The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1915-06-24


nature, will admit to you that | did
become hardened and depraved
took to play, and plunged heavily into
debt; | drank. and in short | INDUCED
in designations which speedily became
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
meut | was not in the palace; a
search was made for me. and they
discovered me in the parlor OF a tavern
in disreputable quarter of the city.
| 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 express
sions so degrading that | exclaimed
Indignantly:
Remember. sire, that | 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 man who has just committed
a desperate deed, and realizes the
consequences when il is too late
1T would be Idle to describe the
shock which was caused to me by
I cnn1A rnl-
lect myself sufficiently to speak. | 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
| learned on that night from the lips
OF Prince Citron.' | have never com
municated to a human being. Though
the death of William Ill many years
ago released me from my pledge.
have felt that it was too grave a mat
ter to be spread abroad. There
can be no longer any object in giving
you the princes own words. | will
therefore briefly tell you the facts rs
ascertained them from him at this
time. At a subsequent period was nj
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 then made n guarded attempt
to approach King William himself, and
sound him on the subject. but he Was
toe cautious to allow me to see that
he understood my hints.
1t is necessary 10 recall the inter
ests which turned on the birth o. an
heir 10 the king. in order TO prepare
yourself for what took place. II "as
in the year 1851 that the people OF the
Netherlands were agitated by the in
telligeuce that Queen Sophia, who had
been married to William Ill for twelve
years. was about To give birth TO a
child 1t was felt that Il this child
should prove to be a boy, the long
vexed question OF Luxembourg would
be set at rest. and hence the anxiety
which prevailed
The king himself az You viii gather
from what | have already repeated,
was not less concerned than his sub
jects In short, the queen bedside
became the center of the most terrible
suspense. The king could hardly be
induced TO leave her for n moment,
the chief physician OF the court took
up his residence in the palace. and
the prime minister was constantly in
attendance.
In spite OF every preeaution, how
ever. the birth took place prematurely
at an unexpected moment, when only
the physician and single nurse We're
present in the royal chamber. The
doctor. man OF great resolution. in
stantly dispatched the woman to in
form the king that he Was 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 10 him the fearful intelligence
that the child just born was OF the
feminine sex. while. owing 10 the un-
happy circumstances OF the case. ii
was impossible that the queen could
ever again become IA mother
The dilemma in which William
III now found himself was indeed n
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 il was necessary that King
William III should have son; the
possibility OF his having one had now
practically disappeared.
In his extremity the unfortunate
king even sounded the physician as TO
the prospect of life for his queen,
To whom he was much attached But
tho reply was TO the effect that her
A I'll. "A