The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-05-15
as Captain Larisch you refer to mad

II do, sire. Mailman Is the word.
"IIe is q prisoner" Karl said, in q
new tone, stern enough now. "He as
sauted and robbed one of my men
lie stole certain documents. That he
has not suffered for it already was be.
cause-well, because l believed that
the unfortunate distrust between your
country and mine, excellency, was
about to end"
A threat that, undoubtedly. Let the
arrangement between Karnia and Ii
vonia be made, with Hedwig to seal
! the bargain, and Milky was safe
enough. But let Livonia demand too
much, or not agree at all, and Milky
was lost. Thus did Milky Larisch play
his small part in the game of nations.
| Suppose" said Karl unctuously,
"that we discuss first another more I'M
portant matter. l confess to certain
Impotence" He bowed slightly.
The chancellor hesitated. Then he
glanced thoughtfully at the paper in
his hand.
Through a long luncheon, the two
| alone and even the servants dis
missed, through longer afternoon,
negotiations went on. Mettlich fought
hard on some points, only to meet de-
feat. Karl stood firm. The great fort
resses on the border must hereafter
contain only nominal garrisons. For
the seaport strip he had almost dou-
bled his price. The railroad must be
"The Princess Hedwig," Karl said
suddenly. "She has been told, o.
course?"
"Not officially. She knows, how
ever"
"How does she regard it?'
The chancellor hesitated. Like
most young women, she would prefer
making her own choice. But that"
he added hastily, "is but within. She
is lovable and amiable girl. When
the time comes, she will be willing
enough"
Karl stared out through one of the
heavily curtained windows. He was
not so sure. And the time had gone
by when he would have enjoyed the
tanning of girl. Now he wanted
peace-was he not paying price for
it?-and children to inherit his WELL
managed kingdom. And perhaps-who
knows?-a little love. Before him rose
a vision of Hedwig, her frank eyes, her
color that rose and fell, her soft, round
body.
you have no reason to believe that
she has-looked elsewhere?"
"None, SIRE" said the chancellor
stoutly.
BY late afternoon all was arranged,
papers signed and witnessed, and the
two signatures affixed, the one small
and cramped-a soldiers hand; the
other bold and flowing-the scrawl of
Il king. And Hedwig, save for the cere-
mony, was the bride of Karl Of Kar-
MIA.
1t was then that the chancellor rose
and stretched his legs. sand now,
SIRE" he said, "since we are friends
and no longer enemies, you will,
know, release that mad boy of mine."
"When do you start back?"
"Within an hour"
Before that time," said Karl, "you
shall have him, chancellor"
And with that Mettlich was forced
to be content. He trusted Karl no
more now than he ever had. But he
made his adieus with no hint of trou-
BILE in his face.
Karl stood for moment in the open
air. 1t was done, then, and well done.
1t was hard to realize. He turned to
the west, where for so long behind the
mountains had lurked an enemy. A
new era was opening; peace, disarma-
ment, quiet and prosperous land. He
had spent his years of war and women.
That was over.
When he returned to the study the
agent Kaiser was already there. But
Karl, big with plans for the future,
would have been alone, and eyed the
agent with disfavor.
"Well?" he demanded.
1--WE have been able to search the
rooms, SIRE" the agent
said, "for the articles mentioned last
night-a card case, gloves, and silk
belonging to the prls-
oner upstairs. He is Captain Larisch,
aide-de-camp to the crown prince OF
Livonia."
He had expected Karl to be I'M
pressed. But Karl only looked at him.
II know that" he said coldly. "You
are always just little late with your
Information, Kaiser"
Something like malice showed in the |
agents face. "Then you also know,
sire, that it is this Captain Larisch |
with whom rumor couples the name of |
The Princess Hedwig." He stepped back |
a pace or two at sight Of Karl's face. |
You requested such information, SIRE"
For answer, Karl pointed to the door.
For some time after he had dis
missed the agent, Karl paced his
library alone. Kaiser brought no I'M
a.ta. If n.