The Dermott news., 1918-05-02

to have the same tastes-about various things"
 Do you like dogs?" inquired the crown prince, much interested.
 Dogs! Why, yes. l have quite number of dogs"
 'I should think 1t would be nicer to have just one dog, and be very fond of it. But I suppose they would eat a great deal. Do you believe fin love at first sight2"
 "Otto!" said the archduchess, ex- . tremely shocked.
 He turned to her apologetically. "I was only trying to find out how many things he and Milky agreed about" he explained. Milky believes in love at first sight. He says 1t is the only real kind of love, because love isn't a thing you think out. You only feel 1t"
 The archduchess met Karl's eyes. You see!" she said.
 But 1t Is sound doctrine" Karl ob- served, bending forward and with slantlng glance at Hedwig. 'I quite agree with him again. And this friend of yours, he thinks love is the only thing in the world. I dare sayT}
 Well, he thinks great deal sof it. But he says that love of country comeS first, before anything else"
 The archduchess glanced at Hedwie furiousy. The girl had closed her eyes. and was sitting detached and pale She would have liked to box her ears. Karl was no fool, and there was talk enough. He would hear 1t, of course.
 "Tell us about your pilgrimage, . Otto," she suggested
 Well I went" said the crown prince retlectively. "We walked a lsng time, and it was very warm I have quite large blister. and the arch. bishop had to take his shoes off aHa walk in his stockings. because his feet hurt. No one saw. It was on a coun- try lane. But I'm afraid 1t didn't dc very much good" He drew long breath.
 "No" Karl inquired.
 Suddenly the boys chin Quivered. He was terribly afraid he was going to cry, and took large sip of tea. which cleared his voice.
 My grandfather is not any better" he said. Perhaps some one elsa should have gone. am not very good" he explained to Karl. Tt ought to be very good person. He is very sick"
 Perhaps" suggested Karl mocking. y, with glance at Hedwig. they should have sent this Milky of1 yours
 Annunciata stirred restlessly. She; considered this talk of Milky In execrable taste.
 He is not particularly good"
 "oh, so he Is not particularly goodi"
 Well. he thinks he isn't. He says he doesn't find It easy to love his country more than anything in the world. for one thing. And he smokes great many cigarettes
 Another taste in commoni" jeered Karl. in his smooth. carefully ironic tones.
 Annunciata was in the last stages of Irritation. There was no mistaking the sheer In karfs voice. His smile was forced. She guessed that he had heard of Nikky Larisch before, that indeed. he knew probably more than she did. Just what, she wondered was there to know7 great deal, If one could judge by Hedwig's face.
 l hope you are working hard at your lessons. Otto. she said. in the severe tone which Otto had learned that most people use when they refer 10 lessons
 I'm afraid I'm not doing very well. Tante But I've learned the 'Gettys. burg address. Shall I say it?"
 Heavens no!" she protested. She : had not the faintest idea what the 'Gettysburg address" was. She suspected Mir. Gladstone
 The countess had relapsed into sll. ence. A little back from the family circle, she had watched the whole scete stonily, and knowing Karl as only woman who loves sincerely and long can know n man. she knew the inner workings of his mind. She saw anger in the very turn of his head and set of his jaw. But she saw more. jealousy. and was herself half mad with IL.
 She knew him we'll She had her self. for years. held him by holding herself dear, by the very difficulty of attaining her. And now this indiffer. ent. white-faced girl. who might be his. indeed, for the taking. but who would offer or promise no love. was rousing him To the instinct of posse4 sion by her very indifference He had told her the truth. that night in the mountain i'm. IL was Hedwig he wanted, Heds.ig herself. her heart. all ! of her. And. If she knew Karl, he would move heaven and earth 10 get the thing he wanted
 She surveyed the group. How little they knew what was in store for them, She. Olga Loschek, by the lifting of