THE BANDIT CHIEF, A Tragedy of the Wild Days of the Past In Mexico. By WALTER MAILLARD. f Copyright. 1910, by American Press Asso ciation.! The government of Mexico is today very different from what it was when that state shared in the revolutions still common iu Central America. A time was when there was no sifcty for any one in that then turbulent country. That was when the bandits nourished. At this time lived Cortina, tlie great est bandit that Mexico has ever known. While factions were fighting for the presidency the country was in a state of chaos, and Cortina met 110 obstacle iu his wild career. JHe rode through Mexico like a cyclone, murdering ami pillaging by the way. What he did with the wealth he took was not gen erally known, lie certainly did not carry it about with him. He spent a great deal when in a position to use money, which was not often, but even this would uot account for the enor mous amounts he should have accumu lated. Some supposed that he had hiding places in the mountains and that even tually he would buy immunity of the government for his crimes, make some restitution and still have a vast treas ure left. I!ut Cortina never gave evi dence of having such treasure. There came a time when lie could have used wealth if he had had It to save his life. Either he did not attempt to use it thus or it was refused. The latter supposition is not to be entertained. There must have been some hidden reason why Cortina was permitted to plunder and why he did not grow rich. There have been many theories, but only one that 112 111 til Is the conditions. A certain man was aspirant for the presidency of Mexico, To perpetrate a Mexican revolution money is re- THE MAN WAS CORTINA. quired. This man, whose purpose it was to overthrow the existing gov ernment, had no means, it was sup posed that be had an agreement with Cortina by which the bandit was to furnisli the required sum. In other words, so the story goes, Cortina was to be permitted to pillage the country ou condition that the lion's share of the plunder be turned over to the pres idential aspirant for the purpose of attaining liia ambition. When the revolution was accom plished It was supposed that an effort would be made to capture Cortina and punish him for his crimes. Hut the government did not appear to be in any hurry to do so. Cortina still swept over the Mexican plateau, perpetrating his lawless deeds. There came a time, however, when the people began to murmur, and many unpleasant rea sons were given why the bandit was permitted to continue his devastations. Then at last a body of mounted sol diers went out to where he was oper ating, captured hlni and brought him to the capital. Everybody was surprised nt the ease with which the capture was accom plished. II had been supposed, ex cept by tho-e who pretended to know, that the robber chief would make a splendid fight. Instead he surrender ed ingloriously. The wise ones looked wiser still and whispered that since Cortina bad furnished the nioiigy which had established the existing government there would naturally be an understanding between him and that government. lie had permitted himself to be captured. Would he suffer the penalty of bis crimes? Those who knew most thought not. Nevertheless Cortina was tried, con victed and sentenced to death. The date of execution was reserved for the government to fix. Meanwhile the criminal was confined in prison at the capital. Several weeks after the sen tence the day had not been named. As many months elapsed, and Cortina was still living. Then came an order from the government to his jailers that he should be permitted togo out on parole each day. After that Cor tina went where he liked about the city 011 his promise to return to prison at evening. There have been criminals from time immemorial who have won the sympathy and admiration of men. This Is due to their touching some chord that responds to the human heart. From this point Cortina won th» ■ympathy of many—first, from a stand ard of honor which he set up for him self and, second, because his heart was given to a woman. His word was passed that he would return every evening to his Jail, and every evening he returned. Was this because be respected his promise or because bo knew the gov ernment could recapture him if he broke his parole and would then be likely to fix a date for his execution? It seems more likely that the govern ment, for reasons best known to it self. preferred that he should take himself away and relieve it of the necessity of his execution. There were doubtless secrets in their con nection with the bandit that they would not care to have him reveal and which may account for their leniency. Hut to some who knew nothing about this Cortina was considered (paradox ically) the soul of honor. Hut in the case,of the bandit's love there were no such reasons for with holding sympathy. There was no cause for his loving—nothing to gain. It was simply a product of nature that