Evening Star Newspaper, November 28, 1896, Page 23

Dangerous Use of Strong Purgatives. Most pills, purgatives and Bit- ter Waters, which act quickly upon the bowels, irritate and often destroy the mucous coats of the stomach and bowels. Indeed their cathartic action is directly caused by the irritation of the bowels, which they produce. Their action should be soothing and stimula- ting instead of irritating. A con- tinued use of such remedies pro- duces chronic inflammation of the stomach and bowels. This often ends in dangerous disease. The use of the genuine imported Carlsbad Sprudel Salt, is highly recommended as an aperient, lax- ative and diuretic, because its ac- tion is due solely to its solvent and stimulating properties. It soothes and allays inflammation, and is therefore much preferable to all strong purgatives and Bitter Waters. Beware of imitations. Dr. To- boldt’s lecture on Carlsbad Spru- del Salt mailed free. Eisner & Mendelson Co., sole agents, New York. . A GRUESOME CUSTOM. A Contrnet to Exhume and Send of the Bones of Chinamen. From the Ellensburg Register. Mr. Chung is a contractor in the employ of the great Chinese Six Companies of San Francisco. He entered inte a contract eleven years ago to travel all over the United States and exhume the bones of Chiramen. All Chinamen who come to this country have a contract with the Six Companies that, in case of death, their beres shall be returned to the flowery king- dom, and Mr. Chung is the man who per- sonally sees that the contract is carried out. He is intrusted with the task of keeping track of the dead Chinamen, tak- Ing their bones out of the grave and ship- ping them to China—the only @lace, ac- cording to their religion, where they can find absolute rest. As he is under $30,000 bonds to do the work well, it is neediess to say that he is careful. "He brings two assistants from San Francisco who do the rough work. He had with him, when he came here, the rames of four celestials, three of whom died here in 1888 and one in 1892. All of these will be exhumed and shipped, Dr. Gray, the health officer, hav- ing supplied a certificate that mone died of contagious disease. His contract says that he must not get the bones mixed; that each individual set must be cleaned, put in a white muslin bag, and then be boxed securely for ship- ment across the Pacific. He is not alowed to cut, saw or break a bone, nor can he boil the bones to get the flesh off, on ren- alty of forfeiture of his bond. "He says that three years serve io do away with the flesh, but they are generaliy allowed to remain in the grave longer than that in order to make sure of a clean job when he goes at it. Each set of bones is labaled, and a record is kept of them. All are shipped to San Francisco, an@é when four tons have been collected they are put on a steamer and shipped. The Six Com- panies have a special contract with the steamship companies, and the cost of a ride across the great deep in this par- tieular condition is only $2.50, and the com- pany boasts that there has never been a kick on high rates! Mr. Chung’s assistants aroused the four peaceiul sleepers from their long rest ished them up according to contrs ent them on their way—if not rejoicia: least according to contract. ———_+e+____ The Stamp Did Not Work. From the Chieigo Times-Herald. A Belgian physician who stands very high Professionally at home and is a gentleman of education, culture and refinement, re- eently visited friends in this city. He had occasion to write a letter to an Evanston Professor, and was told that if he would affix an “immediate delivery” stamp to the letter it would be rushed through to its destination without delay. After a day spent in sight-seeing about the city with his Chicago friends the Bel- gian reached home, went to his room and immediately came down stairs again in considerable perturbation. “See!” he cried, holding out the stamped letter, which had lain on a table in iis room aii day. “It haf not gone yet. The stamp haf not work. Nobody haf called for it all the day through.” —— The First Step. From Life. “I wish you would tell me,” said the kind eid judge to the lady burglar, “how you came to adopt such a disreputable profes- sion. How did you begin?” “Your honor,” replied the miserable wo- man, “my first step was to go through my husband's pockets while he slept. After that the descent was easy.” —_—_—_—_-e-_____ Hard Luck, Indeed. From the Cleveland Leader. Blimley—“I'm the unluckiest man on earth.” “Huntley—“Why so?” Blimley—“I proposed to Edith Buzzley last night and was accepted, and today I learn that her fether is about to make an assignment.” = eee =—- The new woman com- mands love and admi- ration because she has the beauty and attrac-. tiveness of health and high spirits. She is truly a woman. She is not necessarily an athletic wo- man. She is merely strong and healthy in every way. She knows something of her own phy a eee Ge knows the im; ¢ of the organs that make her a oes She knows that if she keeps them healthy she need never be ick. ‘ow can she keep them healthy?’” proper care in the medicine in the second. Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription is for the cure of all the ills distinctly feminine. It makes a new woman out of a fagged, nervous, thin, useless, worn, wreck of femininity. deeper It is for one purpose only- make women strong and well in a womanly way—to make life ae living—to drive away the ing, aching, insanity-pro- ced pains: which dace woman- kind suffers. = a of a regularly graduated—skil |, expert spe- Cialist in the treatment of the diseases of women. Tt has had a sale than any other like medicine. it at your druggist’s and do not be persuaded to take a substitute. LLL LSULEL Leek ee} ¥ think I may safely assert that there ate not more than a dozen peopie living who are aware of the prominent part taken by Sir John Templeton in thwarting one of the boldest strokes of modern Russian diplomacy in eastern Europe, and thereby averting one of the most serious political complications that have threatened Europe within the lifétime of the present genera- tion. There was, moreover, a mystery attach- ing to this singular event which enhanced the general excitement it caused ani which, until this day, has never been pub- licly cleared up. t The King of Balkania, as well as his brother. and heir-presumptive, had always been noted for his strong anti-Russian pol- tcy. Indeed, to forestall the possibility of