The Dermott news., 1918-02-28

mother referred to-" Hedwig held her
head very high. "I-she was unjust.
Am l never to have any friends?"
Friends. highness? One may have
friends, of course. 1t Is not friendship
they fear"
what then?"
"A lover" said the countess softly.
ut is impossible to see Captain Lar
isch in your presence, and not
realize"
Go on"
And not realize. highness. that he
is In love with you"
How silly" said the Princess He'd
wig. with glowing eyes.
But highness I" implored the count
ess. III only you would use little
caution. Open defiance is its own de-
feat"
II am not ashamed Of what do"
said Hedwig hotly.
Ashamed or course not But
things that are harmless in others in
your position-you are young You
should have friends. gayety. | am"
she smiled grimly in the darkness,
mot so old myself but that l can un-
derstand"
Hedwig stood still. The old city was
preparing for sleep. In the place a
few lovers loitered, standing close. and
the faint tinkling of a bell told of the
Blessed Sacrament being carried
through the streets to some bedside of
the dying. The Princess Hedwig
bowed her head.
1t seemed to her. all ut once. that
the world was full of Indebtedness aud
death, aud of separation. which might
be worse than death.
II wish could help you. highneSs,"
said the countess. Il should like to
see you happy. But happiness does
not come of itself. We must fight for
it,"
Flight? What chance have l to
tight?' Hcdwig asked scornfully.
lone thing. of course. l could do"
pursued the countess. "On those days
when you wish 10 have tea with-hiS
royal highness. l could arrange, per-
haps. To let you know If any member
OF the family intended going TO his
apartments"
1t WAS moment before Hedwig
comprehended. Then she turned to
her haughtily. when l wish to have
tea with my cousin" she said coldly.
II shall do II openly, countess"
She left the balcony abruptly. aban-
Inninu fha RI Fury
the greater because triumph had
seemed so near. Alone, she went red
and white, bit her lips. behaved ac-
cording to all the time-honored ira
ditions. And even swore-in a polite,
dy-inwaiting fashion, to be sure
to get even.
Things were going very wrong for
Milky Larisch.
Perhaps, at the very first, he had
been In love with the princess, not the
woman. 1t had been rather like him
10 fix on the unattainable and wor-
ship It from afar. Because, for all the
friendliness of their growing intimacy.
Hedwig was still star, whose light
touched him, but whose warmth was
not for him. He would have died
fighting for her with smile on his
lips. But he had no hope of living
for her, unless, OF course, she should
happen TO need him. which was most
unlikely. He had no vanity whatever
although In parade dress, with white
gloves. he hoped he cut decent figure
So she had been his star, and rs cold
and remote. And then, that very
morning. Iedwig had been thrown
Not badly-she was too expert fer
that As n matter OF fact, feeling her +
young arms around her horses neck.
and had almost succeeded in lighting
on her feet. Ii was not nj all
dramatic.
But Nikky's heart had stopped beat
ing. He had lifted her up from where
she sat, half veXed and wholly |
ashamed. and carried her 10 chair. |
That was all. But when 1t was all |
over, and Hedwig was only trihe
wobbly and horribly Inundated.
Milky Larisch knew the truth about /
himself. knew that he was In love
with the granddaughter Of his king.
and that under no conceivable circum-
stances would he ever be able to tell |
her so. Knew. then. that happiness
and he had said long farewell. and
would thereafter travel different
roads.
So that night he started out to think