pertains alike to tlie good and the bad. After he had been permit ted togo about at his pleasure for more than a year there came to the capital a beautiful woman from the Caribbean coast. Cortina met this woman and, though he was a convict, a murderer and a robber, she permit ted him to become acquainted with her. From becoming acquainted the two became companions. They were frequently seen together in the streets, and Cortina visited her in her apart ments. People wondered when they met the strange couple If this were not a case of genuine love, under the Influence of which a fiend incarnate would be transformed into a lovable and loving man. Soldiers who were responsible for the man's keeping observed, but said nothing. They had their orders from the government and obeyed them. Indeed, all that pertained to this man to whom cities bad given up their gold and silver, before whom whole towns had disappeared, by whom the streets of both cities and towns had been made to run blood and who was now permitted togo where he liked upon his word of hon or—his every movement was observed, and yet no one openly made any com ment or criticism. Hut underneath I lie people marveled to see one who was ostensibly wait ing for the government to fix a day when the garrotte should end his ca reer forever, giving himself up to the pleasure of loving and being loved, without au effort to avert the final tragedy. Why did he uot steal away, which he might easilj have done with the woman he loved, and in some for eign land live a life of atonement for his crimes? But would she go with him? Would she share his exile, al ways In dread wherever they might make a home, that he should become known as the bandit Cortina? Of this no one knew. They could only wonder. And still the man under sentence and the Caribbean beauty appeared to gether on the thoroughfares, anil through her open windows came their voices, sometimes mingled with laugh ter or the strains from her guitar. One night Cortina's jailers met with a surprise. The sunset and the pris oner had not returned. Perhaps ho had been belated. The twilight faded, and yet nothing was seen of the pris oner. At dark he was still absent, and the guard was turned out. Whether it was cabed out under a pretense or whether the orders were that they should make an effort to find the pris oner and return him to jail doesn't matter. Tills man of so much unrecog nized importance to the government was missing, and it behooved the au thorities to show zeal in looking for him. The guard was about to slim from the prison yard when a man staggered up to the {fate, threw up Ills hands and fell upon his face. I.ifting him up, they threw back his jacket, and there up against Ills breast was the hilt of a stiletto. The man was Cortina. "Yes, I am late,"he said feebly, "but I came. Lore lured me to death. I had been with her all the afternoon. Then when it was time for me to return here she begged me to stay longer with her. When I came away the night had fallen. We walked to gether to the door. I kissed her good by. it was dark. 1 felt the point of a luiife as it slipped into my vitals. 1 drew the pistol you have permitted me to carry, but she had vanished in the shadow." Cortina gasped, and his head fell upon his breast. lie was dead. The beautiful Caribbean was not again seen in the capital. The next day the story of Cortlna's death was told among the people, but no one ven tured upon m explanation. Some sup posed that tV woman who killed him was one on whom he had Inflicted misfortune during the period of his crimes. Perhaps he might have mur dered some one dear to her—might have robbed her of u fortune. Others who were nearer the truth kept their suppositions to themselves. The sti letto was a convenient method at_the time for silencing people who talked too much. But gradually Cortina, his singular treatment by the government, the manner of his taking off, ceased to be the wonder of the day, giving place to new sensations. Rome years after, when a new president came into pow er, many acts of wickedness of his predecessor came to light. It then be came known that the government dared not openly execute Cortina be cause of ills threats and those of his former companions in crime to reveal the government's complicity in their robberies. The beautiful Caribbeau had been paid a large sum to become his executioner. Ancient Ropes. Ropes made of various kinds of fiber and leather are of very ancient date. Ropes of palm have been found in Egypt in the tombs of Beui-Hassan (about 3000 B. C.). and on the walls of these tombs is also shown 1 lie process of preparing hemp. In a tomb at Thebes of the time of Thothmes 111. (about 1000 B. C.) Is a group repre senting the process of twisting thongs of leather und the method of cutting leather iuto thongs. Between Doctor*. "Doctor, I want to engage you to look after my practice while I'm on vacation." "But I'm just out of college, doctor, and have had little experience." "That's all right, my boy. My prac tice, while large, includes very few people who are actually Hl."