Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-11-26

l had no longer any official standing
1t was not until we were within ar
hours run of Vienna, after a session
which had lasted till dawn, that ! sue
ceeded in getting him to listen to rea
son. Often during our talk his wife
had come silently to the door and
listened to US, but she had never
spoken.
The archduke had assumed the name
Of Won Behring. and 1t was by this
that l addressed him.
Il will do my best to gain you q
hearing" I said. reluctantly. because
did not wish to be mixed up with the
business. But this only on condition
that you follow my instructions. You
must take lodgings in Vienna and
wait till you hear from me-"
Il can trust nobody" he cried wild
ly. Suppose you betray mel"
THAT is, Of course, a possibility to
be reckoned WITH" answered. with q
touch of irony which missed its mark
But consider, Herr Won Behring. that
II you appear at the palace gates and
demand an audience you will certainly
be treated as a mailman. And even
IL you succeed in convincing anyone
that you are really the man you claim
to be. you will only bring down upon
yourself lifelong confinement or-as
sassination."
He gaped at me. He had known
little of the internal politics Of Aus
tria, which was. in fact, in one OF
those crises that can only be solved
by death or organic reconstruction
through war.
The Archduke Franz Ferdinand
i heir to the throne, and the only far
seeing statesman in ustria-Hungary
seeing that the dual monarchy was
disintegrating, had planned to convert
It into a triple monarchy, by the In
clusion of a vast Slav confederation
including Bosnia, Croatia and Servia
In this plan he was assisted by his
talented wife, formerly Sophie Chotek
a maid-of-honor, now duchess Of Ho
henberg. The marriage was q NOR
ganatic one, the archduke had been
forced to withdraw all claim to bis
children's succession, and his wife wal
bitterly hated by the ladies of ancient
family and the court clique that had
the aged emperor's ear and was bent
on destroying the Serb Croatian ele
ment instead of utilizing 1t as a prof.
for the empire.
You see, my friend" I said. wher
I had set out the situation. your re
appearance on the scene will not b.
the simple matter that you antici
pate"
mo-" said the woman at the door
speaking for the first time.
Her voice seemed to arouse thu
archduke from a reverie. Suddenly
he pulled from his finger a gold ring
set with a splendid emerald.
my friend" he said to me. II shall
do as you advise. Then take thii
ring and deliver it, with my address
to my cousin, Archduke Fran,
Ferdinand. When we we're young mer
we exchanged rings and agreed thai
either should come Immediately to the
others aid when the ring was shown
him."
A little later we ran into. Vienna
Having seen my strange companion
and his wife comfortably housed in de
cent, but not sumptuous, quarters.
went to my own lodgings, where
found an invitation signed by Prince
Montenuovo. requesting my presence
at a reception to be given that eve
ming at the palace.
That simplified matters. Undoubt
edly.the archduEe would be there. and
l should have the opportunity Of de
livering the ring to him. Still. did
not like being mixed up in this bust
ness. would have evaded It BY any
legitimate means. though l was inter
ested in the unique situation. 1t ID
not often that dead heir comes bach
to Gust his successor.
The reception was one of those
grand affairs Of ceremony in which
the Austrian court delights. His
majesty appeared for a few moments
walking among the guests to exchange
few words with the notables l could
not restrain a sense of intense pity
to see that venerable figure, bowed
with years and SORROWS. upon whose
shoulders rested so great a care. who
knew that his death must be the sig
nal for the breakup of his vast realm
When he had withdrawn a buzz oil
conversation arose. and l found my
self accosted by little friend of mine
one of the court ladies whose name
I need not give. Snffice 1t that l had
reason to know I could trust her, and
she to confide in me.
She was deeply agitated, she held
my arm tightly. and her eyes were
fixed upon the end of the room.
Following her glance as a sudden
cessation of talk became manifest,
saw the heir apparent making his
ceremonial journey about the great
salon. while the guests drew up alone
the walls. Upon the archduke's arm
his wife. the duchess of Hohenberg
had placed her hand, and they were
making the tour together
There was no installing the signif
canoe Of that action. Il was q chal
lerye to the world. q defiance Of al
morganatic restrictions. The heir ap
parent was claiming the equality OF
his wife. None dared defy him with
in those walls. Yet I saw looks oil
murderous hatred In the eyes of the