Sharp County record., 1915-06-25

"This state Of things could not
last. Why should seek to excuse my
self? Neglected by those who ought
to have watched over my childhoou'
outraged in the tenderest part OF my
nature | will admit to you that dlu
become hardened and deprayed.
took to play, and plunged heavily in'o
debt. | drank, and in short indulgeu
in designations which speedily became
a public scandal.
lone day affairs came to Crisis
The king had sent for me to CONFRONT
me with the claims of certain creul-
tors who had sent in their accounts
to him. and insolently demanded pay
ment was not in the palace; d
search was made for me, and tney
discovered me in the parlor OF tavern
in a disreputable quarter OF the city.
was even slightly intoxicated, ana
in this state they brought me before
William III, one of the most decorous
|
Of men.
"His language quickly restored me
to my senses. AS soon as we "ere
alone together, he used to me express
sions so degrading that | exclaimed
Indignantly:
Remember, sire, that | am or the
| - a Oua,o,o oouolIv with Yourself"
"'"You are nothing Of the sort!
he retorted fercely, and then suddenly
checked himself, and trembled all over
like a man who has just committed
a desperate deed, and realizes the
consequences when it is too late.
"It would be idle to describe the
shock which was caused to me by
these words. AS soon as ! could col
lect myself sufficiently to speak, l In
sisted on an explanation. Whether ne
saw that he had gone too far to draw
hack. or whether he hoped that the
knowledge of the truth would work a
change in my future conduct, he gave
way, and revealed to me the terrible
secret which has blasted my life.
"This secret" continued the amDas-
sador after a moments pause, "wnich
I learned on that night from the lips
of Prince Citron, | have never COM
municated to human being. Though
the death of William III many years
ago released me from my pledge, l
have felt that it was too grave mat
ter to be spread abroad. There
can be no longer any object in giving
you the princes own words; l Will
therefore briefly tell you the facts as
I ascertained them from him at this
time. At a subsequent period was at
the court Of the Hague, which was
then thrown into profound excitement
over the celebrated affair Of the Ruby
Of Bhurani-a story which you must
ask me to relate to you at another
time. I then made a guarded attempt
to approach King william himself, and
sound him on the subject, but he was
too cautious to allow me to see that
he understood my hints.
1T Is necessary to recall the inter-
ests which turned on the birth OF an
heir to the king, in order to prepare
yourself for what took place. 1t was
in the year 1851 that the people OF the
Netherlands were agitated by the In
telligence that Queen Sophia, who had
been married to William III for twelve
years, was about to give birth to a
child. 1t was felt that II this child
should prove to be boy, the long
vexed question Of Luxembourg would
be set at rest, and hence the anxiety
which prevailed.
"The king himself, as you will gather
from what | have already repeated,
was not less concerned than his sub
jects. In short, the queens bedside
became the center Of the most terrible
suspense. The king could hardly be
induced to leave her for moment
the chief physician Of the court took
up his residence in the palace, and
the prime minister was constantly In
attendance.
In spite OF every precautlon, how
ever, the birth took place prematurely
at an unexpected moment, when only
the physician and single nurse were
present in the royal chamber. The
doctor, man Of great resolution, In
gtantly dispatched the woman to In.
form the king that he was father,
and to request him to come immediate
ly to the spot,
His Majesty, who was In an ad.
Joining room, hastily obeyed the sum.
mons, and the physician, shutting
the nurse into another apartment,
broke to him the fearful intelligence
that the child just born was Of the
feminine sex. while, owing to the un.
happy circumstances OF tho case, II
was impossible that tho queen could
ever again become mother.
"The dilemma In which William
III now found himself was indeed II
| desperate one. This girl. his only