—Houston Post. Profit In Three Cent Bread. .Tncob Ships!.; , capitalist philanthro pist, will erect a $200,000 bakery in North St. and will sell bread at 3 cents a loaf. There will be a profit of l\-j cents on each loaf, lie snys. A STRfiNGE_CONTEST, How a Mother Prevented Her Son From Being Killed In a Duel. By LEONARD MULLOY. [Copyright, 1010, by American Press Asso elation.i Iu Louisiana about the middle of the last century there lived ou a planta tion left her by her husband a Mrs. Stewart with one son. She had been married at sixteen, and at thirty-six, when this boy, Fit?. Hugh Stewart, was nineteen years old, she was a very young looking and still handsome woman. Indeed, the boy appeared more like her younger brother than her son. The two were devoted to each other. One day there appeared In the parish where the Stewarts lived I'lnktou Forshay, a man about forty years old who gave out that he was intending to settle there for the purpose of prac ticing law. Forshay was a typical southerner of antebellum days—long hair, sombjpro, tight trousers and a flowing skirt to his coat. He purport ed to have sprung from one of the oldest and best families of South Car olina and was quite free in small ex penditures. such as wines, liquors, ci gars, etc. Nevertheless he had little or no means, and It was his object to acquire a foothold In tlijf community by making a profitable nufrriage. Forshay and Fltz Hugh Stewart met at the house of a planter, and Fltz Hugh Invited him to visit at the Stewart home. Forshay called and at ouce determined to make every ef fort to marry the widow. Expecting that tlie son would oppose his moth er marrying a second time, he was very adroit about his courtship, con cealing his intention from Fltz Hugh. % ' FOHSHAY liP.roONT7.EI) llKit. He proposed to Mrs. Stewart and was rejected. lie proposed again aud again received a refusal. Determined to force his way Into the Stewart fain lly and an interest in their possessions, he persisted In his proposals till he was at last treated by the widow with the severity he merited. Mrs. Stewart, fearing to make trou ble between her son and tier suitor, kept the matter of his proposals to herself. Young Stewart noticed that Forshay c-auie no more to the house, but thought little of his remaining away. Mrs. Stewart seldom joined in the social affairs in vogue among her neighbors, but her son did and was constantly meeting Forshay. But Fitz Hugh noticed that Fors hay's manner toward him had changed. What had been an effusive friendliness had be come a marked antagonism. One evening at a social gathering of men Stewart made a remark which brought a sneer from Forshay. This was followed up by other overt acts plain to every one present. Stewart, fancying that his mother might have Something to do with this treatment and dreading to have her name dis cussed, bore all patiently till Forshay made a remark to him that was posi tively instilling, when ho replied in kind. Forshay slapped his face. The boy did not proceed further with the matter at the time, but when he went home apprised his mother of what had occurred. This was at a time when the code duello was In vogue lu Louisiana. Mrs. Stewart saw that a great misfortune had befallen herself and her son. If Fitz llujjli did not challenge Forshay he would be cut by all his acquaint ances. If ho did challenge him For shay would doubtless kill him. In fact, the widow saw ia this treatment of her son a spirit of revenge that was directed toward herself. She lay awake all night thinking over the mat ter and in the morning told Fitz Hugh that lie must challenge Forshay. A friend of the Stewart family, Wal ter Laugstaff, was called In and re quested to act as Fitz Hugh's second. He gave the information that Forshay had fought several duels and was a dead shot. Mrs. Stewart did not wince at this. tu: >, >itainlng her position that her son uuui send the challenge. Be fore Langstaff wenl with II to For shay the mother instructed him as to the terms he should insist upon. The meeting must take place in some se cluded spot, only a second for each principal and a surgeon should be present and Fitz Hugh Stewart should be permitted to tight masked. If Langstaff were to be required to give a reason for this singular provi sion he should say that Stewart was heir to property which he would for feit If it could be proved that ho had fought a duel. And the reason for this singular bequest was that the testator, Fitz Hugh's aunt, had lost her hus band on the field of honor. Whether this were a trumped up reason or not never came out. Langstaff bore the challenge and, re turning, reported that Forshay only objected to his antagonist fighting riTasked. Langstaff had told him that if lie did not consent to this lie would call the affair off and make public the reason. Upon this Forshay gave way, and, having the right as the