The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-12-26

eenee OF uuy anQ loyalty 10 M
CHAPTER xii-conunued.
II
But long after Milky had gone he sa,
In tho darknessL He felt old and tired
and q hypocrite. The boy would NOT
forget, as he himself had not forgot.
ton.
Peter Niburg was shot at dawn the
next morning. he went. q coward. to
his death. held between two guards
and crying piteously. But he died q
brave man. Not once In the long hours
II his interrogation had be betrayed
the name Of the Countess Losehek.
.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand vii.
nam Otto Of Lvonia was having Q
birthday. Now. Q birthday for Q crown
prince Of Lvonia ID not . matter Of Q
cake with candles on II, and having
biz ears pulled. once for each year and
an sRtrA one to Crow on. Nor Of .
holiday from lessons. and O picnic In
spring woods. Nor q party, with chill.
dren frolicking and scratching the best
furniture.
In the FIRST place. he was Weakened
ct dawn and taken to early service In
the chapel. q 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 AZ erect az possible, and
yawned only once.
At eleven o'clock came word that the
king was too LII to have him to
luncheon. but that he would see him
for Q few moments that afternoon.
Prince Ferdinand william Otto. who
was diagramming the sentence, "Abra.
ham Lincoln freed the slaves In Amer
ica." and doing II wrong. looked up In
dismay.
"Td like to know what's the use Of
having q birthday" he declared re-
belliously.
The king did not approve Of birth
day gifts. 30 there were no gifts.
None. that is. until the riding hour
came. and Milky. subverter Of all dis
cipline. He had brought a fg lady,
wrapped in paper.
Its quite fresh" he said. as they
walked together across the place.
"Tll give II to you when we get to the
riding school. / saw the woman my
self take II 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 neal
the boy, respondent 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. 80 small,
10 appealing. against his magnificent
background, was q 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 we're men Of
family. Surely no father OF a son
could see that lonely child and mo-
offer him loyalty.
With the same wisdom, he had given
the boy small instruction, and nc
speech OF thanks. LET him say what
comes into his head" Mettiich had
reasoned. eft will at least b
spontaneous and boyish."
The FIRST formalities over. and thu
crown prince having shaken handi
nine times. the spokesman stepped for
ward. He had brought a long. writer
speech. which had already been giver
to the newspapers. But after a mo
ment's hesitation he folded It up.
your royal highness." he said. look
ing down. II have here q long speech
but all that Il contains ! can say brief
~. II Is your birthday. highness. W.
come, representing many others, to pre-
sent to you our congratulations, and
the love Of your people. 1t II on
hope"-he paused. Emotion and q
element were getting ths better o.
him-"Cvr hors. highness, that yo'
will have many happy years. 10 fur
Their that hope. we = here today u
say that we. representing all classes
are your most loyal subjects. We hav'
fought for his majesty the king. an,
n necessary We win fight for you
He glanced beyond the child at tn
couns1l, and his tone was strong IN,
tmpaaionsd. 'But today We are here
not 10 spsak Of war. but to prssen
% you our eonustuistionA our d
Notion, and cur loyalty"
AAso Q .easkst He hs1 eegestts1