was furious. He at once issued
m order combining both his son and
the captain in a fortress til! he could
be assured that they would not fight.
He visited the o0m where the peaches |
We're OF exhibition and. seeing that the
u that had been made by the princess
was a far more beautiful fruit than
that made by the countess. felt sure
it would be pronounced so by an
overwhelming vote and the coDtro-
yersy would be ended permanently. |
So he gave orders that the next day
at noon the election should take place
and that Prince Herbert and Captain
Won Helmslnuller should be present.
From . till Il the next morning the
room where the peaches We're deposited
was thronged with members of the
court. The princess stood near lei
work and the countess near hers. Just
beyond the cord before the princess
stood Prince Herbert. and in the same
relative position OF the other side
stood Captain Won HeImsmuller. each
champion glaripg at the other. Al
II O'Clock the voting commenced |
There was not the slightest doubt as
to which would win. for the admira-
ton for the Princess Sofas work was
u~nbounded. while Hildegarde's was pro!
nounced a miserable, shriveled little
thing of no merit whatever.
AT IL O'Clock the king ordered the
two champions to act as ~tellers. and,
taking their hats in their hands, they
collected the votes. The chamberlain
counted them and when he had finish
ed announced the result:
Her royal highness' work has re
ceived eighty-seyen votes and the
Countess Hildegarde's n
The prince turned and greeted the
captain with an insulting laugh. The
captain threw his glove at the prince
and struck him squarely In the face
The king, seeing his son thus attacked.
indignant at such an affront to one of
royal blood. gave his royal sanction to
the meeting and was about to leave
the room when the Countess Hide
garde advanced and. ~kneeling before
him, said:
1T has been decided, your majesty
that l retire from the field OF wax.
making. 1t only remains to assure
these hotheaded champions that they
have no cause for quarrel. Will your
majesty deign to inspect the fruit that
! have produced?"
Receiving tine royal assent, she rose
and. going to her work, raised the
glass cover and took out the peach.
Then, advancing to the king, she broke
it in two halves, juice dropping on the
floor. and, putting n half In her
mouth. she gave the other TO his maj
eBty.
why, it's not wax at ali!!' he cried.
Its a real peach
Then. putting the fruit In his mouth.
he smacked his lips. TITS good. too:
better than It looks he exclaimed.
For a few moments the assembly
stood gazing at one another shame
faeedly. Then those nearest the door
began to slip out. followed BY the
others, till none were left but the king.
the prince. the princess and the count
ess.
MY son" said the king, give the
captain your hand"
The prince hesitatingly did as he
was hidden, and the captain, delighted
that his beloved Hildegarde had shown
q higher skill than In working wax.
grasped the princes hand warmly.
Then the king said to Hildegarde:
II am convinced that by your wis
dom and adroitness you have ended o.
feud which IL 1t had continued would
Il have cprnod aunr NV uhnIa ktnp{fnm