dial ienged party to elioose the weapons, he chose pistols. Langstaff was hent back to say that the distance must he five paces. Forshay, thinking this was a bluff, consented. He ex pected after this to receive an apology. If this were so he was to be disap pointed. Fitz Hugh was not a party to these details, they having been attended to by Langstaff under instructions from Mrs. Stewart. The youngster had got an inkling as to the real cause under lying the affair, and his southern blood was hot for the meeting. Ills mother remained tranquil, neither at tempting to encourage nor quiet him. The night before the duel was to come off Mrs. Forshay after her son was in bed went into his room to bid him goodby. "Why, mother," he said, "won't you be up when 1 leave in the morning?" "Yes, dear boy; I'll be up before you, but I prefer to say goodby to you In case we are separated by this villain now. But first I wish you to take something to give you a cood night's sleep. All depends on a steady nerve, and since you were a little boy loss of sleep has made you nervous the following day." After much persuasion Fitz Hugh took the dose she offered him. She held him a long while in her arms, then, giving him the farewell kiss, left him. At 3 o'clock in the morning Mrs. Stewart arose, went into her son's room and put oil the clothes he had laid out to wear in the duel—all black. Then she kissed him—she did not fear to awaken him. for she had given liitn an opiate—and wont to the door to meet Langs'aff, who was riding up to the house. Entering the carriage, she was driven to the field where Forshay and his second, with a surgeon, stood waiting. Instead of a mask Mrs. Stewart wore a blue veil, covering her face to the chin and tied behind, so as to conceal her long hair. Langstaff, who was desirous to save one whom he sup posed to be his young friend. Fitz Hugh, approached Forshay's second with a proposition for settlement that would clear all parties from any stig ma. Forshay declined to accept It. "Very well," said Langstaff; "If you are determined to kill this boy I prom ise you that you will have togo back to the state you came from, for you will not be welcome here." When Forshay was convinced that the five paces which were to separate the combatants was not a bluff he made a protest through his second, in sisting tiiat fighting at such a distance was murder or suicide. Langstaff re ported the matter to ids principal, who said firmly that they would fight at five paces or not at all. Forshay re luctantly consented—lndeed, he must either consent or be branded as a coward. This close range was Intend ed by Mrs. Stewart to prevent the meeting If that were possible, but if Forshay was not thus \o lie driven off the field she had no idea of the con test being given up and had another motive in being close to her antago nist. The two seconds stood together on one side and equidistant from the prin cipals, Langstaff holding n handker chief. He raised It and held It sus pended for a few seconds prior to fir ing the signal by dropping it. During this brief Interval Mrs. Stewart raised her left hand and lifted her veil, ex posing her face on that side which was farthest from the seconds. For staay recognized her and changed col or. Refore he could determine what action if any to take the handkerchief floated down from Langstaff's hand. Forshay sprang up on tils toes and fell dead with a bullet In his heart Mrs. Stewart walked with a Arm step to her carriage and was driven toward her home, Walter Langstaff beside her. For a few minutes she lay back In the corner of the carriage, then, turning her face toward Lang- staff. raised her veil. "Great heavens!" There was silence between the two for a time: then LnngstafT asked: "Why did you do this?" "It was the only way to save my boy." "But was it necessary to kill your enemy?" "Yes; after my expedient of insisting on close range failed I must kill him " "Why?" "If I had not the affair would have gone oil till one of the two had killed the other, and my son would hav been the one to die. As it is he will consider himself demeaned that his mother should have done the work which should have fallen to him." was silent for a moment, then said sadly: "If I had known that you were to fight this battle 1 should have insisted on taking it upon myself." When Fltz llugh Stewart awoke the sun stood high, llis mother approach ed his bed. He started up. "Lie down, my boy; it's all over." And she told him what she had done. To this day no one in that section knows that it was a woman instead of a boy that gave Forshay his death wound. I got the story from that boy when he was a man of sixty. Encouraging. A Philadelphia clergyman tells of an incident in connection with ills first visit to a town in I'ennsylvauia, where he expected to be called as pas tor. While tramping along a dusty road ho was so fortunate as to encounter a man In a wagon who gave him a lift. During the conversation that ensued between the two the divine chanced to ask: "Do the folks hereabout enjoy reli gion?" "I don't know exactly," replied hia companion, "but I s'pose that them that has It enjoys It" ( Her Qualification. Father—Now, look here, you girls— when you grow up one of you must be able to speak French and the other German. Breuda—All right, dad, and Muriel had better learn German, be cause she can gargle best.