actual coercive measures on Russia's part his majesty himself had opened up nego- tiations with the other great powers, the aim of which was the conclusion of a con- véntion that would once for alt preclude Balkania from entering Into any binding contract with a foreign power under what- soever pretext, save with their sanction nd consent first obtained. Swbut for the fact that while these nego tiations were pending his majesty unfor- tunately fell ill of typhoid fever, there can be little doubt that they would have been brought to a satisfactory conclusion, In spite of the strenuous opposition of 1 Balkanian prime minister, Count Sastro- witch, whose leaning toward Russia, was fous, and who was, mor . knows to have exerted all his great influence over the king in order to induce him. to Iiste favorably to the Russian proposals. || What had caused his majesty’s sudven change of front was a complete riddle. he had barely recovered from his illness, during which his brother, Prince Gregor Alexander, had been appointed regent, when, to everybody's consternation, he re- fused absolutely to ratify the convention with the great powers. He had reconsid- ered the matter, he declared, and would abide by his prime minister's policy and accede to the proposals of Russia. It was at this critical juncture that Prince Gregor Alexander, whose faith in Sir John Templeton’s judgment, like that of every one who knew him, was very great, took the desperate course of sum- moning the old diplomatist from Vienna. “We are at our wits’ end,” he wrote to him, “and I know no one better qualified to help us than you. There are powers at work here which baffle us, one and all, and this devil Sastrowitch is at the bottom of ! the business. I have always known him to be an unscrupulous sehemer, but in this instance his position seems unassailable, for he undoubtedly possesses the king's full support, though T am convinced that the ascendancy he has gained over my brother's mind has not been obtained by natural or legitimate means.” The result of this letter, which was ac- companied by a few lines from Sir Richard Anson, the British plenipotentiary, cordial- ly mdorsing the prince’s words, and invit- ing Sir John to take up his quarters at the embassy during his visit, was the ar- rival of the old diplomatist three days later at Metropolis, the Balkanian capital. “Unfortunately,” said Sir Richard Anson, as he drove with Sir John Templeton to the palace of the prince regent, “Prince Gregor Alexander, though gifted with an intellect of a stamp superior to that of his brother, is on the other hand no less lacking than he in those qualities of firmness and de- cision to the absence of which in his ma- jesty the rise to power and influence of such # man as this Sastrowitch is due. It is important that you should bear this in mind, Sir John. The conditions of political life in, the east are totally different from the conditions prevailing in our western world. Here, intrigue flourishes as an art, and governs all things, social as well as political, and a greater adept in the art than this fellow Sastrowitca it would be difficult_to conceive.” Had Sir Richard Anson been observant he might Rave noticed a smile of amuse- ment pass over the wrinkled countenance of the old diplomatist while he listened to this well-meant advice. But Sir John made no reply. He merely bowed with great gravity, and a few minutes later the car- riage drove through the grand archway of the prince regent’s palace and drew up in front of the entrance. The sentinels on duty presented arms as the plenipotentiary, followed by Sir John Templeton, alighted ard passed into the building. Ten minutes afterward they were closeted in conference with his Royal Highness Prince Gregor Alexander. They found the prince with an offictal- looking document in hig hand, in a state of great perturbation. “I fear you have arrived just in time to assist at my obsequies,” he said, handing’ the document to Sir John, after briefly acknowledging the prompt reaponse he had given to his invitation. “This destroys our last hope.* Sir John glanced at the document and then at the prince. “Your royal command of the army?” he was this cabinet order issued?” “At midnight yesterday,” the prince an- swered. “You will observe that General Rostroff, the most servile supporter of Rus- sia in the whole army, bas been appointed my successor. I am disgraced. Ah! his majesty would never of his own free will have put such an affront upon his brother. He 1s possessed by the evil inftuence of that demon Sastrowitch. And he refuses even to see or hear me.” “Yer the king was well enough yesterday to give his usual public audience,” Sir John remarked. “True,” sald the prince. “And I have reason to know that Sastrowitch and the Russian ambassador were with the king at the very moment that I, his brother, was refused admittance to the royal audience chamber. Your journey, I fear, has been useless, Sir John. I see no means now of introducing you imto his majes' and without am interview— tt that not distress you, sir,” said Sir “I no longer require your highness’ deprived of the “When John. good offices in imtroducing me to his ma- jesty.”” ‘ “You no longer require them?” the prince said. “But how—®" x “ have already seep the king,” Sir John replied quictly. ; Sir Richard Anson looked up in surprise. “You have seen the king?" he said. “I do not understand you. It la batt two hours since you arrived in Metropolis.” oat s two hours since I arrived in Me- tropolis for the second time, Sir Richard, yes,” the wily old diplomatist answered, his keen - gray twinkling with pleas- ure at the evident perplexity of his host, whese recent instructive little lecture on the art of intrigue h& had evidently not forgotten. “I apprehended that you would do me th2 honor of receiving me im person at the station, and having reason to know that his highness’ gracious invitation had passed through other before it reached mine, I deemed it expedient to ar- rive here four-and-twenty hours earlier than announced. In the interval I have been enabled, among other things, both to see and speak with bis majesty.” Sir Richard Anson looked somewhat abashed. ~ “Then you were present at yesterday’s public audience?” asked the prince. “ was present, and had the honor, among many others, of presenting a pe! tion to his majesty,” replied Sir John. “] there saw and heard enough to convince me that the life of his majesty the king is in imminent danger, and that nothing but the promptest action can avert the trophe that threatens him.” “The king’s life threatened?” the prince murmured. “But by whom? By Sastro- witch? Nay, my friend,” he went on, with a smile, “for once your wisdom has de- serted you. My brother’s death, which heaven avert, would place me on the throne of Bulkania. Asy yourself if the exchange would answer his villainous purpose. “Notwithstanding,” Sir John said, “my judgment ts indeed much at fault if the Ufe of the King of Balkania not in danger, and from very Sastrowitch, whe appears to govern his will.” “But the result?’ the prince asked, stilt incredulous. “What course do you propose “With your highness’ permission, we will discuss thdt question later. For the pres- catas- A MASTERY OF THE BALKANS RY PEROY ANDREE. (Copyright, 1896, by Percy Andreae.) Wve eresesy ent I gather that your highness has, at least, no doubt whatever of the dishonest designs of the prime minister? And it has, no doubt, occurred to your highness that he may be in the paid service of Russia?” “Tt has.” “And assuming that proofs of this fact can be adduced, which I conceive to be a very simple matter, is it your highness’ opinion that such proofs would alter his majesty’s views as to the prudence of the policy he has so unaccountably embraced?” “Can any one doubt it? But how will you obtain such proofs as you speak of?” “By the same means by which Count Sastrowitch obtained his knowledge of my presence in the Balkanian capital,” Sir John anawered. “The difficulty, I think, however, will He not so much in obtaining proofs of the prime minister’s duplicity as in bringing them to the Knowledge of his majesty the king.” “Give me the proofs,” the prince ex- claimed, resolutely, ‘‘and, if need be, I will force my way into his mafesty’s presence, sword in hand, be the consequences what they may.” “I will take the liberty of reminding your highness ef this promise when the occasion arises, as it doubtless will,” Sir John said. “For the present, all I would ask is that two expert telegraph clerks, whose loyalty and trustworthiness are beyond doubt, be placed at my disposal, with instructions to carry out such orders as I shall give them, blindly and without question.” “The director of the posts and telegraphs is one of my stanchest friends,” the prince aid. ‘You shall have what yeu require. But tell me, when do you expect to be in possession of these proofs? Time is pre- cious. The king may be induced at any moment to give his signature to the Rus- sian treaty, and once signed, no power can revoke it.” “It will be your highness’ fault,” Sir John sald, “if the king signs the treaty before he has seen proofs of his minister's treach- ery. That his majesty will not sign it after he has seen them, for this I can vouch.” “Well, be it so,” the prince satd, “I have exhausted all other means of averting Is threatening calamity. I leave myself in your hands, Sir John.” . ° . . . . . It was two days after this conversation, when Str Richard Anson, the British plen- ipotentiary, received the following note from the prince regent: “We are too late. At 6 o'clock this even- ing the king will recetve the Rus: lan am- bassador in secret audience, and sign the articles of the treaty. Inform Sir John. “GREGOR ALEXANDER On reading this communication Sir Rich- ard Anson.sprang from his chair, rang his. bell and ordered his secretary to inform Sir John Templeton that he desired to speak with him on a matter of the utmost urgency. Two minutes later Sir John en- take Gio study. “I fear this is a checkmate,” his excel- lency sald, placing the prince’s note in Str John’s hands. “What is to be done?” The old diplomat glanced through the nete, and retained ft in his hands. ‘Tho Prince, I see, has faithful servitors, he sald. “I'am in posgession of ainMlar news, and from a more authentic source.” ‘Indsed?" said Sir Richard, a little net- tled at the old gentleman's coolness. “Por. haps Count Sastrowitch himself has been Srodienduan to communicate his intentions “Exactly,” Sir John replied, with a ile of perfect good humor. “Your excellency, I perceive, has the inborn gift of penetra. tion which fs the distinguishing character- = Gaia true diplemat.” r Richard stured at = ane ed him in astonish. “TI have, iiowever, further and more seri- ous news for his highness the prince,” Sir John continued. “Immediately after tho conclusicn of the audience of his excellency the Russian ambassador, a cabinet order for the arrest of his highness the prince regent will be signed and delivered for in- stant execution into the hands of General Rostroff, the new commander-in-chief of ee A The devil!” said Sir Richard. “But you are joking, surely. I shall next hear that this piece of news has been convey you by the Russian ambassador” "4 °° Before his companion couki answer the dcor was thrown open and the prince re- gent himself was announced. is highness entered with the air of a man who hac given himself up to despair. <You have heard the news?’ he asked. Sir John signified a silent assent. And there is nothing to be done—noth- ingt" the prince exclaimed, throwing him. self into a chair with a gesture of despera- tion. “This accursed treaty will become a reality, and Balkania’s freedom ia gone.” ‘On the contrary, there is everything to be done, sir.” Sir John sald, “or Balkania will lose not only its liberty but tts king.” Its king?* the prince cried, springing up with an air of tmpattence. “Do you ‘still adhere to tnis strarge notion that the king's life is in Peril? ‘On my soul, I wish elt as sure o: wD sure of hls maesty's ee oy Coe “True,” Sir John said. “wher highness’ arrest has been accompichey i may be too date to avert Its probable con- . is but one prison to tha scaffold.” “°P from the ‘My arrest?” the prince stammered, fall- “Do you mean -—" apace in dismay. “If your higness will glance tl these papers,”* Sir John broke in, ae small bundle of documents on the table be- side the prince, “it wil! save much useless pegereron ore valuable time. They copies of the telegraphic cipher dis. patehes that have been exchanged between the Russian government and the Bafkanian prime minister since I had tho honor of an interview with-your highness two days ago. Their contents, F take it, ineriminate Count Sastrowitch sufficiently to Justify—” “Great powers!" the prince cried, turring pale as death as he alighted upon the mes- sage referring to his intended arrest. “How