Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, February 18, 1910, Image 1

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^^^I^^^KMI-WKKKI^ * ~ ^ x. it. grists sons, Pibiiiheri. | % Jfamilg $tmmtt: Jfor th< promotion of <M jgoliUiial, Social, ^griinltapl and (Sammential Jnttrtsls of th< f togt?. { ?ofiJZii'nnci "'* ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, 8. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1910. ' NO. 14. Truxton f King / Copyright, 1909. by George /1 Barr McCutcheon 11 Copyright. 1909, by Dodd, 1/ Need <& Company it D Truxton . King, a millionaire's son, sets out In search of adventure. Where better could he look for stirring events than faroff Graustark. where the age of chivalry yet survives in all Its romantic opportunity; where rules Prince Robin, the most precocious boy monarch In the realm of Action; where the reds of Europe plot his murder in mysterious underground retreats; where gallant Truxton King and brave "Uncle Jack" Aght valiantly for the preservation of the prince and the love of beautiful princesses; where American pluck and manhood are pitted against foreign Intriguers, and where honesty and courage are mightier than the sword? Read of Prince Robin, son of ? ? * ?MwlMMAflal A1 -?<> DIoiOn_ ail Allicriuttii puuixoo, vi v/iga x laiauova, the girl with the dread mission; of Marlanx, the Iron Count; of John Tullis, the American bulwark of a foreign throne; of lovely Loralne and of daredevil Truxton Kin*, and then you will understand why an American lad is Prince of Graustark and an American author prince of story tellers. CHAPTER L Truxton King. He was a tall, rawboned, rangy young fellow with a face so tanned by wind and sun you had the impression that his skin would feel like leather if you could affect the impertinence to test It by the sense of touch. His clothes fitted him loosely and yet were graciously devoid of the bagginess which characterizes the appearance of extremely young men whose frames are not fully set and whose joints are still parading through the last stages of college development. This tall young man In the panama hat and gray flannels was Truxton King, embryo globe trotter and search er after the treasures or romance. .Somewhere up near Central park, in one of the fashionable cross streets, was the home of his father and his lather's father before him?a home which Truxton had not seen in two .years or more. It is worthy of passing notice, and that- is all, that his father was a manufacturer; more than ( that, he was something of a power in the financial world. Hits mother was sot strictly a social queen in the great metropolis, but she was what we might safely call one of the first "ladles In waiting," which is quite good enough lor the wife of a manufacturer, especially when one records that her husband was a manufacturer of steel. It 3s also a matter of no little consequence that Truxton's mother was more or Jess averse to the steel business as a heritage for her son. Be it understood here and now that she intended Truxton for the diplomatic service. But neither Truxton's father, who wanted him to be a manufacturing Croesus, nor Truxton's mother, who . expected him to become a social Solomon, appears to have taken the young man's private inclination Into consideration. Young Mr. King believed in romance. he arrew ud with an ever increasing bump of imagination, contiguous to which, strange to relate, there was a properly developed bump of industry and application; hence it is not sur**1*1,1, OTVX TOU A HUNDRED DOLLARS FOB IT." prising that he was willing to go far afield in search of the things that seemed more or less worth while to a young gentleman who had suffered the ill fortune to be born in the nineteenth century instead of the seventeenth. We come upon him at last?luckily for us we were not actually following him?after two years of wonderful but i-othor Hiaiiiiiairtninsr adventure in mid Asia and all Africa. He had seen the Kongo and the Euphrates, the Ganges and the Nile, the Yangsekiang and the Yenisei; he had climbed mountains in Abyssinia, in Slam, in Tibet and Afghanistan; he shot big game in more than one jungle and nad been shot at by small brown men in more than one forest, to say nothing of the little encounters he had had In most unoccidental towns and cities. For twenty days he had traveled by caravan across the Persian uplands, through Herat and Meshhed and Bokhara, striking off with his guide alone toward the sea of Aral and the eastern shores of the Caspian, thence through the Ural foothills to the old Roman highway that led down into the sweet green valleys of a land he had thought of as nothing more than the creation of a harebrained flctionist. Somewhere out in the shimmering east he had learned, to his honest amazement, that there was such a land as Graustark. At first he would not believe, but the English bank in Meshhed assured him that he would come to it if he traveled long enough and far enough Into the north and west and if he were not afraid of the hardships that most men abhor. The dying spirit of romance flamed up In his heart. A S*tory of GraxistarK. By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEOM 44> Q I His blood grew quick again and eager. He would not go home until he had sought out thlB land of fair women and sweet tradition. And so he traversed the wild and dangerous Tartar roads for days and days, like the knights of Scheherazade in the times of old, and came at last to the gates of Edelweiss. Not until he sat down to a rare dinner in the historic Hotel Regengetz was he able to realize that he was truly in that fabled, mythical land of Graustark, a quaint, grim little principality in the most secret pocket of the earth's great mantle. This was the land of his dreams, the land of his fancy. He had not even dared to hope that it actually existed. And now it becomes my deplorable duty to