Tombstone epitaph., 1915-11-28
6~<~~$**~~~~~*~*$~$$~~~~~~~
Copyright. 1915. By W. q. Chapman-)

fist into the palm OF his hand.
And now / am going back" he
cried. and l shall force my uncle to
refuses l shall rally to myself a party
in the state and seize the govern
ment I have abandoned my rights
too long. know the world now. I
know the fallacy OF such a sacrifice
as mine has been; above all. know
what Austria needs"
He wanted me to accompany him
into the Schoenbrunn palace and
vouch for him to the aged emperor.
even though l explained to him that
had no longer any otacial standing.
II was not until we were within an
hours run Of Vienna, after q session
which had lasted till dawn. that sue
ceeded in getting him to listen to rea-
son. Often during our talk mis- vile
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 It was by this
that l addressed him.
Il will do my best to gain you .
hearing" / 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 tfll you hear from me"
Il can trust nobody" he cried wild
ly. Suppose you betray me-"
That is, of course. possibility to
be reckoned with" l answered. with q
touch OF irony which missed It's mark.
But consider. Herr Won Behring, that
If you appear at the palace gates and
| demand an audience you will certainly
be treated as a madman. And even
| II 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,
heir to the throne. and the only far
seeing statesman in Austria-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 Chctek
a maid-ofhonor. now duchess OF Ho
henberg. The marriage was a NOR
ganatic one, the archduke had beer
forced to withdraw all claim to bis
children's succession. and his wife wa:
bitterly hated by the ladies OF ancient
family and the court clique that hat
the aged emperor's ear and was ben'
on destroying the Serb-Croatian ele
ment instead Of utilizing it as a prof.
for the empire.
This clique consisted of the oil
nobility, Of Count Forgach Of the for
eign Office, Prince Montenuovo, th'
court chan berlain and his aide. Coun
Paar; Baron Rauch. ban Of Croatia
and cthers-a long list and powerful
one, and bent on thwarting the arch
dukes statesmarlike scheme by al
possible means, not the least poten
Of which was the antagonism which
the court ladies' felt toward his wife
They could never forgive plain Sophi'
Chotek for having risen to be the wifi
of the heir-apparent. and in spite o
the morganatic nature Of the mai
rage, undoubtedly the future Queel
of Austria-Hungary.
You see, my friend" said. whei
,, had set out the situation. your re
appearance on the scene will not b
the simple matter that you antic
pate"
: NO" said the woman at the doo'
speaking for the first time.
Her voice seemed to arouse tn
archduke from a reverie. Suddenl
he pulled from his finger a gold rint
set with a splendid emerald.
my friend" he said to me, Il shal
do as you advise. Then take thi
] ring and deliver it. with my address
to my cousin, Archduke Fran
Ferdinand. When we were young me
we exchanged rings and agreed tha
] either should come Immediately to tn
! others aid when the ring was show
r him"
A little later We ran into vienn;
d Having seen my strange companio
o and his wife comfortably housed In d.
' cent, but not sumptuous, quarters.
9 went to my own lodgings. where
e found an invitation signed by Primo
y Montenuovo, requesting my presenc
!, at a reception to be given that ev
8 ming at the palace.
n That simplifed matters. Undoub
Q edly the archduke would be there, an
r I should have the opportunity OF d
iivering the ring to him Still. ] d.
8 not like being mixed up in this bus
e ness. I would have evaded It by an
d legitimate means, though ] was inte
n ested in the unique situation. It
9 not often that dead heir comes bac
, to oust his successor.
y The reception was one Of tho!
Il grand affairs of ceremony In whit
8 the Austrian court delights. II