Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-04
snrd. can nossihfv hannen p,


] anything of hero, and all of the ro-
mantle and loving boy-Nikky way
cred and fell.
When Prince Ferdinand William
Otto returned, it was with the word
that Miss Braithwaite still slept, and
that she looked very comfortable,
Milky was gone, and the countess
stood by window, holding to the sill
to support her shaking body.
It was done. The boy was in her
hands. There was left only to deliver
him to those who, even now. were on
the way. Milky was safe. He would
wait in her boudoir, and Hedwig
would not come. She had sent no
message. She was, indeed; at that mo-
ment a part of one Of those melan-
choly family groups which, the world
over, in palace or PEASANTS hut, await
the coming Of death.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
chatted He got out the picture frame
for Hedwig, which was finished now,
with the exception of burning his
initials in the lower left hand corner.
After inquiring politely If the smell Of
burning would annoy her, the crown
prince drew rather broken backed
e." weakened "W," and an irreg-
Iular 80" in the corner and proceeded
to burn them in. He sat bent over the
desk the very tip Of his tongue pro-
truding, and worked conscientiously
and carefully. Between each letter
he burned dot.
Suddenly, Olga Loschek became
panic-stricken. She could not stay
and see this thing out. Let them fol-
low her and punish her. She could
not She had done her part. .'he
governess lay in drugged sleep. a.
turn of the key, and the door to the
passage beyond which Oskar waited
would be closed off. Let follow what
must, she would not see 1t.
'Highness," she said, lieutenant
Larisch win be, here in moment VIII
you permit me to go?"
Otto was off his chair in an instant
Certainly he said, his mind still on
the 20" which he was shading.
Old habit was strong in the countess
Although the boys rank was numbered
by moments, although his life was pos
sibly to be counted by hours, she
turned at the doorway and swept him
Il curtsy. Then she went out, and
closed the door behind her.
Tho furn Sopfrfoey ctn1J x,,,4r..an
They We're of the terr6rists. She
knew, and they knew she knew. But
neither one made a sign. They stared
ahead, and Olga Loschek went out be-
tween them.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Will
liam Otto was only small boy, for all
his title and dignity. And suddenly
he felt lonely. Left alone, he returned
ito his expectations for the day, and
compared them with the facts. He
remembered other carnivals, with his
carriage moving through the streets
and people showering him with fresh
flowers. He rather glowed. at the
memory. Then he recalled that the
chancellor had said he needed fresh
air.
Something occurred to him, some
thing which combined fresh air with
action, yet kept to the letter Of his
promise-or was there a promise p
not to leave the palace.
The idea pleased him. 1t set him
to smiling, and his bright hair to
quivering with excitement. 1t was
nothing less than to go on the roof and
find the ball. And he would have to
hurry. Milky would'be sure to return
soon.
He opened the door on to the great
corridor, and stepped out, saluting the
sentries, as he always did.
"Ill be back in a moment" he In
formed them. He was always on terms
of great friendliness with the guard,
and he knew these men by sight. "Are
you going to be stationed here now?"
he inquired pleasantly.
The two guards were at a loss. But
one of them, who had son of his own,
and hated the whole business, saluted
and replied that he knew not.
81 hope you are" said Ferdinand
William Otto, and went on.
The sentries regarded one another
"Let him gol' said the one who was a
father.
The other one moved uneasily. sour
orders cover no such contingency" he
muttered. "And, besides, he will come
back. / hope to God he does not
come back" he added stonily. s.,
Five minutes to four
The crown prince hurried. The cor
ridors were almost empty. Here and
there he met servants, who stood stiff
against the wall until he had passed.
On the marble staircase, leading up,
he met no one, nor on the upper floor.
He was quite warm with running and
he paused in his fathers suite to mop
his face. Then he opened a window
and went out on the roof. From the
.balustrade, it looked extremely far to
the ground.
Nevertheless, although his heart beat
a trifie fast, he was still determined.
A climb which Milky with his long