divulge the fact that Truxton vino. o#?o. full rlnvn nnd nlsrhts In the city Edelweiss, was quite ready to pass on to other fields, completely disillusioned in his own mind and not a little disgusted with himself for having gone to the trouble to visit the place. Where were the beautiful women he had read about and dreamed of ever since he left Teheran? On his soul, he had not seen half a dozen women in Edelweiss who were more than passably fair to look upon. True, he had to admit, the people he had seen were of the lower and middle classes?the shopkeepers and the shop-girls, the hucksters and the fruit venders. What he wanted to know was this: What , had become of the royalty and the nobility of Graustark? Where were the princes, the dukes and the barons, to say nothing of the feminine concomitants to these excellent gentlemen? One dingy little shop in the square interested him. It was directly opposite the Royal cafe, with American bar attached, and the contents of its grimy little windows presented a peculiarly fascinating interest to him. They were packed with weapons and firearms of ancient design. Once he ventured inside the little shop. Finding no attendant, he put aside his suddenly formed impulse to purchase a mighty broadsword. On several occasions he had seen a grim, sharp featured old man in the doorway of the shop, but it was not until after he had missed the Thursday train that he made up his mind to accost him and to have the broadsword at any price. With this object in view, he inserted his tall frame into the narrow doorway, calling out lustily for attention. "What Is it?" demanded a snarp, angry voice at his elbow. He found himself looking into the wizened, parchment-llke face of the little old man. "That broad? Say, you speak English, don't you?" "Certainly," snapped the old man. "Why shouldn't I? I can't afford an Interpreter. You'll find plenty of English used here in Edelweiss since the Americans and British came. They won't learn our language, so we must learn theirs." "What's the price of that old sword , you have in the window?" "Three hundred gavvos." "What's that in dollars?" "Four hundred and twenty. It is genuine, sir, and 300 years old. Old Prince Boris carried it. It's most rare." "I'll give you a hundred dollars for it, Mr.?er"?he looked at the sign on the open door?"Mr. Spantz." "I don't want your money. Good day." Truxton King felt his chin in perplexity. "It's too much. I can't afford it," he said, disappointment in his eyes. "I have modern blades of my own make, sir, much cheaper and quite as good," ventured the excellent Mr. Spantz. "You make 'em?" in surprise. The old man straightened his bent figure with sudden pride. "I am armorer to the crown, sir. My blades are used by the nobility?not by the army, I am happy to say." "I say, Herr Spantz, or monsieur, I'd like to have a good long chat with you. What do you say to a mug of that excellent beer over In the cafe garden? Business seems to be a little dull. Can't you?er?lock up?" Spantz looked at him keenly. "May I ask what brings you to Edelweiss?" he asked abruptly. "I don't mind telling you, Mr. Spantz, that I'm here because I'm somewhat of a fool. False hopes led me astray. I came here looking for romance?for adventure." "I see," cackled Spantz, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "You thought you could capture wild and beautiful princess here just as you pleased, eh? Let me tell you, young man, only one American?only one foreigner, in fact?has accomplished that miracle. Mr. Lorry came here ten years ago and won the fairest flower Graustark ever produced?the beautiful Yetive? but he was the only one." "No. I'm not looking for princesses. I've seen hundreds of 'em in all parts of the world." "You should see Prince Robin," went on the armorer. "I've heard of nothing but him, my good Mr. Spantz. He's seven years old, and he looks like his mother, and he's got a jeweled sword and all that sort of thing. I daresay he's a nice little chap. Got American blood in him, you see." The old man retired to the rear of ine snop anu tauru uui w ovmv v*.v upstairs. A woman's voice answered. "My niece will keep shop, sir, while I am out," Spantz explained. They paused near the door until the old man's niece appeared at the back of the shop. King's glance became more or less in the nature of a stare of amazement. A young woman of the most astounding beauty, attired in the black and red of the Oraustark middle classes, was slowly approaching from the shadowy recesses at the end of the shop. His heart enjoyed a lively thump. Truxton King, you may be sure, did not precede the old man Into the street. He deliberately removed his hat and waited most politely for age to go before youth, in the meantime blandly gazing upon the face of this amazing niece. Across the square, at one of the tables, the old man, over his huge mug of beer, became properly grateful. He was willing to repay King for his little attention by giving him a careful history of Graustark, past, present and future. The old man was rambling on. "The young prince has lived most of his life in Washington and London and Paris, sir. He's only seven, sir. Of course you remember the dreadful accident that made him an orphan and put him on the throne with the three 'wise men of the east' as regents or governors?the train wreck near Brussels, sir. His mother, the glorious Princess Yetive, was killed and his father, Mr. Lorry, died the next day from his injuries. That, sir, was a most appalling blow to the people of Graustark. There never will be another pair like them, sir. God alone preserved the little prince. The collision was from the rear, a broken rail throwing a locomotive into the princess' coach. This providential escape of the young prince preserved the unbroken line of the present royal family." "I say, Mr. Spantz, I don't believe I've told you that your niece is a most remarkably