Sharp County record., 1915-06-25

aDly SeCCl6u Ill JHe euohiH5 iooAi VI
his luxurious mansion, "and King Will
liam's first wife was still alive. You
are aware that 1t was his second wife
who is the mother of Wilhelmina?'
Il had forgotten it, but no matter" :"
1T is, on the contrary, fact which
must be borne in mind" retorted his
Excellency. Il was returning home
from the theater, past midnight. AS |
approached the Madeleine, | saw a
small crowd collected at the foot of the
steps. Crossing over to find out what
had taken place, found myself on the
outside of a ring Of women the most
abandoned Wretches of the quarter
who had gathered round the figure
of man lying on the bottom step Of
the fight, apparently intoxicated be-
yond the power to move.
"The spectacle Of this unfortunate
seemed to have strangely excited the
women, who were hurting at him the
yilast insults In their horrible vocabu-
larry. Incensed at the behavior of these
hags, roughly pushed my way through
them to the side Of their victim, whose
clothes, disordered and covered with
mud, as they were, seemed to be those
of man of position. The wretched
creature was lying on one side, his
left hand outstretched, with which he
seemed to be trying feebly to ward
off the foul epithets of his tormentors.
stopped down over him, and lifted
his head to the light.
1T was Prince Citron.'
you will easily figure to yourself
the horror of discovering the heir to
famous monarchy, the descendant
of william the Silent, in this deplor-
able situation. | had not failed to
hear some Of the dark reports as to
this young mans career; nevertheless
at such moment the only sentiment
which inspired me was that Of the
most profound pity.
"Sternly rebuking the filthy hags,
who skunk away before my reproaches,
l raised the prince to his feet, and
supported him down to the edge OF the
pavement, where perceived an empty
fiacre coming up. Into this | assisted
Alexander-to give him his proper
name--who instantly fell like a log
upon the cushions. Then l gave the
driver my own address, and we pro-
ceeded to the house near the Rue de
Rivoli, in which at that time oc-
cupied small fiat.
During the short drive, Prince Alex
ander lay absolutely motionless, and
without uttering sound. But from
time to time | caught a CLEAN Of dull
intelligence In his bloodshot eyes;
which were turned to me, as II he were
trying to comprehend who was, and
what accident had brought him into
my company.
when we got to the house, It was
necessary for me to engage the SER
vices OF the concierge to get the un-
fortunate youth upstairs to my apart
ment, which was on the third floor
There | found that my valet had re-
tired circumstance which | did not
regret. got my strange visitor COM
fortably settled upon n couch; ]
loosened his collar and necktie for
him, removed his boots, and spread
warm rug over his feet. Then ! sat
down to wait till he should recover
from his lethargy.
while l watched his uneasy repose,
I Btrove to recall the various things
which | had heard about the heir OF
William III. He was OF course we'll
known to me by sight, for the incl
dent speak of took place at time
when was attached to the stan OF
the foreign ofllce In Paris, and when,
M you may have heard, there was
some talk OF making me deputy and
minister.
But preferred diplomatic career
to a parliamentary one, and do not
regret my decision. In country like
France, which 10 ruled over by the
bourgeoisie, politics reduces itseli
TO terribly prosaic level. can only
find the romance for which my dis
position Graves IN tho courts OF those
countries whero tho will OF q monarch
still oounto for much, and whoro the
course OF tho greatest events may be
decided by n nod given ut tho right
moment, or by sentence whispered
In tho intervals of q waltz.
Though | never before had any In
tereoureo with prince Citron,' ! wal
familiar with the stories In elreula
tion about him. II was generally be
lieved that his residence In Paris wal
not altogether voluntary--that, In fact
he had been compelled to leave The
Hague In consequence OF some ter
rible misunderstanding with his father
and there were thope who asserted
that tho old king Of the Netherlands
had sworn that his son should mover
return 10 long ap ho himself was alive
But, though there were hundred DIT
fapani veraiona of the cause OF this OK