—Punch. Great Dutch Exposition. Plans are under consideration for the holding of a groat International exhi bition at The Hague In 1913 In celebra tion of the opening of the Pafscs of Peace. OOOOOOOOwUjJOOOOOOf 1 The New ° 1 Hal! of § § Heroes § o o 0000000000000000000 'T'IIE completion $: A recently of the jiijP'WSnational head- W iu a r te r H of the Daughters of the f*} American Itevolu v'jf (i on j n Washington f|R' - " has aroused nation V* ' wide interest in the Jm beautiful structure, <£*"' ! which lias been (he paramount Issue of 112 the society since its inception in Octo- Mits. M'LEAN. BER LGGO THE BUI | D . ing is a temple of white Vermont mar ble of the Corinthian style, adapted to modern usages, and stands on Seven teenth street between C and D streets, opposite the presidential park, it is tLie costliest and most impressive mon ument of its kind ever built by wom en in this or any other country. From ils artistic standpoint it is one of the finest structures in America and is destined to become one of the most useful. It typifies in the loftiest form what its projectors intended it should— a perpetual memorial to the heroic dead who made the nation—and it was paid for by the women who are their lineal descendants. In this hall of heroes the history and achievements of the society is written in marble and made imperishable in tablets and figures of bronze. The iu terior of Continental hall, as the build tag is called, shows that the arrange ment has been the subject of loving solicitude and unremitting thought on the part of those charged with this arduous duty. Viewed in Its complete ness it must be regarded as a model of graceful colonial elegance united with symmetry and practical use. Filtering from Seventeenth street, the visitor will find a spacious corridor in marble and stucco 23 by 24 feet. This corri dor leads into the various apartments given over to the national officers and to the auditorium by a series of hand somely carved doors. in the large entrance hall one gets some idea of the great interest taken in the society's work by the costly statues of heroes placed in the orna mental niches and over each door, the gifts of chapters, states and individu als. These busts have been selected as follows: The state of Washington, the bust of General Washington; the John Hancock chapter of Massachu setts, Hancock; Mrs. J. E. McWil llams, Nathan Hale; the John Adams chapter of Massachusetts, John Ad ams; state of Georgia, George Ogle thorpe; Kentucky, Isaac Shelby; New Hampshire, John Stark; New York City chapter. General Clinton, and Vermont, Ethan Allen. Kansas lias also secured a site for a bust. The handsome corridor is a gift of Pennsylvania, for which the state FRONT VIEW OF CONTINENTAL FIAI.t. paid Jii.jtX). On the rl^lit of the main door into the auditorium Is a hand some fountain presented by the Army and Xavy chapter of the District of Columbia at the cost of .fl.fUMj. oppo site on the left wall Is the line bronze bas-relief by David d'Augers present ing the heroes of the Revolution. It is the gift of Mine, Le Ferine, daughter of the sculptor, and is one of the most interesting objects In the hall. In the auditorium, which has a seat ing capacity of about 2.000. there is a spacious stage, and the acoustic prop erties are almost perfect. The boxes alongside the stage are to be magnifi cently furnished by the John Marshall chapter of Kentucky and the Timothy Biujelow chapter of Massachusetts. Not only is this hall ol value as the setting of the I'oi.-t inental congresses, I>u tit has I'ecu utiliye.l for scientific gatherings ami loi lectures. One of the uui<iiH* parts of the hall is the New Jersey room. The wood work alone cost $ 1 and is uiade from the sunken British ship Augusta, which went down off the Jersey coast during the dark days of the Revolu tion. Other rooms on the second Moor, in ad<l4'ion to those already mentioned, have~ueen decorated and furnished by the following states: Alabama, Texas, New York, Michigan and California. On the third Boor are the spacious banquet hall and various small rooms adapted for prandial purposes. Oue of these was furnished by Virgluia. Throughout the structure are to be seen handsome and costly gifts from chapters and Individuals. For the completion of this magnifi cent hall of heroes much credit goes to Mrs. Donald McLean, the society's sixth president general, who may be said to have crystallized and central ized the plans which have made the memorial hall possible of erection in so short a time. Richmond Got* "Battle Abbey." A site in the park in the west end of Richmond, Va.. has been chosen as Ole place for the erection of the hand some building to hold the memorials of the Confederacy, which Is to be known as "Battle abbey." It will have on file every relic of Importance to the cause of the south in the civil war. It takes a sthrong man to be moan. Whin I give a tip 'tis not because I want to, but because I'm afraifl of what the waiter 'll think.