beau"? "As I was saying, sir," Interrupted Spantz so pointedly that Truxton flushed, "the little prince is the idol of all the people. Under the present regency he is obliged to reside in the principality until his fifteenth year, after which he may be permitted to travel abroad." Spantz was eying him narrowly. "Ycu do not appear interested in our royal family," he ventured coldly. Truxton hastened to assure him that he was keenly interested. "Especially so now that T appreciate that the little prince is the last of his race." "There are three regents, sir, in charge of the afTalrs of state?Count Halfont, the Duke of Perse and Baron Jasto Dangloss, who is minister of po A SLT, MFUL8IVB SMILB FLA TAD ABOUT HIB BKD LIPS Hce. Count Halfont Is a granduncle of the prince by marriage. The Duke of Perse is the father of the unhappy Countess Ingomede, the young and beautiful wife of the exiled Iron Count Marianx. No doubt you're heard of him." "I remember that he was banished from the principality." "Quite true, sir. He was banished in 1901 and now resides on his estates in Austria. Three years ago in Budapest he was married to Ingomede, the daughter of the duke. Count Marianx has great influence at the Austrian court. The Duke of Perse realized this when he compelled his daughter to accept him as her husband. The fair Ingomede is less than twenty-five years of age. The Iroa Count is fully sixty-five." "I'd like to see if she's really beautiful. I've seen but one pretty woman in this whole blamed town, your niece, Herr Spantz. I've looked 'em over pretty carefully too. She is exceedingly attract"? "You will not find the beautiful women of Edelweiss in the streets, 3ir," snapped Spantz. "Don't they ever go out shopping?" "Hardly. The merchants, if you will but notice, carry their wares to the houses of the noble and the rich. But tomorrow the garrison at the fortress marches in review before the prince. If you should happen to be on the ave nue near the castle gate at 12 o ciock you will see the beauty and chivalry of Graustark. The soldiers are not the only ones who are on parade." There was an unmistakable sneer in his tone. "You don't care much for society, I'd say," observed Truxton, with a smile. Spantz's eyes flamed for an instant and then subtly resumed their most ingratiating twinkle. "We cannot all be peacocks," he said quietly. "You will also see that the man who rides beside the prince'3 carriage wheel is an American, while Graustark nobles take less exalted places." "An American, eh?" "Yes. Have you not heard of John Tullis, the prince's friend? He, your countryman, is the real power behind our throne. On his deathbed the princes' father placed his son in this American's charge and begged him to stand by him through thick and thin until the lad is able to take care of himself. As if there were not loyal men in Graustark who might have rinno as mnrh for their Drince!" King looked interested. "I see. The people, no doubt,, resent this espionage. Is that it?" Sprantz gave him a withering look, as much as to say that he was a fool to ask such a question in a place so public. Without replying, he got to his feet. "I must return. I have been awaj too long." The American sank back In his chair Suddenly he became conscious of e disquieting: feeling: that some one v/tu looking at him Intently from behind He turned In his chair and found himself meeting the gaze of a ferocloui looking, military appearing little mar at a table near by. His waiter appeared at his elbow with the change. "Who the devil Is that old man at the table there?" demanded young Mr Klnar loudlv. [The waiter assumed a look of extreme insolence. "That is Baron Dangloss, minister of police. Anything more, sir?" "Yes. What's he looking so hard at me for? Does he think I'm a pickpocket?" "You know as much as I. sir," was all that the waiter said in reply. King pocketed the coin he had intended foi the fellow and deliberately left the place. As he sauntered across the little square his gaze suddenly shifted to a second story window above the gunshop. The interesting young woman had cautiously pushed open one of the shutters and was peering down upon a trio of red coated guardsmen. Almost at the same instant her quick, eager gaze fell upon the tall American, now quite close to the horsemen He aa-ar her rinrlr even pxnand a a if with surprise. The next instant he caught his breath and almost stopped in his tracks. A shy, impulsive smile played about her red lips for a second, lighting up the delicate face with a radiance that amazed him. Then the shutter was closed gently, quickly. He felt his ears burn as he abruptly turned away. In the meantime Baron Dangloss was watching him covertly from the edge of the cafe garden across the square. CHAPTER D. A Meeting of ths Cabinet At this time the principality of Orauetark was in a most prosperous condition. Its affairs were under the control of an able ministry, headed by the venerable Count Halfont The Duke of Perse, for years a resident of St Petersburg and a financier of high standing, had returned to EdelweisB soon after the distressing death of the late Princess Yetive and her American husband, and to him was intrusted the treasury portfolio. The financing of the great railroad project by which Edelweiss was to be connected with the Siberian line in the north fell to his lot at a time when no one else could have saved the little government from heavy losses or even bankruptcy. The opening of this narrative finds the ministry preparing to float a new 5,000,000 gavvo issue of bonds for construction and equipment purposes. Agent3 of the government were ready to depart for London and Paris to take up the matter with the great banking houses. St Petersburg and Berlin were not to be given the opportunity to gobble up these extremely fine securities. This seemingly extraordinary exclusion of Russian and German bidders was the