Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-07
CHAPTER xxx (Confinucd)

EREETlNGS over. and having re-
VI quested that his tea be half milk
with four Jumps OF sugar. he carried his
cup over beside Hedwig, and sat down
on chair Followed a short silence.
with the Archduchess busy with the tea
things. Olga Loschek watching Karl.
and Karl intently surveying the Crown
Prince. Ferdinand William Otto, who
disliked silence. broke II first
I've just taken or my winter fan
nels, he observed. II feel very smooth
and nice underneath"
Hilda giggied but Hedwig reached
over and stroked his arm. "Of course
you do" she said gently.
Milky" continued Prince Ferdinand
William otto. stirring his tea does not
wear any nannels Miss Braithwate
thinks he Is very careless
King Karls eyes cleaned with amuse-
ment lie saw the infuriated face Of the
Archduchess, and bent toward the.Crown
Prince with earnestness.
AS matter of fact" he said, since
you have mentioned the subject do not
wear any either. Your Milky and I
seem most surprisingly to have the
same tastes-about various things"
do you like dogs?" inquired the
Crown Prince. much interested.
Dogs Why, yes. | have quite
number of dogs"
II should think It would be nicer to
have just one dog. and be very fond
Of II. But ! suppose they would eat
great deal Do you believe in love at
first sight?'
"Otto,' said the Archduchess, ex-
tremely shocked
lie turned to her apologet ically. 81
4
things he and Milky agreed about" he
explained. Milky believes in love at
first sight He says II is the only feal
hind of love, because love isn't a thing
you think out. You only feel it,
The Archduchess met Karrs eyes.
You see 90 she said.
But II Is sound doctrine" Karl
observed, bending forward and with
slanting glance at Hedwig. IL quite
agree with him again. And this friend
of yours. he thinks love is the only thing
in the world. dare say?'
'Well. he thinks great deal of 1t.
But he says that love Of country comes
first. before anything else"
The Archduchess glanced at Hedwig
furiously. The girl had closed her eyes,
and was sitting. detached and pale. She
would have liked TO box her ears. Karl
He would hear It. OF course.
Tell us about your pilgrimage.
Otto" she suggested
well, | went" said the Crown Prince
re1ectively. I'VE walked a long time,
and il was very warm. ! have quite a
large blister. and the Archbishop had
to take his shoes off and walk In his
stockings because his feet hurt. No one
saw. 1t was on country lane. But
I'm afraid 1t didn't do 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 a large sfp of tea, which
cleared his voice.
MY grandfather is not any better"
he said. perhaps some one else should
have gone. / am not very good" he
explained to Karl. ut ought to be. a
very good person He Is very sick"
Perhaps" suggested Karl mockingly,
with a glance at Hedwig. they should
have sent this Milky of yours"
Annuncata stirred restlessly, She
considered this talk of Milky In ex-
ecrable taste.
"He is not particularly good"
"Oh. so he is not particularly good?"
well. he. thinks he isn't. He says
he doesn't fnd IL easy TO love MS coun- |
try more than anything in the world. for
one thing. And he smokes great many |
cigarettes"
Another taste In common" jeered |
Karl in his smooth. carefully ironic |
tones.
Annunciata was In the last stages of |
irritation. There was no mistaking the |
sneer in Karl's voice. His smile was |
forced She guessed that he had heard |
II Milky Larisch before that. indeed,
ne knew probably more than she did.
lust what she wondered. was there to
Snow? A great deal, II one could Judge
1y Hedwig's face.
'I hope you are working hard at your
essons, Otto" she said In the severe
ones which Otto had learned that most
,eople use when they refer to lessons.
I'm afraid I'm not doing very well,
rante But I've learned the Gettysburg
.ddress.' Shall say it,"
Heavens. no!" she protested. She
,ad not the faintest idea what the
Gettysburg Address" was. She sus-
,ected Mr.. Gladstone.
The Countess had relapsed into ST.