Tombstone epitaph., 1915-06-06
A STOLEN KING

saoot 10 me, as We sat sippiug his exceilency's very choice cognac after dinner. that there is nc one who can write the secret history of Europe for the last few decades"
 But. NJ. Ambassadors" were In Paris-"surely it is impossible for any event Of real importance to remain concealed?"
 Not in the least my dear sir. l Will give you an instance. You re member that supposed illness long ago of the king of Spain. then but a child? His young majesty was no more ill at hour. Alfonso XIII had been stolen!"
 And. lighting a fresh cigar, theeam- bassador proceeded to give me the fol- lowing astonishing narrative;
 Tt was several years ago. as you will recollect, that the press Of Flu rope was filled with reports of a mys- terious illness from which this young monarch was said to be suffering. This malady was described as being of a highly infectious character, though not exactly dangerous. At the same time the world was called upon to admire the maternal solicitude of the queen regent. who, it was said. in order to nurse her son. had shut herself up in his apartments. with only two attend ants. refraining from all intercourse with the rest Of the palace while the critical period lasted. The only other persons who were permitted to have access to the sickroom, besides the physician in attendance. were Father Oliva. the kings tutor. and Senor Guastala, at that time prime minister of Spain.
 Tn the meantime. what had really happened was this:
 ''on the day before these reports be- gan to appear-which was. think. a Monday-a grand review of the troops forming the Madrid garrison was to come of in the city park. The review was in honor of Saint Jago. the patron saint of Spain, and it had been pub licly announced that the young king would be present, together with his mother. the Gueen-regent. It was. in effect. to be an imposing celebration, and all Madrid was expected to be there. On the very morning of the re- view. however, a letter came to the palace, addressed to her majesty. and marked urgent. On being opened this letter was found to contain the alarm ing intelligence that there was plot on foot to attempt the kings life. The anonymous writer went on to add that the conspirators hoped to carry out their design during his majesty's pres ence at the review.
 This letter bore the postmark of Pamplona.
 Her majesty showed this letter to Father Oliva, in whom she reposed great confidence; and, as was natural, they decided to keep the king at home, giving out as a pretext that he was unwell The regent accordingly set out to the review without him. taking. instead. his elder sister. the princess of Asturias. Alfonso was greatly dis appointed, but they succeeded in pacf lying him by the promise of huge box of lead soldiers, a toy which has always given him supreme delight
 AS soon as the queen was gone, Father Oliva took the king into his study. and commenced to ogiye him his lessons as usual An hour passed in this way.
 At the end of this time closed car r;age drove up at 8 furious rate to the principal entrance of the palace. and there aligh;--a a per-on in the uni form of a general officer. attended by an aide e-de-camp. This parsonage, who eppeared to labor under considerable excitement, announced himself to the porters in waiting as General Espinosa. He stated that he had been sent by the queen-regent to fetch the king to inc review. and demanded to be taken immediately iLto his majestys pres cree.
 Thoroughly overwhelmed by the manner of these officers, the lackeys hastened to conduct them 10 the room where the tutor and pupil were al xork Here as soon as the servants had withdrawn, the general repeated bis statements, adding to Father Oliva that the troops had shown grave symp- ,oms Of dissatisfaction at the king s absence, and that serious consequences were apprehended if he were not i'm mediateiy forthcoming.
 ~You can wen understand that In spain, the land of pronunciamentos' where the army has so long been ac- customed te regard itself as the mas ter of tle government and is always seethins with sedition. such inteiii- .s.ce was not to De trihed with. The generals uniform and the presence of ,he aide lent an air of reality to the story: and. in short. the priest appears io have been compieteiy taken on ms guard.
 No doubt it would have been more prudent on his part to have insisted on accompanying his pupil But the sud deuness of these mems arrival. and ebe alarming character of their state ments deprived him of his usual pres ence of mind He sent for the child h,t and allowed him to depart with inc emissaries. The king mmsen u Ia ,eed,ess 10 say Of a mere boy. was enrv too eager to go. He is daring as