result of vigorous objections raised by an utter outsider, the American, John Tunis, long time friend and companion of Grenfall Lorry, consort to the late princess. Tullis was a strange man in many particulars. He was under forty years of age, but even at that rather immature time of life he had come to be recognized as a shrewd, successful financial power in his home city, New York. At the very zenith of his power he suddenly and with quixotic disregard for consequences gave up his own business and came to Graustark for residence, following a promise made to Grenfall Lorry when the latter lay dying in a little Inn near Brussels. They had been lifelong friends. Tullis jestingly called himself the little prince's "morganatic godfather." For two years he had been a constant resident of Graustark. His wide awake, resourceful brain, attuned by nature to the difficulties of administration, lent Itself capably to the solving of many knotty financial puzzles; the ministry was never loath to call on him for advice and seldom disposed to disregard it. An outsider, he never offered a suggestion or plan unasked. To this single qualification no nurori mnnh nf tho nnnillnrltv and esteem In which he was held by the classes and the masses. Soslally, he was a great favorite. He enjoyed the freedom of the most exclusive homes In Edelweiss. There was but one man connected with the government to whom the popularity and Influence of John Tullls proved distasteful. That man was the Duke of Perse. On more than one occasion the cabinet had chosen to be guided by the sagacity of John Tullls in preference to following the lines laid down by the astute minister of finance. The decision to olTer the new bond issue in London and Paris was due to the earnest, forceful argument of John Tullls?outside the cabinet chamber, to be sure. This was but one instance In which the plan of the treasurer was overridden. He resented the plain though delicate Influence of the former Wall street man. Tullls had made it plain to the ministry that Graustark could not afford to place itself In debt to the Russians, into whose hands sooner or later the destinies of the railroad might be expected to fall. The wise men of Graustark saw his point without force of argument and voted down in the parliament the duke's proposition to place the loan in St. Petersburg and Berlin. For this particular act of trespass upon the duke's official preserves he won the hatred of the worthy treasurer and his no inconsiderable following among the deputies. But John Tullis was not in Edelweiss for the purpose of meddling with state affairs. He was there because he elected to stand mentor to the son of his lifelong friend, even though that son was a prince of the blood and controlled by the will of three regents cnosen Dy nis own subjects. To say that the tiny prince loved his big. broad shouldered, ruddy cheeked. adoring mentor would be putting it too gently; he Idolized him. Tullls was father, mother and big brother to the little fellow in knickers. One woman in Graustark was the source of never ending and constantly increasing Interest to this stalwart companion to the prince. That woman r was, alas, the wife of another man! Moreover, she was the daughter of the . Duke of Perse. i The young and witty Countess of i Marlanx came often to Edelweiss. She . was a favorite at the castle, notwith standing the unhealthy record of her i ancient and discredited husband, the t Iron Count. Tullls had not seen the count, but he had heard such tales of him that he could not but pity this rlnriniin vminj> r>rpntiirp whn nailed . him husband. At present we are permitted to at tend a meeting of the cabinet, which sits occasionally In solemn collectlver ness just off the throne room within the tapestried walls of a dark little t antechamber known to the outside i' world as the "room of wrangles." The question under discussion relates i to the loan of 5,000,000 gavvos, before "TOTX AWFtJIi OLD MAS I" HB CSIBfi. mentioned. At the head of the long table, perched upon an augmentary pile of lawbooks, surmounted by a little red cushion, sits the prince, almost lost in the huge old walnut chair of his forefathers. The prince was a sturdy, curly haired lad, with big brown eyes and a lamentably noticeable scratch on his nose, acquired In less stately but more profitable pursuits. (It seems that he had peeled his pose while sliding to second base in a certain American game that he was teaching the juvenile aristocracy how to play.) About the table sat the three regents and the other men high in the administration of affairs, among them General Braze of the army, Baron Pultz of the mines, Roslon of agriculture. The Duke of Perse was discussing the great loan question. The prince was watching his gaunt, saturnine face with more than usual interest "Of course it is not too late to rescind the order promulgated at our last sitting. There are five bankers in St Petersburg who will finance the loan without delay. We need not delay the Interminable length of time necessary to secure the attention ar.d oo-operation of bankers In Franoe and England. It is all nonsense to say that Russia has sinister motives in that matter. We need the money before the winter opens. Why should we prefer England? Why France?" For some unaccountable reason he struck the table violently with his fist and directed his glare upon the astonIshed prince, The explosive demand caught the ruler by surprise. He gasped and his lips fell apart Then it must have occurred to him that the question could be answered by no one save the person to whom it was so plainly addressed. He lifted his chin and piped up shrilly and with a fervor that startled even the intense Perse: "Because Uncle Jack said we should, that's why." It goes without saying that the innocent rejoinder opened the way to an acrid discussion of John Tullls. If that gentleman's ears burned in