Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-28
CHAPTER XII.
Milky Makes a Promise.

Lie CuduCellOC' uVeO dlOu6, III HIS
little house near the palace, a house
that looked strangely like him, over
hanging eyebrows and all, with win
idows that were like his eyes, clear
and concealing many secrets. A grim,
gray little old house, which concealed
behind 1T u walled garden full Of un-
Expected charm. And that, too, wwes
like the chancellor.
Mathilde kept his house for him,
;mended and pressed his uniforms,
washed and starched his linen,
.quurreled with the orderly who at
tended him, and drove him to bed at
plight.
Mathilde was in touch with the peo-
pie. 1t was Mathilde, and not one Of
dis agents, who had brought word Of
the approaching revolt Of the copper
smiths guild, and enabled him to check
il. almost before 1t began. A stole, this
AIathilde, with her tall, spare figure
and glowing eyes, stole and patriot.
Once every month she burned four
candles before the shrine Of Our Lady
lof Sorrows in the cathedral, because
of four sons she had given to her coun-
f-y.
sOn the evening of the day Hedwig
had made her futile appeal to the king,
the chancellor sat alone. His dinner,
almost untasted, lay at his elbow. It
was nine o'clock. At something after
seven he had paid his evening visit to
the king, and had found him uneasy
and restless.
".sit down." the king had said. II
need steadying, old friend"
"Steadying, sire7"
81 have had q visit from Hedwig.
Rather stormy one, poor child" He
turned and fixed on his chancellor his
faded eyes. "You still think it is the
best thing?"
ut is the only thing"
"But all this haste" put in the, king
ENORMOUSLY. us that 50 necessary?
Hedwig begs for time. She hardly
knows the man."
'"Time! But I thought" He hesi-I
tated. How say to a dying man that;
time was the one thing he did not,
have?
Another thing. She was incoherent,
but I gathered that there was some one,
Use. The whole interview was cy-i
clonic. It seems, however, that this
young protege Of yours, Larisch, has
been making love to her over .Ottos
head"
Mettlich's face hardened, a gradual
process, as the news penetrated in all,
its significance.
"A boy and girl affair. sire. He is
loyal. And in all of this, you and are
reckoning without Kari. The princess
hardly knows him, and naturally she
is terrified. But his approaching visit
will make many changes. He is fine
figure of man, and women-">
Exactly" said the king dryly.|
What the chancellor meant was that
women always had loved Karl. and the
king understood.
"His wild days are over" bluntly
observed the chancellor. "He is forty,
Sire" y
Aye" said the king. "And at forty
4 bad man changes his nature, and
purifies himself In marriagel Nom
sense, Karl will be as he has always
been. But we have gone into this be-
fore. Only, I am sorry. for Hedwig.
Got rid Of this young Larisch.''
Tho chancellor sat rejecting, his
chin dropped forward on his breast,
lotto will miss him."
"Well, out with 1t. I may not dis
miss him. What, then?'
ut is always easy to send men away.
But sit IL sometimes better to retain!
them, and force them to your will. We
have here an arrangement that is sat
istactory. Lar.sch ts keen. young, and
loyal. Hedwig has thrown herself at
him., For that, sire, she is responsible,
not he
."'Then get rid Of her." growled the|
king.
The chancellor rose. IF the situation
Is left to me, SIRE" he said, II will
promise two things. That Otto will;
keep his friend. and that the Princess
Hedwig will bow to your wishes with
4 out further argument"
srDol II, and God help you," said the,
king, again with the flicker Of ahuse-;
Sment.
The chancellor had gone home,
walking heavily along the darkeningi
streets. Once again he had conquered
Th1 rains Remained y his guarded nd