The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-06-01
CHAPTER xI.
As a Man May Love a Woman.


She came in softly, and detiantly, for
she was doing a forbidden thing, but
Prince Ferdinand William Otto had
put away the frame against such a
contingency. He had, as matter of
fact, been putting cold cloths on Miss
Braithwaite's forehead.
II always do it," he informed He'd
wig. Il like doing 1t. 1t gives me
something to do. She likes them
rather dry, so the water doesn't run
down her neck
Had Miss Braithwaite not been Ill,
Hedwig would have talked things over
with her then. There was no one else
to whom she could go. Hilda refused
TO consider the prospect of marriage
as anything but pleasurable, and be-
tween her mother and Hedwig there
had never been any close relation
ship.
But Miss Braithwaite lay motionless,
her face set in lines Of suffering, and
after time Hedwig rose and tiptoed
out of the room.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto was
excited. Tea had already come, and
on the rare occasions when the COVER
ness was Ill, 1t was his privilege to
pour the tea.
Milky is coming" he said rapidly.
"and the three Of US will have a party.
Please don't tell me how you like your
tea, and see If / can remember"
"Very well, DEAR" Hedwig said
20 &hn win
Milky entered almost Immediately.
AS a matter Of fact, although he
showed no trace Of 1t, Milky had been
having an extremely bad time since
his return: the chancellor, who may or
may not have known that his heart
was breaking, had given him a very
severe scolding on the way back from
Wedeling. 1t did Milky good, too, for
1t reused him to his own defense, and
made him forget. for few minutes
anyhow, that life was over for him,
and that the chancellor carried his
death sentence In his old leather dis
patch case.
After that, arriving In the capital.
they had driven to the little office
In back street, and there Milky had
reused himself again enough to give
q description of Peter Niburg, and to
give the location Of the house where
he lived. But he slumped again after
that, ate no dinner, and spent long
ish time in the place, staring up al
Annunciata's windows, where he mad
once seen Hedwig on the balcony.
Then, late in the evening, Milky
was summoned to the kings beoroom'
and came out pale, with his shoulders
very square. He had received real
wfgging this time, and even con-
templated throwing himself IN the
river. Only he could swim SO DAM
nably we'll!
But he had the natural elasticity OF
youth, and a sort Of persistent Deilel
In his own luck, rather like the chan'
cellor's confidence In seven as num-
ber-a confidence, by the way WHICH
the countess could easily have shaken'
So he had Weakened the next morning
rather cheerful than otherwise anu
over n breakfast of broiled ham hau
refused to look ahead farther than 'he
day. >,,-,,,
That afternoon, in the STUDY, Nlkhy
hesitated when he sa" heu"ie
Then he came and bent low over ner
hand And Hedwig, because every III
st;nct vearned to touch his shlhils
bent head, spoke to him very caini''
was rather distant, little coio:
ayou have been away, thinkF' she
said. ,
"And today" he added, reproaen
fully. to-day you did not rue:
ST did NOT feel like riding" Heu"ls
resnonded listlessly. II am tlreu'
think I am always tired" ouoa
onion and two Jumps" muttereu
the crown prince. "Ihats ~ -
Hedwig. Give it to him, please. -.
Nikky went trife pale as NE s,a
enoors touched. But he tasteu ni0
80 ond pronounced 1t excellent.
prince Ferdinand William otto cna a
.o-ad eycitedly. He told OF the uos'
silating on its cleverness' put pa p
politely over the manner OF ils 80 o.
Now and then Hedwig gianceu ID
n,,,',,r when he was not looking anu
a,nays when they dared, the young
soldiers eyes were on hei. -,tbout
nSsa ri1l take some tea "lthou'
,,,o a announced the crown prince 1Sa .
While he poured 1t, Heowis N,trv
.,,ntiro was it possible that Ni hacn
g auarv one. should have peen cnos