response to the sarcastic comments of the Duke of Perse and Baron Pultz, they probably tingled pleasantly as the result of the stout defense put up by Halfont, Dangloss and others. The duke's impassioned plea was of no avail. His confreres saw the wisdom of keeping Russia's greedy hand out of the country's affairs?at least for the present?and reiterated their decision to seek the loans In England and France. The question, therefore, would not be taken to parliament for reconsideration. The duke sat down, pale in defeat; his heart was more bitter than ever against the shrewd American who had induced all these men to see through his eyes. At this Juncture the prince, gathering from the manner of his ministers that the question was settled to hit liking, leaned forward and announced V?r? nromlnr1 iu ma unwc| iub |/i vt**?v> . "I'm tired, Uncle Casper. How much longer is it?" Count Halfont coughed. "Ahem! Just a few minutes, your highness. Pray be patient?er?my little man." Prince Bobby flushed. He always knew that he was being patronized when any one adressed him as "my little man." "I have an engagement," he said, with a stiffening of his back. The Duke of Perse smiled grimly. In his most polite manner he arose to address the now harassed princeling, who shifted uneasily on the pile of lawbooks. "May your most humble subject presume to Inquire into the nature of your highness* engagement?" "You may, your grace," said the prince. The duke waited. A smile crept into the eyes of the others. Well, what is the engagement?" "I had a date to ride with Uncle Jack at 11 and to review the troops." Count Halfont interposed good humoredly: "There is nothing more to come before us today, your grace, so I fancy we may as well close the meet?? rr>? minj it is rather a silly '"6* w '"J ?"?"u - - custom which compels us to keep the prince with us?er?after the opening of the session. Of course, your highness, we don't mean to say that you are not interested in our grave deliberations." Prince Bobby broke in eagerly: "Un cle Jack says I've Just got to be Interested in 'em whether I want to or not He says It's the only way to catch or to things and become a regular prince You see, Uncle Ciasper, I've got a lol to learn." "Yes, your highness, you have," solemnly admitted the premier. "But 1 am sure you will learn." "Under such an able Instructor af Uncle Jack you may soon know more than the wisest man in the realm," added the Duke of Perse. "Thank you, your grace," said th< prince so politely that the duke waf confounded. "I know Uncle Jack wli: be glad to hear that. He's?he's afraid people may think he's butting In to< much." "Butting In!" gasped the premier. At this the Duke of Perse came tc nis reet again, an angry gleam in ms eyes. "My lords," he began hastily "It must certainly have occurred tc you before this that our beloved prince's English, which seems, aftei all, to be his mother tongue, is not what It should be. Butting in! Yesterday I overheard him advising youi son, Pultz, to 'go chase' himself. And when your boy tried to chase himself? 'pon my word he did?what did our prince say? What did you say, Prince Robin?" "I?I forget," stammered Prince Bobby. "You said 'Mice!' Or was it?er"? "No, your grace; rats. I remember, That's what I said. That's what all ol us boys used to say In Washington." "God deliver us! Has it come to this ?that a prince of Graustark should grow up with such language on his lips? That confounded American hae < very one hypnotized!" exploded the duke. "His Influence over this boy is a menace to our country. He is making an oaf of him?a slangy, Impudent little"? "Your grace!" Interrupted Baron Dangloss sharply. "Uncle Jack's all right," declared the prince, vaguely realizing that a defense should be forthcoming. "He is, eh?" rasped the exasperated duke, mopping his brow. "He sure is," pronounced the prince with a finality that left no room for doubt. "He is a mountebank, a meddler, that's what he is!" exclaimed the over heated duke. But the prince had slid down from his pile of books and planted himself beside him so suddenly that the bitter words died away on the old man's Hps. "You awful old man!" he cried, trembling' all over, his eyes blazing. "Don't you say anything against Uncle Jack. I'll?I'll banish you?yes, sir?banish you like my mother flred Count Marian* out of the country. I won't let you come back here?never. And before you go ril have Uncle Jack give you a good licking. Oh, he can do it, all right! I?I hate you!" The duke looked down in amazement into the flushed, writhing face of hie little master. For a moment he waa stunned by the vigorous outburst Then the hard lines In his face relaxed, a softer expression came into hla eyes, and he smiled kindly on the boy. But Prince Bobby was still unappeased. "I could have you beheaded," he said stubbornly. "Couldn't I, Uncle Casper?" The Duke of Perse suddenly bent forward and placed his bony hand upon the unshrinking shoulder of the prince, his eyes gleaming kindly, hla voice strangely free from its usual harshness. "You are a splendid little man, Prince Robin," he said. "I glory In you. I shall not forget the lesson in loyalty that you have taught me." Bobby's eyes filled with tears. The genuine humility of the hard old man touched his tempestuous little heart "It's?It's all right, du?your grace, I'm sorry I spoke that way too." As the prince strode soberly from the "room of wrangles" every eye waa upon his sturdy little back, and there was a kindly light in each of them, bar none. Later on the prince In his khaki riding suit loped gayly down the broad mountain road toward Qanlook beside the black mare which carried John Tullls. He had told Tullls of his vainglorious defense In the antechamber. "Say, Uncle Jack, when are you going to take me to the witch's hovel?" The thought abruptly banished all else from his eager little brain. "Some day soon," said Tullls. "You see, I'm not sure that she's receiving visitors these days. A witch Is a very arbitrary person. Even princes have to send up their cards." The witch's hovel was In the mountain across the most rugged of the canyons and was to be reached only after the most hazardous of rides. The old woman of the hills was an ancient character about whom clung a thousand spooklsh traditions, but who, In the opinion of John Tullls, was nothing more than a wise fortune teller and necromancer, who knew every trick in the trade of hoodwinking the superstitious. As they rode back to the castle after an hour, coming down through Castle avenue from the monastery road, they passed a tall, bronzed young man whom Tullls at once knew to be an American. He was seated on a big bowlder at the roadside enjoying the shade. At his side was the fussy, well known, figure of Cook's interpreter eagerly pointing out certain Important personages to him as they passed. Of course the approach of the prince was the excuse for considerable agitation and fervor on the part of the man from Cook's. He mounted the bowlder and took off his cap to wave it frantically. "It's the prince!" he called out to Truxton King:. "Stand up! Hurray! Long live the prince! The man from Cook's came to grief. He slipped from his perch on the rock and came floundering to the ground. The spirited pony that the prince was riding shied and reared in quick affright. The boy dropped his crop and clung valiantly to the reins. A guardsman was at the pony's head in an instant. Truxton King picked up the riding crop, strode out into the roadway and nanaea it up to ine Doy in me auuuic. "Thank you," said Prince Bobby. "Don't mention it," said Truxton King, with his most engaging smile. "No trouble at all." To be Continued. XV Cats came into England before the Norman Conquest. THE TILLMAN CHILDREN, s a i " t< ; Supreme Court Gives Them to Their i Mother. " 1 FULL TEXT OF INTERESTING DECISION. ? , a: 1 tl , Because B. R. Tillman, Jr., Was a, Confessedly Unfit to Care For the ^ Children, He Was Held Unfit to Dis- si poM of Them, and Because Thar* d I Wat Nothing Against tho Character p I of the Mother,. the Children War* [) ) Restored to Har. ('< ei The information that the supreme n court had filed a decision tinder which tl it takes away from Senator and Mrs. 8j B. R Tillman the two children, deeded n to them by B. R. Tillman, Jr., and gives c< the children to their mother, Mrs. B. (, R Tillman, Jr., was published in the iE last issue of The Enquirer, the news having been received through a dis- w patch from Mr. August Kohn. ai There was tremendous interest in a, the case throughout the state, much of h< it natural and proper, and the most of it d, vicious and lawless. This lawless feeling ran unnecessarily high; but wheth- Ql er it would have amounted to anything, di of course, it is impossible to say. It 0] is stated, however, that partisans of the 0i mother as against Senator Tillman, had n< formed a plot to, in the eve*- he de- w clslon should be adverse to the moth- c> er, take the children forcibly from the senator, and give them over to Mrs. jr Lucy Dugas Tillman. Other partisans jj of the same* stripe are reported to have o arranged to take Senator Tillman's por- Q| trait from the hall of the house of rep- w resentatives and trample it in the tl street, either of which unnecessary and cj uncalled-for act would have merely ni served to set aflame a vicious and M lawless sentiment that could have done no good to the mother, the children or ei the laws of South Carolina. rt i There are all kinds of expressions tc aituai, 11 uiii an iwiiius ui auiiic j|] of whom hold that the decision panders to public sentiment, and that If It ti had not been for the overwhelming ex- r? l presslons in favor of the mother, the <a children would have been left with ai Senator Tillman. Others had been aj ? claiming that the court would give the p< children to Senator Tillman, because it tl would be afraid to do otherwise, and 8t so It has been going; but all these ex- tl presslons are more or less thoughtless, tl and without much foundation in fact, hi . The decision is based purely upon the h , law and the evidence. The court decides w that according to his own admission, tl B. R. Tillman, Jr., Is not fit to have the custody of the children, and by his act gj deeding them to his father and mother, tl he relinquishes all right to them. There bi was nothing in the testimony beyond w mere unsupported intimations, to indi' cate any unfitness on the part of the ti , mother, and under the common law of in reason and justice as well as the con- w 1 stitutlon of the state, she lu entitled to tl their custody. Because of the tremendous Interest i8 In this especial case, and because of ti 1 the great importance of the subject, g, the decision of the court follows in t>1 i full: ai The custody of Douschka Plclcens fa Tillman and Sara Starke Tillman, her ft infant children, vs. B. R. Tillman, Sr., p< and his wife, Mrs. S. S. Tillman, res- hi i pondents. . w Opinion by C. A. Woods, A. J. tl Mrs. Lucy Dugas Tillman, the moth- 4, er of the Infants, Douschka Pickens 0j Tillman and Sara Starke Tillman, fll- ct ed her petition in this court on the ty 24th day of January, 1910, praying that a writ of habeas corpus be Issued, to di the end that her children be released ci from the alleged unlawful restraint of ei the respondents, Hon. Benj. R. Tillman 8t and his wife, Mrs. S. S. Tillman, and tl that they be turned over to her custo- ai dy, care and training. ai The petitioner alleges her marriage cc with B. R. Tillman, Jr., the son of the 8( respondents, the birth of the two chil- m dren, one being now five and the other C( two years of age; the intemperate hab- 4< its of her husband; and such unjust ig and cruel attacks on her character by him that she was forced to leave him ti on November 24, 1908; her subsequent 14 reconciliation