—Mr. Dooley. IMB OF THE KISS A Message That No Woman Could Resist. By F. A. MITCHEL. {Copyright, 1910, by American Press Asso ciation.] Prince Ferdinand of Bavaria, having traveled from Munich by post to the Prussian capital, was received at the palace of the kins as befitted his rank and shown to his apartments. There the prince, having thrown off his trav eling clothes and put on evening dress, left his rooms, walked through the cor ridor and was descending the main staircase when he met coming up a lady so plainly dressed that he sup posed her to be some one not of royal blood on duty at the palace. But the girl was ravishingly beauti ful. Iler complexion was a mingling of white and red roses, her brows two delicately penciled arcs under which were eyes blue as heaven's vault, her hair a wreath of finest yellow silk tinged with old gold, her caiueo cut lips vermilion. The prince looked at her enraptured. Under his admiring gaze she lowered her eyes. Following an impulse he could not resist, he bent forward as he passed her and imprinted a kiss on her damask cheek. lie had no sooner committed the act thau he was startled at bis own rash ness. A quick movement in the cor ridor above admonished him that some one had witnessed the kiss. The lady without a word passed 011 up the stair case. The prince went on down and entered a room where members of the royal family were waiting for him. An hour later dinner was aunounced. When the royal party were assembled Prince Ferdinand saw at the other end of the apartment the lady he had met on the staircase and had kissed. She was a princess of the blood. If she was beautiful in ordinary ap parel her beauty was a hundred times enhanced by the court costume In which she was now robed. Prince Ferdinand knew that his act had been witnessed. lie was sure that ho would be called to account, but as to ho*" or by whom the blow would bo dealt he was entirely ignorant. He was ready to meet it At the dinner a rigid court cere monial was observed. The conversa- FIBEDTOWAIID THr HEAVENS, THEN SANK DOWN ON THK OllOUNl). tlon was dull, and there was little of It. The prince's eyes when he was not observed were fastened on the woman he had kissed. Once, and once only, during the dinner she turned her eyes upon him, kept them upon him for a few moments, then turned them away, in them he sought for smue expression of feeling, whether of reproach, for giveness, contempt, irritation. There was nothing but two beautiful eyes without emotion. After the dinner Prince Ferdinand was received by the king and queen and obliged to speak a few meaning less words in their august ears. Then he strolled away. In a card room he saw a young man covered with deco rations, some of them worn only by royalty, banging over the woman he had kissed. Ills face was pale, and his lips were set firmly, as if repress ing some strong emotion. But neither he nor the princess looked at Prince Ferdinand. As Ferdinand was about togo up to his suit of apartments an officer in the uniform of the royal household guard stepped up to him, bowed cere moniously and asked if his serene transparency would accord him a few minutes' interview. Ferdinand know that the blow was about to fall. He graciously granted the request and asked if the officer would visit him in his apartments. The officer assented and followed him. In Ferdinand's reception room, after many ceremonial observances, the of ficer said: "I am the bearer of a message from his royal highness the Crown Priuce Adolph of Mekleu-Swinitz, asking satisfaction for the insult offered by you to the Princess Maria, the grand duke's betrothed. From the nature of that insult It will of course appear to your serene transparency that no apology can bo accepted." Priuce Ferdinand replied to the mes sage as became a prince of the blood and referred the officer to the Duke of Zwlugen, whom Ferdinand hud euler talned at Munich. The two seconds arranged a meeting for tho next morn ing at sunrise in a wood in rear of the palace where the dishonor consequent upon the kiss could be washed away in blood. There Prince Ferdinand and the crown prince met the next morn ing, and as soon as the former set eyes on the latter he recognized the man he had seen tho evening before hanging over the Princess Maria, He had been waiting for bis be trothed as she mounted tho staircase and had seen tho kiss, in those days tho rapier was the usu al weapon in such affairs, but Prince Ferdinand chose pistols. They were clumsy affairs, ar-1 the crov.