The Nevada County picayune., 1915-07-02

1 ".This state of things could not
 last Why should seek to excuse my 1 self? Neglected by those who ought l to have watched over my childhood, outraged in the tenderest part of my nature, I will admit to you that l did l become hardened and depraved. l l took to play, and plunged heavily into debt; drank, and in short indulged | in dissipations which speedily became | a public scandal.
 "'One day affairs came to crisis The king had sent for me to confront
 me with the claims of certain credi- tors who had sent in their accounts 1 to him, and insolently demanded pay 1 ment. I was not in the palace;
 search was made for me, and they | discovered me in the parlor of tavern
 in a disreputable quarter of the city
 was even slightly intoxicated. and | in this state they brought me before
 William III. one of the most decorous l of men.
 l His language quickly restored me to my senses. As soon as we were
 alone together, he used to me express
 sions so degrading that l exclaimed
 indignantly:
 | Remember, sire, that I ain of the
 race of Orange equally with yourself. v | "'"You are nothing of the sort'"
 he retorted fiercely, and then suddenly l checked himself, and trembled all over
 like man who has just committed
 a desperate deed. and realizes the 1 consequences when it is too late. | "It would be idle to describe the l shock which was caused to me by | these words As soon as I could col lect myself sufficiently to speak, in- sisted on an explanation. Whether he | 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 moments pause which learned on that night from the lips of Prince Citron,' l have never com | municated to human being Though the death of William III many years ago released me from my pledge, 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 subsequent period I 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 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.
 'It 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 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. 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 anxiety which prevailed
 The king himself, as you will gather from what I 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, 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, it was impossible that the queen could ever again become a mother.
 The dilemma in which William III now found himself was indeed 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- hN.t.a I,~