The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-06-02

the midnight visitor was Hannibal
Prudent, the greatest scientist of he
new world.
The President spent the morning
preparing dispatches for the represen.
tatives of the European and oriental
nations. He gave them twenty.four
hours to order their vessels from
American waters. advising them that
If they had not obeyed the order In
that time the United States would moi
be responsible for their future.
The new laws that had been fcrrau
lated by the United States govern.
ment and which were so objectionable
to the powers would stand and the
United States would see that they
were enforced
Three days later Hannibal Prudent
created current of the impenetrable
ray that isolated the whole Ameri.
can continent from the rest OF the
world
Fifty years had passed; fifty years
OF Independent peace The Central
and South American republics had
Joined the great United States and a
confederacy was formed that secured
their independence and the freedom
of commerce. a
Those fifty years of peace had ere
ated wealth, happiness and scientific
progress such as had never been
eQualed
Now the man whose genius had
made this possible lay dead, and his
last words urged preparation for war.
Astra sat before her fathers desk:
before her lay document that de.
manded careful study-the will OF her
adopted father.
She did not hook at the long HIST
OF bonds and stocks; she did not care
for the vast wealth that fram now on
would belong to her alone. The pa
per she was reading contained far
reaching Instructions, prophetic In
sight into the future. The last page
was a farewell letter:
my dear Astra, knowing that ] am
nearing the limit of human existence,
and that rest awaits me after long
and full life, | set down such facts as
will enable you to make the best use
of the knowledge that /, the old tree.
wish perpetuated in the blossoming
plant; 1t Is you who will be respon-
sible for the coming prosperity of the
country. God gave you broad mind
that has developed to it's fullest ca
pacity under my care and am proud
of you, dear girl; you are chosen to
do great things for your country and
humanity.
There Is only one man on earth
who is worthy Of calling you wife;
you will find this man. or he will come
to you, as you two are ordained
mates, comrades.
When 60 to my rest ! feel that ]
will leave turbulent times behind me.
My 2 ray will not remain impene
trable forever, and wher the day
comes that 1t is destroyed, the coAn
try will need brave. competent man
to drive away the dreadnaughts He
will come, as he has been fully in
structed. Trust In him, my dear
daughter
This country was. no. Aeyelnszssfss ts
be blasted by war; the adventures OF
warfare and strife are not for It.. Our
Creator selected this country to pro
mote freedom, equality and science
laundering cannons shall never more
sound on our shore; our land shall
be a land of love and peace.
Il have labored hard to spread this
gospel After / am gone the task is
your inheritance, dear Astra
Before die will tell you where to
find the one man competent to assist
you and will further instruct you in
your duty.
God bless you, my daughter you
have ever been my joy and pride"
Astra put down the paper, and, star
ing out into the beautiful garden, muir
INJURED to herself: Hurry to the Island
of Cirynith Cirynith? I have never
heard of the place, and he left no spe-
cific instructions"
The entrance of John, faithful old
servant, woke her from her reveries.
With shaking lips he announced that
a reporter for the Hourly Stylograph
wished to see her.
Folding up the documents, Astra
locked them in the safe, then said. II
will receive him at once in the green
room"
The servant left. Astra hesitated
for q moment, then she said aloud,
with quiet determination;
Father, l will accept the inheri-
lance. I will wait for him TO come
and help me; will take the burdens
on my shoulders and faithfully carry
n,,+ unrr taachinpa God helm me tor