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.
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