Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-02

cloths soaked in hot turpentine water
on his aching thigh. II
On the surface things went on as
usual at the palace. Karps visit had
been but for q day or two. He had
met the council in session, and had
had, because of their growing alarm,
rather his own way with them.
\ But although he had pointed to the
Z kings condition and theirs-as an
argument for immediate marriage
failed. The thing would be done, but
| properly and in good time. Karl left
4 them In a bad temper, well concealed,
and had the pleasure of being Kissed
through the streets.
But he comforted himself with the
thought of Hedwig. He had taken her
/ In his arms before he left, and she had
made no resistance. She had even, in
view of all that was at stake, made a
desperate effort to return his kiss, and
found herself trembling afterward.
In two weeks he was to return to
her, and he whispered that to her.
On the day after the dinner party
Otto went to hospital with Miss
Braithwaite. 1t was the custom of the
palace to send the flowers from its
spectacular functions to the hospitals,
and the crown prince delighted in
these errands.
So they went, escorted by the func-
tlonaries of the hospital, past the mill
"a rdc xr-1nr In CHI hi xy
uniforms sat on benches in the spring
sunshine, to the general wards beyond.
The crown prince was almost hidden
behind the armful he carried. Miss
Braithwaite had all she could hold.
A convalescent patient, in slippers
many sizes too large for him, wheeled
the remainder in a barrow, and almost
upset the barrow In his excitement.
Through long corridors into wards
fresh scrubbed against his arrival,
with white counterpanes exactly
square, and patients forbidden to move
and disturb the geometrical exactness
of the beds, went Prince Ferdinand
William Otto. At each bed he stopped,
selected flower, and held it out.
Some there were who reached out, and
took it with smile. Others lay still,
and saw neither boy nor blossom.
"They sleep, highness," the nurse
would say.
But their eyes are open."
'They are very weary, and resting"
In such cases he placed the flower
nil I'D
One such, however, lying with va
cant eyes fixed on the ceiling, turned
and glanced at the boy, and into his
empty gaze crept faint intelligence.
1t was not much. He seemed to ques-
ton with his eyes. That was all. As
the little procession moved on, how
ever, he raised himself on his elbow.
"Who was that?"
The ward, which might have been
interested, was busy keeping it's COW
ers straight and in following the pro-
gress Of the party. For the man had
not spoken before.
''The crown prince"
The sick man lay back and closed
his eyes. Soon he slept. His, comrade
in the next bed beckoned to sister.
| "He has spoken" he said. sEither
he RECEIVERS, or-he dies"
But Haeckel did not die. He lived
| to do his part in the coming crisis,
to prove that even the great hands Of
Black Humbert on his throat were
not so strong as his own young spirit ;
! lived indeed, to confront the terrorist
as one risen from the dead. But that
day he lay and slept, by curious irony
4 the flower from Karl's banquet in q
cup of water beside him.
On the day before the carnival, He'd
wig had a visitor, none other than the
/ Countess Loschek. Hedwig, all her
color gone now, her high spirit crushed
her heart torn into fragments and
! neatly distributed between Milky, who
had most Of 1t, the crown prince. and
the old king. Hedwig, having given
I her permission to come, greeted her
politely but without enthusiasm.
| "Highnessl" said the countess sur
veying her, may speak to you frank
lly?"
! "Please do" Hedwig REPLIED
| Everybody does, anyhow. Especially
when 1t is something dlsagreeable."
Olga Loschek watched her wari1y
She knew the family as only the out
slider could know 1t; knew that He'd
wig, who would have dlsclaimed the
fact, was like her mother in some
things, notably in disposition to be
mild until certain moment. submits
sive, even acquiescent, and then sud
denly to become, as 1t were, royalty
and grow cold. naughty. But II He'd
wig was driven in those days, so wal
the countess, desperate and driven Il
desperate methods.
Il am presuming, highness, on you
mothers kindness to me, and you
own"
well, go on" said Hedwig resign
cdly. But the next words brought hel
up in her chair.
"Are you going to allow your lIf'
to be ruined" was what the countess
said.
l.. :