New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-10-25

"ACh ~ IA uo tokh ONSAi
or leap the track. But we didn't"
The king lay back and thought. More
than anything in the world he loved
this boy. But the occasion demanded
a strong hand. "You were happy" he
said. you were disObedient, you
were causing grave anxiety and dis
tress-and you were happy! The first
duty of a prince Is to his country. His
first lesson is to obey laws. He must
always obey certain laws. A king Is
but the servant Of his people. Some
day you will be the king. You are be-
Ing trained for that high Office now.
And yet you. would set the example
of INSTRUMENTATION, disObedience, and
reckless disregard Of the feelings OF
Others"
"Yes, sir" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, feeling very small and
ashamed.
mot only that. You slipped away,
You did not go openly. You snenked
off, like Il thief. Are you proud OF
it?"
NO, SIT.
II shall" said the king, require no
promise from you. Promises are poor
things to hold to. l leave this matter
in your WI hands, Otto. You will be
punished by Miss Braithwaite, and for
the next ten days you will not visit
me. You may go now"
Otto got off his chair. He was feel
ing exceedingly crushed. Good night.
sir" he said. And waited for his
grandfather to extend his hand. But
the old king lay looking straight ahead.
with his mouth set in grim lines, and
his hands folded over his breast.
At the door the crown prince turned
and bowed. His grandfather's eyes
were fixed on the two gold eagles over
the door, but the photograph on the
table appeared to be smiling at him.
Until late that night General Nett
Itch and the king talked together. The
king had been lifted from his bed and
sat propped in ii great chair. Above
his shabby dressing gown his face
showed gaunt and old. In a straight
chair facing him sat his old friend and
chancellor.
What it has shown is not entirely
bad" said the king, after a pause.
'"The boy has initiative. And he made
no attempt at evasion. He is essential
ly truthful"
what it has also shown. sire, is
that no protection is enough. When
!, who love the lad, and wOuld-when
1 could sleep, and let him get away,
as I did"
"The truth is" said the king, I'VE
are both of us getting old" He tapped
with his gnarled fingers on the blanket
that lay over his knees. 1.-The truth
is also" he observed a moment later,
that the boy has very few pleasures.
He is alone a great deal"
General Mettlich raised his shaggy
head. Many years of wearing n SOL
dier's cap had not injured his heavy
gray hair. He had bristling eyebrows.
white now, and a short. fighting mus
tache. When he was irritated, or dis
with any one, his eyebrows
down and the mustache went up.
Many years of association with his
king had given him the right to talk
him as man to a They even
quarreled now and then. 1t was a
brave man who would quarrel with old
II.
So now his eyebrows came down
and his mustache went up. How
alone. sire?"
you do not regard that bigOted
English woman as a companion, do
your
"She is a thoughtful and conscien-
woman, sire" he said stiffly. 1t
happened that he had selected her.
'She does her duty. And as to the
boy being lonely, he has no time to be
lonely. His tutors"
"Hdw old is he3"
"Ten lex MONTH"
The king said nothing for a time.
Is hard" he said at last.
''for seventy-fOur to see with the eyes
of ten. AS for this afternOOn-why in
the name of a thousand devils did
take him to see the Flying
l detest it."
CTO BE CONTINUED)