with him in February, tl 1909, on the faith of his retraction of y the charge against her, and his contri- in tion and promise of reform; her bus- 57 band's taking the children with her y consent from the family residence in OI Washington for the purpose, as ex- fr ^ J Aa Uaii a# Vinifln -v illain iHa49 %_ presseu iu nci, kjl uaviu^ JJJ their grandmother, Mrs. Sarah S. Till- te man, who was then in Washington; the th return of her husband on the aftemoon of the same day without the children, his explanation being that w i he had given them to his father and uj mother, who had taken them to South 8l Carolina; the departure of her husband ^ 1 from their residence immediately after w this statement, his taking with him his valise and his declaration of his Intention to desert her; the execution of a deed by the father, B. R. Tillman, Jr., ft I without her consent and without con- tt i sultatlon with her, by which he under- ai took to' transfer the custody and care cl of the children, during their minority, il< to his parents, the respondents, B. R. ni Tillman, Sr., and Mrs. Sarah S. Till- a< man. That petitioner further alleges dl , that she is fully qualified to have the tti custody and training of her children, til i and is possessed of ample means for ai their maintenance and education, and rt insists that, under the facts stated, she P< | Is entitled to their custody and care. y( On this petition, to which were attach- al ed numerous affidavits In support of w its allegations, a writ of habeas corpus cc was Issued, requiring the respondents to bring the infants before the court, cl and show cause why they should not g? i be released from their custody, and to committed to the custody of the petl- it tioner. Thereafter, on the 31st day of th January the respondents brought the fo children before the court and submit- as ted their written return to the writ, by pt which they claim a right to retain the it custody of the children on these th grounds: tr Statute Law. First, that B. R. Tillman, Jr., the pI father of the children, executed to them, on the first day of December, 1909, a deed disposing of the custody *! and tuition of the children, in accord- M| ance with the statute law of the state; e[ and that they are suitable and proper cr persons to have the custody and tui- w tion. n* Second, that "at the common law the P* deed disposing of the custody and tui- tfl tinn nt snld children, belnsf without ?.1 prejudice to the children, would be tn good and valid during the lifetime of u' the said B. R. Tillman, Jr., and he being alive this proceeding is premature." Third, that the disposition of the cue- J*1' tody of the children by the father Is for 'n their best Interest, and the court, for b< that reason, should not deliver them to their mother. o* The deed from the father, B. R. Till- J? man, Jr., to the respondents, purports c* to dispose absolutely of the custody of the children during their minority; and the first inquiry is: Does the ?r statute law of the state authorize such ta disposition, in the sense that it confers m on the father the arbitrary power to 80 dispose of his children, thus taking 8C away the right of the mother and the ?* child to judicial inquiry and adjudica- w tion as to their proper custody, and destroying the long recognized jurlsdiction of the courts to adjust the custody aI of minors, according to established P* family rights? If the general assembly m has passed a constitutional act bestow- ta Ing such absolute power on the father the deed introduced is conclusive of the controversy. The statute under w which the deed was made is contained in the following section of the civil cc code: ?f The Law Used. pf "Section 2689. The father of any ^ child or children, under the age of 21 ec years and not married, whether born before or after the death of such father, tii or the mother of any such child or chil- u, I dren, the father being dead, whether et such father or mother be under the age ot 11 of 21 years, or of full age, may, by his _ I or her deed, executed and recorded ac ordlng to law, or by bis or her last 'ill and testament, made and probated ccording to law, dispose of the cus)dy and tuition of such child or chllren for and during such time as he, tie or they, respectively, remain under le age of 21 years, to any person or ersons, In possession or remainder. "Section 2690. Such disposition of le custody of such child or children lall be good and effective against all nd every person or persons claiming le custody of such child or children, a guardian In socage or otherwise." On behalf of the petitioner it Is consnded that the statute should be contrued to confer on the father the right > dispose of the custody of his chilren only after his own death. This osltion is untenable. It Is true that le statute of 12 Charles 1124, adopted i this state without change. In 1848, 1 Stat. 707), clearly limited such powr to the disposal of the custody of his ilnor children, to take effect only at * ie time of his death. That the first atute was entirely repealed by the svised statute of 1872 and a statute mtaining the sections above quoted >xcept the amendment of 1887, provldig for the disposition by deed or will y the mother, the father being dead) as enacted, not as an amendment but i a separate statute. When so en-ted it was placed under the general sad. "Guardian and Ward," and uner the subhead. "Minors." The words limiting the application t the law to the custody of the chllren after the death of the father wore nit ted from the new statute, and the mission clearly signifies the intention ot to limit the power of disposition hlch it conferred on the father to the istody after his death. The fact that the statute was placed i the revised codes of 188t. IMS and >02 under the head "Testamentary uardlans," might be regarded as slgIflcant of the intention, if the case ere one of doubtfqj construction, but, ie place assigned to a statute In the vil code cannot control the plain leaning expressed In the statute it;lf. It is therefore manifest that whether power of disposition was confersd by the act on the father extended i the custody of children during his fe. The next position taken on behalf of ie petitioner is that the deed to the sspondents could have no effect betuse there was a prior outstanding jreement between B. R. Tillman, Jr., id his wife, acquiesced in by the resindents, which provided that during ie year 1909 the husband and wife lould alternately have the custody of ie children. The argument is that ie first agreement' was binding on the usband and the respondents until it sid been revoked by consent of the ife or had expired by its own llmitaon. The argument fails because the first jreement was made in view of the ten existing separation of the husmd and wife, and there was afterard a 'reconciliation. Any agreement made in contomplaon of broken family ties and provldig for the continuation of the breach as annulled by the reconciliation and ie renewal of united family life. This brings us to the inquiry; what the extent of the power of dlsposlon conferred on the father? Did the ?neral assembly intend to confer artrary power, regardless of the rights id welfare of the children, and of the unity rights of the mother? Or, did Intend it to confer upon him the iwer to transfer such rights as he Imself had at the date of the deed, lthout infringing upon the rights of ie children to be placed in the custoy of their, mother and of the rights ! the mother to have their custody, In ise the father had forfeited his right y his conduct? We think the proposition capable of ;monstratlon that If the act ia to be >nstrued as conferring arbitrary pow on the father it is violative of conitutional rights. The constitution of lis state provides: "The privileges id immunities of cltisens of this state id of the United States under this institution shall not be abridged, nor lall any person be deprived of life, tierty or property without due prows of law. nor shall any person be jprlved of the equal protection of the ws." Article 1, Section 5. The liberty guaranteed in this seeon, and in the like vision of the Ith amendment of the constitution of le United States is thus defined by ie supreme court of the United States t Allgeyer vs. Louisiana, 165 U. 8., '8; 41 L. Ed. 832: "The liberty raenoned in that amendment means not lly the right of the citlsens to be free om the mere physical restraint of is person, as by incarceration, but the rm is deemed to embrace the right of ie citizen to be free In the enjoyment all his faculties; to be free to use tern in all lawful ways, to live and ork where he wills; to earn his llvetiood by any lawful callings, to purle any livelihood or avocation and for tat purpose to enter into all contracts hlch may be proper. Right of Freedom. In the right of freedom from unlawil restraint is embraced the right to ie enjoyment of all those privileges id immunities which belong to the tlzen of a free country. These privjges and immunities are from their iture Incapable of limitation by exit definition. For the purposes of this Iscusslon it is sufficient to say that ley clearly embrace family rights, lat is, the right of parents to the care id custody of their children and the ght of children to receive from their irents maintenance and care, but bemd this there is a liberty of children >ove the control of their parents hich the courts of England and this mntry have always enforced. When the parent in asserting his aim to the custody of the child, dlareirds the correlative right of the child i care ana muiiueimuuc ai u? wuw, Is universally held that the right of ie parents Is at an end and the child r Itself or another on its behalf may usert the custody and control of the irent to be an illegal restraint upon s liberty. This liberty of the child lought to be free from such illegal resalnt of the parent and constitution rblds to be taken away except by due *ocess of law. Parent vs. Parent. Within the protection of this provion of the constitution fall also certain ghts of the parents against each othwlth respect to the custody of their illdren. The father being charged ith the support of his children, ordlirlly his right to their custody is susrior to that of the mother, but when ie father relinquishes his right to the istody or forfeits it by his conduct, iere can be no doubt that the mother, ider her family right, is entitled to ie custody and care of her child. In her words as soon as the father's ght falls away, the mother's right ^mediately takes its place and must ; recognized by the court unless it > relinquished or forfeited. The rights the father and mother are both subct to the 8till higher rights of the illd to have its welfare safeguarded. Not Constitutional. It seems perfectly clear that the genal assembly can not empower the ther at his own will to deprive the other and child of these legal rights i long established as elements of perinal liberty. If these family rights ' the mother and children were not lthin the protection of the constltuan under statutes like this, the father tuld exercise a tyranny revolting to 1 sense of justice and conceptions of irsonal liberty. He could at any moent capriciously break up his family, ke all his Infant children from their other without her consent and bestow iem upon strangers and the courts ould be powerless to give any relief, lough manifestly such a course of induct would itself be plenary proof ' relinquishment of the duties of the irental office. The argument comes to this: The jaranty of personal liberty expressI in the constitution means above all ?hat nr> human under the DTOtec nn of the constitution can be placed ider subjection to the arbitrary pow of disposition and control of any her human being, though it has been [Cotninued on Fourth Page.]