-n f-t-v * 1 scowled when lie heard of his npf nent's choice. The principals were posted and the signal given. A single shot was heard, that it the crown i prince. Ferdinand slowly raised hi? arm and fired toward the heavens. 1 hen sank down on the ground. Moved by Prince Ferdliand's refusal! to defend himself, his opponent went) to him and with the others bent over| him sympathetically. "Will your royal highness bo the bearer of my apologies to the Princess Maria and tell her that I regard tlie price paid for what I received a mere bagatelle." Prince Ferdinand lay at the point ot death for a time, then slowly recov ered. When able to travel he was tak en back to Munich, where bo eventu ally regained his lost strength. There were at that time strained con ditions among the Gorman states. I!a --varia and several other principalities In the eastern portion of Germany were chafing under certain breaches of treaty by the king of Prussia, who headed a coalition <>f the more western sovereigns, among whom was the Grand I Hike of Meklin-S wlnltss. The king of Bavaria, incensed at what he conceived In the serious wounding of Prince Ferdinand by the crown prince of Meklin-Swinitz to be tin insult offer ed to a guest, broke off negotiations that were pending and declared war against the ,'rand duke. This involved all the powers concerned in the exist ing status and precipitated a general conflict. Prince Ferdinand took a prominent part in the conflict, in which the east ern principalities in time conquered a peace. When the capital of tha grand duchv of Meklin-Swinitz lay at the mercy > 112 the opposition allies the sovereign sent his most niat to discover 011 what terms they would evacuate his territory. The am- bassador found himself compelled to treat with the king of I'avaria. "Go and tell your master." said the king sternly, "that the only terms on which his territory will bo evacuated are that he will support our applica tion to the king of Prussia for the hand of the Princess Maria. If he re fuses by tomorrow evening X will bom bard his palace." The grand duke of Meklln-Swluitz was only too glad to save his dukedom on such terms and informed the king Of Prussia that the engagement be tween his son and the princess must be broken off. The crown prince, who had been so important a part in the cause of the war at this stage, was not even consulted. Nevertheless he was bitterly moved at having to give up a woman he loved. It was expected by those who knew best that the announcement that a treaty of peace had been signed would be simultaneous with an announce ment of a betrothal between Prince Ferdinand and the Princess Maria. Such was not the case. There could be no objection on the part of the king of Prussia to transfer his niece frofn one prince to another. Hut no formal application was made. The armies were withdrawn, and the sov ereigns retired to their different king doms, dukedoms and principalities to enjoy themselves each in his own fashion, while his chancellor of the ex chequer raised money to pay off the debt Incurred during the war. The kins: of Prussia waited, expect ing every day t<> receive a formal ap plication from tlie kins of Bavaria for the hand of his niece on behalf of Prince Ferdinand. Not that the kins of Prussia cared especially whom the princess married, provided the alliance was with a royal house, but after the demand of the king of Bavaria that the grand duke of Mekliu-Swinltz should support him in an application of her hand for Prince Ferdinand a failure to make such a demand was to be regarded as an insult. As the king of Prussia was about I to organize a cabal of states to aid him in resenting the iusult an ambas sador arrived at the Prussian court bearing a letter from the king of Ba varia asking If a visit from Prince Ferdinand would be agreeable. A fa vorable answer was returned, and in due time Prince Ferdinand appeared. It was of course t ■ In- supposed that he had come to make tiie application In person, and nil ih-uigbt of another war was abandoned. And so it was that Prince Ferdinand a second time alighted before the roy at palace and v is formally received and shown to hi.-' apart meats. The Prim ess V ria from a window saw him enter Taking position on the floor below t'u> prince's suit, she waited till she 11 ard him leave his room, then walked slowly up the main staircase. They met midway, the princess blushing scarlet. She turned her eyes upon him; he bent forward and touch ed her cheek with his lips. Hut this time he did more—he encircled her with his arms, and her head sank up on his breast. "Did Adolph deliver my message?" he asked. '"lie diil. No woman could resist It." The marriage between Prince Ferdi nand and the Princess Maria was understood all over Europe to be a love match. sum HEW! A RellaHoi® TO SHOP r Tor all kind of Tin RooflnSi Spoutlnc nnd Gonoral Job Work. Btoyos, Hoatoro, Rangoo, Fumaooo. oto- PRICES TBB LOWEST! PUT! TBB BEST* JOHN HIXSO V no. IW E. FSONT ax.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers