The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-06-19
CHAPTER XII.
Milky Makes a Promise-

little house near the palace, "A house
that looked strangely like him, over.
hanging eyebrows and all, with win.
dows that were like his eyes. clear
and concealing many secrets. A grim
gray little old house, which concealed
behind ii walled garden full of un-
expected charm. And that too, was
like the chancellor.
Mathllde kept his house for him
mended and pressed his uniforms,
washed and starched his linen
quarreled with the orderly who at
tended him. and drove him to bed at
night.
Mathilde was in touch with the peo-
pie. 1t was Mathilde, and not one of
his agents, who had brought word of
the approaching revolt of the copper
smiths guild, and enabled him to check
il almost before 1t began. A stole, this
Mathilde, with her tall, spare figure
and glowing eyes, stole and patriot.
Once every month she burned four
candles before the shrine of Our Lady
of Sorrows in the cathedral, because
of four sons she had given to her coun-
try.
On the evening of the day Hedwig
had made her futile appeal to the king,
the chancellor sat alone. His dinner,
almost untasted, lay at his elbow. 1t
was nine o'clock. At something after
seven he had paid his evening visit to
the king. and had found him uneasy
and restless.
"Sit down." the king had said. II
need steadying, old friend"
''Steadying, siref
Il have had visit from Hedwig.
Rather stormy one. poor child" He
turned and fixed on his chancellor his
faded eyes. you still think it is the
best thing?"
ut is the only thing"
But all this haste" put in the king
ENORMOUSLY. as that so necessary?
Hedwig begs for time. She hardly
knows the man."
'Time! But l thought" He hest
tated. How say to dying man that
time WAS the one thing he did not
have?
Another thing. She was incoherent.
but gathered that there was some one
else. The whole interview was cy-
clOnic. 1t seems, however, that this
young piOtege of yours, Larisch, has
been maSing love to her over OttO's
head"
Mettlich's face hardened, gradual
process, as the news penetrated in all
its significance.
"A boy and girl affair, sire. He is
loyal. And in all of this, you and are
reckoning without Karl. The princess
hardly knows him, and naturally she
is terrified. But his approaching visit
will make many changes. He Is fine
figure of a man, and women"
Exactly" smd the king dryly.
What the chancellor meant was that
women always had loved Karl, and the
king understood.
His wild days are over" bluntly
observed the chancellor. HE is forty,
eire."
"Aye," said the king. "And at forty
a bad man changes his nature, and
purifies himself in marriage! Non
sense, Karl will be as he has always
been. But we have gone into this be-
fore. Only, | am sorry for Hedwig.
Get rid of this young Larisch."
The chancellor sat rejecting, his
chin dropped forward on his breast.
lotto will miss him."
"Well, out with ii. | may not dis
miss him. What, them"
at Is always easy to send men away.
But IL Is sometimes better to retain
them, and force them to your will. We
have here an arrangement that is sat
isfactory. Larlsch is keen, young, and
loyal. Hedwig has thrown herself at
him For that, sire, she is responsible,
not he
''Then get rid Of her" growled the
king
The chancellor rose. "If the situation
is left 10 me, sire" he said. II will
promise two things. That otto will
keep his friend, and that the Princess
Iiedwig will bow to your wishes with
out further argument"
do il. and God help YOU" said the
king, aghin with the flicker of amuse-
ment.
TINY chancellor had gone home,
heavily along the darkening
styeets. Once again he had conquered.
The reins remained In his guarded old
hands. And he was about to put the |
honor of the country into the keeping
Of the son of Maria Menrad. whom he
rad once loved.
So now he sat In his study, and
waited. When he heard Nlkky's quick
'tep as he came along the tile passage, |
he picked up his pipe.
Milky saluted, and made his way
lcross the room in the twilight, with
he ease Of familiarity. Il am late,
ir,". he apologized. "We found our
nan, and he is safely jailed. He made
10 resistance"
"Sit down." said the chancellor.
Md. touching a bell, he asked Ma