have you obtained these copies?" “By a very simple device, sir,” Sir John replied, “which is no doubt frequently em- ployed by Count Sastrowitch himself, and is known to electricians .as tapping the tele- graph wires. In short, these last two days I have received all messages that have passed between Russia and Balkania by Means of a recorder interpolated at a con- venien* spot for that purpose, These dis- patches, as your highness will observe, Prove conclusively that Sastrowitch is in complicity with Russia, and that he pos- sesses guarantees of liberal payment for the services he has treacherously agreed te render the Russian government. What more, then, can be needed to open the king’s eyes and rouse him te actign?” The prince paced the room in great agi- tation. “But whom,” he said at last, “ean I trust to place these documents in Bis majesty’s hands?” “Whom?” Sir John said In surprise. “As- suredly mo one but yourself, sir. Your highness must present yourself at the pal- ace this evening, and demand admittance to the king, wher he confers with his min- ister and the Russian plenipotentiary.” “But is it likely that ais majesty will consent to receive me?” “It will be imperative that your highness should proceed to the palaces accompanied by a sufficient retinue to obtain access to the conference, if need be, by force,” Sir John said calmly. “I would counsel you, sir, to select for this purpose men of such rank and dignity as wit render them unim- peachable witnesses of that which may pass during the interview.” “And what,” the prince said somewhat coldly, “supposing I could entertain such a daring plan, would he by it?” “First and foremost, the liberty, If not the life, of his majesty, the King of Bal- Kania,’ John replied, fixing his gray eyes steadily upon ti the seizure of that arch villain, the prime minister, Count Sastrowiteh.. Thirdly, and lastly, if your highness so wills, the saving of your native country from a calamity greater than even you at this moment dream of.” The prince, impressed in spite of himself by the solemnity of the old diplomatist’s manner, walked to the window in evident agita “You tempt me sorely,” he said, in a voice trembling with excttement, “But all this ‘| o'clock when the pi began, wayartne, “But ¥ 4 no evidence—" ee of I d with y hij faee ea Resear me * ae te i 4 satisfaction.” — be it taney hen, "the prince seid nee @ stg ’ ae ee fear I have no otker c edge of what} you already « accom- plished, “I would sooner cut off my right and than do what ¥"Have undértaken to do.” x . wv « ° e . . F It had barely struck fhe quartér affer 6 ce regent, accom- panied by Sir Richard ‘Anson, and follewed in another carriage By jthe master of his household, a scion of pne of the oldest Balkanian families, and: two other nobles of high military ranle-drove up to the grand entrance of thesking’s palace. On «lighting the patty Were Joined by Sir John Templeton afd’ préceeded unques. tloned through the Mnes of obsequious lackeys to the king’s private audience chamber on the ground floor. They were met as they entered the ante- room by the officer on duty, who infarmed the prince with a military salute that his majesty was engaged on important affairs of state, and had given orders that he was not to be disturbed, i “The King’s orders, my friend,” the prince said haughully, “‘were obviously not intended to apply to his own brother. You will therefore be good enough 10 inform his majesty that I am here, and request an immediate hearing on @ matter of the ut- most urgency.” He took a step toward the door leading to the audfence chamber. But the officer, a sturdy soldier, who -had now recoyered from his surprise and consternation, inter- pesed himself determinedly betweea the prince and the door. “Your -highness,” he said bluntly, draw- ing his sword, “I am here to do my duty. The King’s commands shall be obeyed, even if I have to use—" z But befoge he could complete the sen- tence his sword was wrested from his hand and he was hurried aside with con- siderable violence by one of the officers of the prince's suite. The next moment the prince himself had flung open the docr and entered the audience chamber. ‘The others followed in silent procession. Their entry had an extraordinary effect. The room was occupied by three persons, one of whom was reclining in a spacious easy chair drawn up at the side of the writing table, and the other two standing engaged in an animated discus- sion on the opposite side of the table. One of these two, a somewhat gaunt figure, with jet black eyes and hair, and a sin- ister, ever-changing expression of coun- tenance, was Count Sastrowitch, the Bal- kanian prime minister, and the other was ambassador at the court of Balkania, Prince Soratoff. The prime minister's face, when the Prince regent and his companions appeared upon the threshold, assumed an expres- sion in which fury and consternation were equally blended. It was evident that the suddenness of this intrusion had taken him completely aback, and for the moment deprived him of utterance. The Rassian plenipotentiary, Prince Soratoff, appeared scarcely to realize what was passing, and glanced alternately at the minister and at the group of newcomers, with an air of utter bewilderment. | As for his majesty of Balkania, the pale and somewhat bent figure reclining in the armchair, it would be difficult to say what the emotions were that depicted themselves tn his counte- nance. Predominant, however, among others was an air of total helplessness, expressed most speakingly in an appealing glance which he cast upon Count Sastro- ‘itch, ag If to Invoke the aid of his strong will. All these particulars the prince regent took in at a glance, a¥ he advanced reso- lutely into the middle $f the room, “My brother,” he began, in a firm but respectful voice, “if I have been compelled to intrude thus unceremoniously upon your privacy, the fault is hot mine, and, more- over, the circumstances which bring me here will, I feel assured, exonerate me from any blame in your majesty’s eyes. To be brief,” he went om in a sterner tone, and pointing to Count Sastrowitch, “I stand here as the accuser of yonder insolent schemer. This man, in whom your majesty has so blindly confided, has bartered his country’s interests and bis sovereign’s for @ sum of gold. I have it on unimpeach- able evidence. These papers, which I be seech your majesty——* But he got no further. With a quick movement Count Sastrawitch, stepping for- ward, wrenched the bundle of papers the prince hola ut toward the king from his ands, and, facing with a’flerce, vin- dictive look, cxclaimet a a “Do you think bis majesty has time to amuse himself by examiffing these impu- dent forgeries? This device to foil me and thwart the work of sober statesmanship is well é¢onceived indeed, but its cunning is too palpabie. Moreover,” he continued, and kere a note of maltcious triumph sounded in his voice, “the artifice comes too late, Prince Gregor Alexander. The treaty is already signed. Behold the coun- terpart In the hands of his excellency the ambassador of Russia.” The prince and those with him fell back in dismay, while Prince Soratoff, the Rus- sian plenipotentiary, held up the fateful document for his highness’ inspection with a bow and a sardonic smile. ““We are too late, then,” the prince mur- mured at last in a pained voiee. “Fhe vil- lainy has succeeded.” “Unless your highness,” Sastrowitch said Jeeringly, “to crown the audacity of your newly assumed role, chooses to lay violent hands upon the sacred person of Russia's envoy, and remedy by force what your wit has failed to prevent.” “Enough,” the king murmured, feebly in his chair, and casting another half-appealing glance at the minister, as if he sought inspiration and encourage- ment from him. “I have heard too much. Your highness shall answer for this inso- jent contempt of my royal authority. Am I to be the mere plaything of those who oppose me? Begone, sir; leave my pres- ence! Count Sastrowitch, you know my will. Rid me of these intruders.” He sank back aguin into his chair, pale and trembling, more like a mag in dire ex- tremity, who has braced himself for a mo- ment to utter words of defiance inspired by another's mind, than a monarch issuing his own commands. Sir John Templetcn had never taken his eyes off him since he entered, and his steady, unremitting gaze had a peculiar ef- fect upon its object. The king did not return it, nor even apparently show any conselousness that it was directed upon him. But even and anon a shiver, as of some inner apprehension, would pass over him, and he would move uneasily in his chafr and glance in his helpless, dependent way across at Count Sastrowitch. The latter, interpreting the movement in his own fashion, strode with a gleam of fierce determination in his eyes toward the door leading to the ante-room by which the prince and his attendants had entered. “If the king’s orders falt upon heediess ears,” he vald as he passed the prince, “there are those here who will sce them executed. After all, ifthe die falts sooner than intended, it is your highness’ fault, not me A malicious smile hung upon bis lips as he uttered these words. But his inten- tions, whatever they were, were not destin- ed to be fulfilled. Before he reached the door he was intercepted by one of the offi- cers of the prince's suite, who, with his hand upon his sword hilt, ready to draw, opposed his further Tess. “No one leaves this room unless his high- ness permits it,” he saiq, determinedly. Count Sastrowitch fel}: back amazed. “What!” he exclatme® “Has it came to thts? Violence to the king’s majeaty? This is treason—open rebellion.” “Stay,” the prince his zealous ccmpanion. 5: He bewed low to the king and turned to. phoseiw a accompanied him. “Follow me, gentlemép,” he said. “You have heard his majesty’s commands. It is for us to obey them. Nay, I have said it, Sir John,” he added,with a Uttle flush of tropatience, seeing that the old diplomat alone made no signs moving from the spot. “You see that persistence is uselegs. Your assurance has for once de- ceived you. .No morta? than has the power to undo what is done** While he spoke @ loak,of intensely anx- lous expeetation settled upon the face ef Count Sastrowltch, and his eyes hung al- most hunetily upon Sir John’s answer, It came slowly and deliberately. “Your highness wit! remember the condi- tion under which I came heré,” Sir John said, without altering his position, or re- moving his eyes from the one object on which they had so long been riveted. “I pledged my word that I would withdraw from the king’s presence at the King’s or- ders alone. Let his majesty with his own lips command me to retire, and I will go; not otherwise.” _Trosumptnoes man,”.the prime minister exclaimed hoarsely. “Phe king’s commands have been conveyed through my mouth. What more is needed- rising His sentence was syddenly cut short. |: With.a startling abruptness Sir John Tem- eee Ens tae nate me, turned thle Save, tor the knowl- | interposed, addressing | the cout broke his, sheet wat, Afi- articitinte nese, aa te he "bed been struck by & blow. . a The effect was Sriporalnaty, <b hrilled over? one pfehent with « vague ised ot event. For the space of séveral seconds the two Men stood thus facing one another. Then, turning once more toward the spot from Which he had fust removed his eyes, Sir John oy tight arm slowly and point- ed to the figure in the easy chair. “You lite, Count Sastrowitch,” he said, speaking in the same quiet, deliberate man- ner as before. ‘or you know that yond wretched man fs not the King of Balkanta.” ‘Fo convey an adequate conception of the tremendous impression produced by these words fs a task beyond the capacity of my humble pen. Their effect, indéed, was in- describable. The prime minister, with eyes distended and bloodless cheeks, steggered back, clutching convulsively at the arms of the chair that stood beside him, while his lips opened and closed mechanically, as if he were struggling for speech and could bring forth no sound. : A moment of total silence followed. The two ambassadors gazed, dumb and open- mouthed, now at Sir John, and now at Count Sastrowitch, whilst the ethers stood rooted to the spot—struck mute, as it seemed, with astonishment at a revelation the full meaning of which their minds were quite unprepared to grasp. ‘Tne prince was the first to break the silence. Uttering an exclamation, half of horror, half of be- wilderment, he took a step forward, then stopped again, and remained in an attitude of eager expectation, looking toward Sir John Templeton, as if ior some further solution of the extraordinary mystery his words had unveiled. Amid this strange scene the miserable object of it all, still recumbent in the royal armchair, but completely collapsed now and huddled together in an almost shape- less mass, stared with Jull eyes vacantly into the space before him, quivering and quaking like a creature stricken with a sudden palsy. Slowly Sir John let his extenjed right arm sink to his side. Then, turning once more to the prince regent, he bowed low, and said in his simple, courily tones: “I am at your majesty’s commands.” ‘The words peleased the spell that rested upon the assembly. Uttering a yell of mingled fury and despair, Count Sastro- witch now sprang forward with a sudden bound. But whether his purpose was to fall upon Sir John Templeton or to wreak bis mad passion upon the prince, whom he hated, will never be known, for, before he could execute it, he was seized by the two officers of the latter's retinue and held in their iron grip, powerless to aci or move. Pale and agitated, Prince Gregor Alex- ander strode quickly to the door, turned the key in the lock, and approaching the prime minister, who stood with white lips and staring eyes, between his two stal- wart guardians, regarded him long and in- tentty. “Miserable man,” he said, at last, “I re- quire no confirmation from your lips. But, by the heavens above us, unless you make full confession of your unexampled villainy I will have you torn to pieces, limb by Mmb, without ruth or mercy. You have heard me. Now, speak. What have you dcne with my brother?” Before Sastrowitch could answer, John interposed respectfully. “Perhaps, sire,” he , “since it has fallen to my lot to disclose this lamentable history so far, you will permit me to ex- plain what remains to be explained. Count Sastrowitch can correct me where I may be at fault, and supply, tf he so will, such details as I, in my ignorance, may’ omit. That your majesty had been King of Bal- kania for four weeks was apparent to me from the moment I set my eyes upon this sorry counteffeit of royal majesty. As your majesty is doubtless aware, four tn- mates of the late king’s household suc- cumbed to the epidemic maiady which broke out within the palace wall® two Thonths ago. Of these, one apparently died with a suddenness unusual, if not unpre- cedented, in the ease of this particular dis- ease; a fact which passed at the time with- out attracting attention, for the supposed victim was a personage of little conse- quence; no other, indeed, than the body servant of the deceased monarch.” “Merciful powers!” the prince broke in, gazing of a sudden intently at the wretched Sir S, man in the chair. ‘Valetaki! I see it all. It is Valetaki himself, the late king's valet.” “Precisely,” Sir John resumed. “It was his majesty the king who died of typhoid fever, not his servant. Che man’s natural resemblance to his royal master, which venity had led him to cultivate by artificial means, no doubt first suggested to Count Sastrowitch the possibility of the fraud which has now been so opportunely ex- posed. How it was effected probably no one is better qualified te explain than Doc. tor Lobelieff, his late majesty’s body phy- sician, who certified the supposed fact of Valetzki’s death, and arranged for the in- terment of the king's remains in place of those of his servant.” “Ah!” the prince exclaimed, covering his faee and shuddering. “My brother buried in a vaiet’s grave. The villains, the vil- Jains’ As the whole details of the dastardly plot broke in upon his intelligence, he seemed for the first time to realize the loss of the brother he had-loved and revered so deeply, and he gave way to a burst of grief which was affecting to behold. “Your majesty,” said Prince Soratoff, the Russian plenipotentiary, stepping forward, after a pause, with an air of deep concern, “will scarcely need my assurance that the august government I have the henor to represent never entertained the faintest suspictcn of the vile plot. This worthless parchment’'—flinging the treaty upon the table with a gesture of disgust—“proves conclusively that my sovereign has been no less the dupe of yonder craven schemer than your majesty yourself.” “Tt ts welt,” the prince said, regaining his self-control once more, and speaking in a cold and disd@ainful tone, “I have, as you say, no need of your excellency’s assurance. Nay, no more. I have heard suffictent. As for you, gentlemen,” he continued, address- ing those around him generally, “you will, I beg, observe the strictest silence on what you have witnessed here this evening. The punishment of those concerned in this audacious crime I reserve for my future consideration.”” While the officers of his sulte, with the two wretched conspirators in their midst, passed slowly from the room, the prince turned impulsively to Sir John Templeton, who, with the two ambassadors, was pre- paring to follow them. “Ab, Sir John,” he exclaimed, “you have dcne well, marvelously well. I understand now why you have acted thus,and not other- wise. There were weightier things to con- sider here than the tender feelings of a brother; else I might perhaps have jist cause of complaint that you did not em- ploy gentler means than these of removing the veil from my eyes. But rest assured of my gratitude. IE shall not forget what you have done for my country as well as for him who now rules it.”” He waved hts hand in and Sir John Templeton and withdrew, . token of farewell, bowed in silence white: he aken [6 It will be remembered that the sudden accession of Prince Gregor Alexander to the throne of Balkania at one of the most critical moments of European history solv- ing almost providentiatly, as men thought, @ political complication, the consequences of which were incalculable, took all the world by surprise. Of the fate of Count Sastrowittch, Dr. Lotelieff and Valtetzki, the present writer can say nothing. There are certain things hey; manage very, very quietly in Balka- a. ee She Knew the Difference. From the Indianapolis Sentinel. The story ts told of a Httle girl who came to the conclusion not long ago that she wanted a bicycle. She had always been taught’ by her mother to pray for what she wanted, and for two or three nights in suc- cession there was a good deal about wheels ia her supplications. So her father and mother put their heads together to try and arrange to have the prayers of the little miss answered. After a long discussion tl agreed that a tricycle would be more Suitable and less dangerous for one of her age, as well as lesa expensive. A tricycle was accor: ly pu aad the little girl found it waiting for her one moraing when she got up. She seemed the least bit disappointed when she saw it, but said nothing. Most of the day was spent in wheeling about near the house, but when it was time for her to go to bed at night her fond parents were somewhat startled and shocked to hear her her prayer as follows: “Oh, Lord, don’t you know the difference between a bicycle and a tricy- cle?” Different Now. From the Pittsburg Chronicle-Telegrapb. Mrs. Troublps—“When we were first mar- ried, Harry, you never uttered a com- plaint.* 3 Mr. 'T.—"When we were first married, Jane, I had cash enough to employ a cook.” AS ARBITRATOR|tHeEY riwicuLE rr. A Peén Picture of King Oscar of Swe- den and Norway. SPODENT AND MAN OF AFFAIRS England and United States’ Choice for the Venezuela Tribunal. PERSONALLY POPULAR Prof. Harold Hjarne in the Forum. It is admitted by all that King Oscar of Sweden and Norway has used to the ut- most of his capacities the opportunities which were offered him of obtaining an uncommonly high degree of intellectual and artistic culture. He is an accomplished orator. His strong, sonorous, musicaily trained voice sends every word he utters Fentrating into the farthest recesses of Spacious assembly halls and is also heard at @ great distance tn the open air. His speeches, several-volumes of which have been published, have been declaimed on the most varied occasions, from the throne to the representatives of ihe people, at great national and local sojemnities, in academies and other public societies, at royal or private banquets. They are dis- tinguished by a lofty diction, by many happy turns of phrase, profound thoughts, and solid insight into ihe subject he is treating of. He speaks both the Swedish and the Nor- Wegian Janguages equally fluently, a so much the more difficult feat as they are, Properly speaking, but two dialects of the Same tongue, exceedingly wont to be con- fused in conversation. He expresses him- self with almost the same facility in French, German, English and Italian, and is not devoid of scine notions of Stussian and Spanish. By wide travels from his youth upward— he was educated as a nava! officer—within and beyond the bounds of Europe he has trained his linguistie jents and acquired a discerning understanding of nistori- cal aiutiquities and th ‘equirements of modern life. His rcading embraces the literatures to a larg: extent of all the lan- guages that he steaks. Me is very well versed, too, m Latin classical literature. A Seandinavinn Patriot. Notwithstanding sil these cosmopolitan attainments he is at heart a true Scan- dinavian patriot in the fullest sense of the word. Tre Bernadotte Gynasty in its later generations has shown itself as com- pletely assimilated to the native senti- ments and customs as any other family of foreign orfgin sn Scandinavia. But the Position and sphere of twofvld royalty— raised as it is above the pcity rivalries of common life and the ineradicable memories of the past—direct, its sympa- thies to all the many th that bind the two nations together rather than to what is caleulated to disturi the muiual harmony. No great wonder, then, it ex- treme rationalists on either side are not always entirely satisfied with the attitude of the king on some critical questions, though he dees everything in his power to keep a fair balance even in outward ceremonials and the etiquette of official documents. king Oscar is a poet, too, though mest of his poems, including iyrical and Cra- matic, original pieces and translations, were written in the earlier years before his ac- cession to the throne. To a cycle of histor- ical romances and ballads, entitled “Epi- sodes from the: Annals of the Swedish Navy,” a prize was awarded by the Swedish Academy forty years ago, when he, fol- lowing the exampie of one of his prede- cessors, Gustavus HI, the founder of the King Oscar HU. academy, sent it in anonymously to that illustrious literary Areopagus. That he has not enrolled himself in the poetic guild on the western side of the peninsula also may be explatned by the fact that the re- vival of Norwegian literature is of recent date. The classical days of Swedish poetry felt at a time when the generation to which the king belongs was at the proper age for reeeiving their first enthusiastic in- spirations. The splendid utcrary glory of Norway on the contrary coincides with his maturer years and may be said to be one of the ornaments of his own reign. The Norwegian representative men of ge- nius are his own contemporaries, though most of them are younger than he, and he has not been tempted to enter into any emulation with them, chicfly, perhaps, be- cause his own poetical taste and s1 " originally trained in a different and it may be a more sedate and refined school. Interested tn Science. Of several branches of scientific and technical study he has acquired a very respectable knowledge. In inilitary, and particularily naval, matters the experts pronounce him to be a match for any one among his generals or admirals. He is well up in Swedish and universal history, and he has pubiished some essays and even editions of documents which bear wit- ness not only of the interest he takes in the past fortunes of his country, but also of the capacity he possesses for criginal research. Nobody therefore can say that he did not merit to the full the exceptional distinction which he shares with no other royal person in Sweden, living or dead— the distinction conferred upon him by .the University of Lund in promoting him, Duke of Kast-Goihia, as he was then, to the degree of doctor of philosophy at their sec- ond centenary in the year 1868. With able and intelligent interest he fol- lows the advances made by modern science and learning; Loth at home and abroad. He has shown munificent and noble hos- pitality to the international congresses that have been held from time to time in his capitals in the furtherance of knowledge. He proves a liberal and discerning pairon, out of his private purse, when pecuniary encouragement ts needed for recondite re- search or costly expeditions. “Prize funds at the home universities and for inter- national competition have been established by his endowments. Nordenskiold’s voy- age in the Vega, when he found the tong- sought-after northeastern arctic passage, was equipped to a large extent by the king. -At this moment he is supporting with considerable grants of money not snly the adventurous voyage of Nansen and-the daring balloon enterprise of M. Andree in search of the north pole, but also the travels of M. Hedin tn some of the remote and unexplored regions of cen- tral Asia. Europe’s Best Instructed Monarch. The Scandinavians then may justly take pride in claiming to possess the best-in- structed monarch in the Europe of today, @ man who, even if he had been born to a private station, would net presumably have failed to attract public attention and to achieve something remarkable in more pursuits of life than one. As it is, the King has seen the effect and impression of his personal gifts reinforced, to say the least of it, by uncon- strained ways of intercourse that, In com- parison with most other European coun- tries, prevail between separate classes of his peoples, The kingship iteelf is in our days, as of old, regarded as a truly national Many People Ridicule the Idea of an Absolute Cure for Dyspepsia and Stom- ach Troubles, RIDICULE, HOWEVER, I8 NOT ARGUMENT, AND FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS. Stomach troubles are so common and in many cases 80 obstinate to cure that people, a y iz to be Hical, permanewt cure for dyspepsia and indi dlany such n. pride themselves on thelr ‘a8 er being humbugged, expecially om medicines. This fear of being bumbugged may be carried too fat; so far, im fact, that many persons suffer for years with’ weak digestion rather than risk a Mttio ‘thime and mones: iu faitlitully testing” the o fo reliable and universally it s them to con- ferments, pare aseptic rids, Golden Seal, bismuth, They are not cathartic, neither on any organ, but they cure iMMen-SeDse plain of digesting ughiy be it bas time to ferment, sour and cause the mischief, ‘This is the only secret of thelr success. Cathartic Pills ever have and never can cure indizestion and stomach troubles because they act ‘hereas the whole trouble is, taken after That ix all there is to it. i Algest the food. not digested or an, acidity, hn palpitation fees of flesh’ and apoetite anh many. other trodes Which are often called by some other name. They are sold by meal Foo re conte Marshall, Mich, diseases, sent free. BUTTONS! ELEGANT BUTTON FREE WITH EACH PACKACE Sweet Caporal Cigarettes AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A COLLECTION OF BUTTONS WITHOUT CosT. institution that stands in no need of belag protected against vulgar depreciation by retiring and formal stiffness in its bear- ers. The subjects, now as always from the Saga ages downward, like to see the king moving among them as a man among men, forfeiting no whit the respect due to his person and office, only saving fit re- serve for rare state occasions where royal majesty ought to shine with some degree of pomp, especially in view of keeping up the dignity of the country in foreiga eyes. King Oscar has proved himscif equal to all reasonable requirements in both of the above-mentioned respects. In_receiv= ing visiling royalty with dignified cour- tesy and at great court festivals he is ac- knowledged to be a master adept at cere montous display, tempered with an artiszic sense of judicial delicacy. But in every- day life the fetters of court etiquette are loosened, and ahe relations of the king with the persons daily around him bear the character of friendly intercourse. A Democratic King. ‘The king’s audience rooms are open for several hours each week to men and women of all sorts and conditions, who are introduced into the royal presence merely after having entered their names in a book laid out for the purpose in the ante-cham- ber, without previous examination of their qualifications or business by any court functionaries. Besides these regular re- ceptions the king ts wont on many other occasions to converse privately with per- sons outside the official circi He spends @ considerable time every year traveling about by sea or by rail within his domin- ions. He is then accessible in an informal manner to large numbers of people. There is scarcely a town in the united kingdoms which he has not visited once or oftener and where he does not know the leading men by sight. It would be quite impossible for him t make an assumed incognito really effectiv and so to conceal his whereabouts, because his fine face and figure would be imme- diately recognized, since they have bees met with in almost every part of the twe countries. He is almosi daily to be seen waiking about in ordinary gentleman's at- tire in the public promenades or in the streets, alone or accompanied by but one or two attendants, There is no reason why he should let his free movements be embarrassed by amy futile "precautions. Attempts on the leaders ‘of the etate are, it may be confidently asserted, not likely to be heard of in the north. Like all public men in countries gov- erned mainly by the influence of public opinion, the king has met with the ordinary fluctuations of poputar acclamation and faction. But onal pope= cks to which government has of cour: subjected by the opposition pariies in the parliaments and the press. It has with- stood, toa, the injudicious, though well meant, attempts that certain somewhat of- ficious authorities have made now and ther to employ some obsolete statutes of the law against the insigainicant abuse that obscure and vulgar scribblers or stump orators may give vent to. in most caves such action has been nullified by the re- pective tribunals or juries, and no dim- inution of the royal prestige, as conceived in harmony with truly national ideas, has been felt to ensue upon such exercise of lenity based upon contempt. aise tia A Tax on Bachelors, From the Buenos Ayres Standard. ‘The province of Jabez Balfour, Saltu, is progressing, and will in future be a fing ground for the fine old sport of husband hunting. Here is the scale of taxes which that enlightened province proposes to im- pose on bachelors: 20 to 30 years old. $5 monthiy 30 to 35 years old. 20 monthly 33 to 50 years old... 20 monthly 50 to 75 years old. 30 mont 75 to 80 years old. 50 cents mor Widows and widowers, when they put “dear departed” under the sod, will be lowed three years to enjoy thelr freedom. hiy “ aes A Chil@’s Inquiaitt From Tit-Bits. At a fashionable wedding a little while ago, after the departure of the happy pair, a dear little girl, whose papa and tm were among the guests, asked, child's delightful inquisitiveness, they throw things at the pretty lady in the carriage?” “For luck,” replied one of the brid er why,” continued the child, “docen’ she throw them back?” “Oh,” said the young lady, be rude.” “No, it wouldn’ persisted the child, te the delight of her doting parents; “mgt does.” that would