Tombstone epitaph., 1915-07-04

last. why snOulu l seek 10 excuse my self! Neglected by those who ought to have watched over my childhood. outraged in the tenderest part of my nature, 1 will admit to you that l did become hardened and depraved. took to play. and plunged heavily into debt: I drank. and in short indulged in dissipations which speedily became a public scandal
 "'One day affairs came to a crisis. The king had sent for me to confront me with the claims of certain credi- tors who had sent in their accounts to him, and insolently demanded pay ment. l was not in the palace: a search was made for me. and they discovered me in the parlor of tavern in a disreputable quarter of the city. I was even slightly intoxicated. and 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 were alone together. he used to me expres- sions so degrading that l exclaimed indignantly:
 Remember. sire, that I am of the race of Orange equally with yourself" "'"You are nothing of the sort" he retorted fiercely. and then suddenly | checked himself. and trembled all over like a man who has just committed
 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 I could col lect myself sufficiently to speak. I in sisted on an explanation. Whether he | saw that he had gone too far to draw
 back, 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 ambas- sador after a moments pause. which I learned on that night from the lips of Prince Citron.' I have never com municated to a human being. Though the death of William III many years l 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; I will I therefore briefly tell you the facts as | I ascertained them from him at this time. At subsequent period I was at | the court of the Hague, which was then thrown into profound excitement over the celebrated affair of the Ruby l of Bhurani-a story which you must ask me to relate to you at another time then made a guarded attempt to approach King William himself. and sound him on the subject. but he was I too cautious to allow me to see that he understood my hints.
 Tt 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. It was l 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 sto4s, "oo ho SlFS DAA NE ho Q child It was felt that if this child should prove to be a boy. the long vexed question of Luxemburg would be set at rest, and hence the anSiety which prevailed.
 The king himself. as you will gather from what l 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 a moment. the chief physician of the court took up his residence in the palace, and the prime minister was constantly in attendance.
 Tn spite of every precaution. 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. a man of great resolution. in- stantly dispatched the woman to in form the king that he was a 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 the case, 1t was impossible that the queen could ever again become a mother
 The dilemma in which William III now found himself was indeed a desperate one. This girl, his only child. must clearly succeed to the throne of the Netherlands. As clearly, she could never occupy that of Luxem- burg. In order to secure the Grand Duchy it was necessary that King William III should have a son; the possibility of his having one had now practically disappeared.
 Tn his extremity the unfortunate king even sounded the physician as to the prospect of life for his queen. to whou, he was much attached. But the reply was to the effect that her majesty would certainly recover, and might very likely outlive her husband. The next idea that presented itself to him was to declare the newborn child a boy, and to bring her up in that character. But the physician