River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-05-30
CHAPTER XII-continued.

CHAPTER XII-Continued.
II
But long after Milky had gone he sat
In the darkness. He felt old and tired
and a hypocrite. The boy would not
forget, as he himself had not forgot
ten.
Peter Niburg was shot at dawn the
next morning. He went, coward TO
his death, held between two guards
and crying piteously. But he died
brave man. Not once in the long hours
of his interrogation had be betrayed
the name of the Countess Loschek.
4 4 y
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Viii
liam Otto of Livonia was having a
birthday. Now, birthday for crown
prince of Livonia is not matter OF
cake with candles on it, and having
his ears pulled, once for each year and
an extra one to grow on. Nor OF
holiday from lessons, and picnic Ia
spring woods. Nor party, with chill
dren frolicking and scratching the best
furniture.
In the first place, he was wakened
at dawn and taken to early service IN
the chapel, a solemn function, with the
court assembled and slightly sleepy.
The crown prince, who was trying to
look his additional dignity of years,
sat and stood as erect as possible, and
yawned only once.
At eleven o'clock came word that the
king was too i'll to have him to
luncheon, but that he would see him
for a few moments that afternoon.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto, who
was diagramming the sentence, "Abra-
ham Lincoln freed the slaves in Amer
ica," and doing it wrong, looked up in
dismay.
'Id like to know what's the use of
having q birthday" he declared re-
belliOusly.
The king did not approve Of birth
day gifts. So there were no gifts
None, that is, until the riding hour
came, and Milky, subverter Of all dis
cipline He had brought a fig lady,
wrapped in paper.
''It'S quite fresh" he said, as they
walked together across the place.
''Tll give it to you when we get to the
riding school. 1 saw the woman my
self take it out of her basket. So it
has no germs on it."
That afternoon, attired in his uni
form of the guards, the crown prince
received the delegation of citizens in
the great audience chamber of the pal
ace, a solitary little figure, standing
on the red carpet before the dais at
the end. The chancellor stood near
the boy, resplendent in his dress uni
form, a blue ribbon across his shirt
front, over which Mathilde had taken
hours. He was the Mettlich of the
public eye now, hard of features, i'm
passive, infieXible.
He had staged the affair well. The
crown prince, standing alone, so small,
so appealing, against his magnificent
background was a picture to touch the
hardest. Not for nothing had Mettlich
studied the people, read their essential
simplicity, their answer to any appeal
to the heart. These men were men of
family. Surely no father of a son
could see that lonely child and not
offer him loyalty.
With the same wisdom, he had given
the boy small instruction, and no
speech of thanks. LET him say what
comes into his head" Mettlich had
reasoned. ut will Iat least be
spontaneous and boyish."
The first formalities over, and the
crown prince having shaken hands
nine times, the spokesman stepped for
ward. He had brought long, written
speech, which had already been given
to the newspapers. But after a mo-
ment's hesitation he folded it up.
Your royal highness," he said, look
Ing down, 81 have here a long speech
but all that it contains can say brief
~. 1t is your birthday, highness. We
come, representing many Others to pre-
sent to you our congratulations, and
the love of your people. 1t is ouI
h0pe'-he paused. Emotion and ex
element were getting the better OF
him-"our hope, highness, that yoJ
will have many happy years. To FUR
ther that hope. we are here today t
saw that we, representing all classes
are your most loyal subjects. We have
fought for his majesty the king, ant
if necessary we will fight for you
He glanced beyond the child at tn
council, and his tone was strong ant
impassioned. "But today we are here
not to speak of war, but to presen
to you our congratulations, our de
cotton, and our loyalty"
AIso q casket. He had forgottel