Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-03-21
CHAPTER VUI-Continued.

-
The quay receded, red carpet and all.
Only the blare Of the band followed
them. and with the persistence OF
sound over water, followed them for
some time.
1t was Hedwlg who showed the most
depression on the trip, after all. Early
that morning she had attended mass
In the royal chapel. All the household
had been there, and the king had been
wheeled In, and had sat In his box,
high In the wall, the door OF which
opened from his private suite.
Looking up, Hedwlg had e his
gray old face set and rigid. The court
had worn black, and the chapel was
draped In crepe. She had fallen on
her knees and had tried dutifully to
pray for the dead Hubert. But her
whole soul was crying out for help for
herself.
So now she sat very quiet, and won.
dered about things.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto sat
by the rail and watched the green
banks flying by.
When no n was looking, he broke
a flower from the bouquet and flung 1t
overheard. He pretended that 1t was a
boat, and was going down to karnia,
filled with soldiers ready to fight.
But the thought of soldiers brought
Milky to his mind. His face clouded.
tits very strange about Milky" he
said. HE Is away somewhere. l wish
he had sent word he was going"
Hedwig looked out over the river.
The a%rchduchess glanced at Miss
Braithwaite. "There Is no news2" she
asked, in an undertone.
"None," said Miss Rraithwaite.
A sudden suspicion rose In Hedwig's
mind, and made her turn pale. What
II they had sent him away? Perhaps
they feared him enough for that! II
that were true, she would never know.
She knew the ways Of the palace well
enough for that. In q sort Of terror
she glanced around the group, so COM
fortably disposed. Her mother was
looking out, with her cool, impressive
gaze. Miss Braithwaite knitted. The
countess, however, met her eyes, and
there was something strange in them
triumph and a bit Of terror, too, had
she but read them. For the countess
had put In her plea for a holiday and
had been refused.
The new fortress faced the high road
some Ave miles from the Karnian Dor
der. 1t stood on a bluff over the river,
and was, as the crown prince decided,
not so unlike the desk, after all, ex'
cept that It had a moat around 1t.
Hedwig and the countess went with
the party around the Notifications
The archduchess and !. ISIS Brnithwaite
had sought u fire. Only the countess
however seemed really Interested
Hedwig seemed more intent on the dis.
tant line Of the border than on any
thing else. She stood on a rampant
and stared out ut II, looking very sad
Even the drlll-when ut a word all the
great guns rose and peeped over the
edge at the valley below, and tler
dropped backed again as II they hat
seen enough-even this failed to rouse
her.
II wish you would listen, Hedwig.'
said the crow prince. almost ~fretfully
ats 20 interesting. The encmy's sol
diers would come up the river In boats
and along that road on foot. And ther
We would raise the guns and shoot al
them. And the guns would drop bacl
agaIn. before the enemy hud time t
aim at them"
But Hedwig's interest was 80 evi
IDENTITY assumed that he turned to tn
countess. The countess p~rofessc,
smiling terror. and stood a little wa,
back from the guns. looking on. Blu
Prince Ferdinand William Otto at las
coaxed her to the top Of the emplace
ment.
There's q nns view up there" b
urged. "And the guns won't hurt yot
There's nothing In them"
To get up II was necessary to clIin
90 iron ladder. Hedwig was alread
Tiers. About 4 dosen young oficer
had. helped her up. and ruined q
many pairs Of white gloves. aithoug
HedwiS could siimk IKE . Cat. an