River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-05-02

famed. Indifferent mother though she
was, she made capital Of a fear for
Hedwig's happiness.
At last she succeeded in irritating
the king-a more difficult thing now
than in earlier times, but not so hard
a matter at that. He listened quietly
until she had finished, and then sent
her away. When she had got part
way to the door, however, he called
her back. And since king, is king,
even if he is ones father and very old,
she came.
"Just one word more" he said, in
his thin, old, high-bred voice. 'Much
of your unhappiness was Of your own
making. You, and you only, know how
much. But nothing that you have said
can change the situation. / am merely
compelled to make the decision alone
and soon. 1 have not much time"
SO, after all, was the matter of the
Duchess Hedwig's marriage arranged
composite outgrowth of expediency
and obstinacy, of defiance and anger
And so was it fastened.
Irritation gave the king strength
That afternoon were summoned in
haste the members of his council-fat
old Friese, young Marschan with the
rat face, austere Bayerl with the
white skin and burning eyes, and 9th
ers. And to them all the king dis
closed his royal will. There was some
demur. But, after all, the kings will
was dominant. Friese could but voice
his protest and relapse into greasy
silence.
The chancellor sat silent during the
conclave, silent, but intent. On each
sneaker he turned his eyes, and waited
until at last ,Karl's proposal, with its
promises, was laid before them in full
Then, and only then, the chancellor
rose. His speech was short. He tolC
them of what they all knew, their own
insecurity. He spoke but word OF
the crown prince, but that softly. Ano
he drew for them a picture of tht
future that set their hearts to glowing
"a throne secure, a greater kingdom
| freedom from the costs of war, har
Dor by the sea.
The battle, which was no battle al
| all. was won. He had won. The cOun
try had won. The crown prince ha6
won. Only Hedwig had lost. AMI
only Mettlich knew just how she haC
| lost.
The necessity for work brought the
| king the strength to do it. MettlicI
remained with him. Boxes were
brought from vaults, unlocked and ex
omined. Secretaries came and went
At eight o'clock a frugal dinner was
spread in the study, and they ate il
almost literally over state documents
On and on, until midnight or there
abouts. Then they stopped. The thinG
was arranged. Nothing was left nov
but to carry the word to Karl.
Two things were necessary: Haste
The king, having determined it, woulc
lose no time. And dignity. The grand
daughter of the king must be Offered
with ceremony. No ordinary king:
messenger, then, but some dignitary o.
the court.
10 IIlS eIH0FS6ucS McLtASA AVoO LINZ
the doughty old warrior and Statesman
that he was. eff you are willing, sire,
he said, as he rose, II will go myself.
"When?"
"Since it must be done, the soonel
the better. Tonight, SIRE"
''To the capital?"
| "Not so far, Karl is hunting. He |:
at Wedding"
He went almost Immediately, ant
! the king summoned his Wallets, and wa:
| got to bed. But long after the auto
mobile containing Mettlich and two Sc
cret agents was on the road toward
the mountains, he tossed on his mar
row bed. To what straits had the,
come indeed He closed his eye'
YEARLY. Something had gone out O
his life. He did not realize at frs
what it was When he did, he smiles
his old grim smile in the darkness.
He had lost a foe. More than any
thing, perhaps, he had dearly loved ;
foe.