The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1918-07-07
at mnttcrs very much 10 me" !

replied grnvely.
Hedwig went FIRST, slipping ava
quietly and llnnOtlced. Knrl asked IN
nrchduchcss' permission To follow he
and found her whiting there nlon,
rather desperately calm now, and Wit
4 tln"c of cScltcd color M .hcr chocks
Bccause he cared n grent dcrl, and be
cause, MS kings 90. hc wns neilhc
hopelessly lad nor hard, his first word
were kllnl und genuine, aud almos
brought her. TO tears.
Poor little girl he said
lie had dropped the curtain behint
him, nnd they stood alone.
Don't" said IIcdwig; II want to b,
very cdIh, aud min sorry for mysel
already"
"Then you think It Is all very ter
| riblc?"
She did not reply, and he drew ,
| chalr for her to the rnil. When sh,
was seulcd, he took up his position
beside her. one arm against II pillar.
II wonder lIedwlg." he said, "lf Il
Is not terrible because II Is new to you
aud because you do not know me yer,
we'll Not he added hastily, "that
| think your knowing me well would
be nm advantage! am not so ldlotic
But YOU do not know me mt all. and
for good many yenrs / must have
stood IN the Hight Of nm enemy. II Is
not easy 10 rendjust such things
witness the reception had today"
"Why must we talk about it?" He'd.
I wig demanded. looking up at him sud.
denly with fash OF her old spirit.
III viii not change anything"
Perhaps not. Perhaps--yes. You
see, i am not quite satisfied. l do not
want you, unless you are willing. II
would be poor bargain for me, and
not quite fair"
new turn, this, with vengeance
Hcdwlg stared up with startled eyes.
II WIS not enough TO be sacrificed.
And as she realized all that hung on
the situation. the very life of the king.
dom, perhaps the safety OF her family.
everything she closed her eyes for
fenr he might see the fright In them.
Karl bent over aud took one of her
cold hands between his two warm ones.
Little iledwlg," he said, IL wnnt you
To come willingly because--I care n
grent deal, would like you to care.
too. Don't yon think you would. ufter
timc?"
After tlme" said Hedwig drear.
lily. "That's what they all say. After
a time 1t doesn't matter. Marriage Is
always the snme-after n time"
"Why should marriage he always
the same, after timer" he inquired.
"ThIs sort of marriage, without
love"
''it Is hardly that. Is III love You"
II wonder how much you love me-"
Kari smiled. He was On his own
ground here. The glrllsh question put
him ~ ease. Enough for us both. at
FIRST" he snid. after That"
But" snid lledwlg desperately,
suppose | know shall never care
for you, the way you viii want me 10.
You talk OF being fair. ! want to be
fair to you. You have right" She
Nb''h'h h'i S''i Hbi Hpilys AlltF MI, np
might have n right to know about
Milky Larlsch. But there were others
who had rights. too---Otto TO his
throne. her mother aud Hildn and all
the others, to snfety, her grandfather
to die In peace. the only gift she could
give him.
"What ] think you want 10 tell me.
IL something | already know" Karl
said grnvely. suppose | nm willing
10 take that chance? Suppose | nin
vain enough. or fool enough. to think
that | can make you forget certain
things. certain people. What tben?"
IL do not forget easily"
"But you would tryf"
II would try" said Hedwig, almost
IN whisper.
Karl bent over and taking her hands,
raised her 10 her feet.
Darling" he said. aud suddenly
drew her 10 him. He covered her with
hot kisses, her neck, her face the soft
angle below her ear. Then he held her