Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-09-26


Hl me-"
~ know l can't" said his
wife. quite as positively. She knew
when she could tell him q thing and
when she couldn't.
1t was quite impossible to impart in
formation to Mr.. Blithers when he had
the tips Of two resolute fingers embed
ded In his ears. Mrs. Blithers had
lived with her husband, more or less.
for twenty-five years, and she knew
him like q book. He was q forceful
person who would have his own way,
even though he had to put his fingers
in his ears to get it. Moreover, when
he called her my dear" instead Of the
customary Lou It was a sign Of su-
preme obstinacy on his part and could
not by any stretch Of the imagination
be regarded as an indication Of placid
affection. He always said my dear"
at the top Of his voice and with great
deal Of irascibility.
Mr.. William w. Blithers was self
made man who had begun his career
by shouting Justify at team Of mules
In q railway construction camp. Other
drivers had tried to improve on his vo-
cabulary. but even the mules were able
to appreciate the futility Of such an
ambition, and later on. when he came
to own two or three railroads, to say
nothing Of a few mines and steam
yacht. his ability to drive men was
even more noteworthy than his power
over the jackasses had been.
Mr.. and Mrs. Blithers had been dis
cussing royalty. Up to the previous
week they had restricted themselves to
the nobility. lat as an event Of unex-
ampled Importance had transpired In
the interim they now felt that 1t would
be the rankest stupidity to consider
any one short Of prince royal In pick
ing out q suitable husband-or, more
properly speaking. consort-for their
only daughter. Maud Applegate Blith-
ers, aged twenty.
Mrs. Blithers long ago had convinced
her husband that no ordinary human
being of the male persuasion was wor-
thy Of their daughters hand and had
set her heart on having nothing mean
er than q duke on the family roll
Blithers alluded to it for awhile as the
payroll-with the choice lying between
England and Italy.
But now. just as they were on the
point Of accepting in lieu Of a duke an
exceptionally promising count, the
aforesaid event conspired to complete
ly upset all Of their plans-or notions,
30 to speak. It was nothing less than
the arrival in America Of an eligible
prince Of the royal blood. ruling
prince at that AS a matter of fact, he
had not only arrived In America, but
upon the vast estate adjoining their
own in the Catskills.
Peculiarly promising to their hopes
was the indisputable fact that the
princes mother had married an Ameri-
can. thereby establishing precedent
behind which no constitutional obstacle
could thrive, and had lived very hap
ply with the gentleman in spite Of the
critics.
It appears that the prince after lei
surely crossing the continent on his way
around the world had come to the
Truxton Kings for long promised and
much desired visit, the duration of
which depended to some extent on his
own inclinations and not little on the
outcome Of the war talk that affected
two great European nahons-Russia
and Austria. Mr.. Blithers was In q
position to know that the little princt
pality over which the young man reign.
ed was bound to be drawn into the
cataelysm not as belligerent or an
ally, but In the matter Of loan that
iuconveniently expired within the year
and which would hardly be renewed
BY Russia with the prospect Of vast
expenditures Of war threatening her
treasury. The loan undoubtedly would
| be called, and Graustark was not In q
position to pay out Of her own slender
resources, two years Of famine having
fallen upon the people at time when
prosperity was most to be desired.
II was the private opinion OF MI.
Blithers that the young prince and the
trusted agents who accompanied him
on his journey were In the United
States solely for the purpose Of arrang-
ing q loan through sources that couio
only be reached by personal appeal
But an this is beside the question.
The young Prince Of Graustark was
enjoying American hospitality, and NO
matter what be owed to Russia, Amer
ica owed to him is most punsdllisos