Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-08
, IAN old man, In the hands Of his


too late" she cried at last EVERY
thing is arranged. I cannot refuse
now. They would don't know what
they would do to me-"
dol To the granddaughter Of the
king. What can they dor"
That aspect Of things, to do her
credit, had never occurred to Hedwig.
She paused In front Of the countess.
what can I dor she asked pitifully.
''That dare not presume to say.
came because I felt can only say
what, in your place, I should do"
II am afraid. You would not bel
afraid" Hedwig shivered. what
would you dot" ,
IF knew, highness, that some one,
for whom I cared, himself cared Deep
iy enough to make any sacrifice, Il
should demand happiness. I rather
think I should lose the world, and gain
something like happiness"
'Demandw Hedwig said hopeless,
ly. Eyes, you would demand 1t. can
not demand things. am always too
frightened"
The countess rose. II am afraid I,
have done an unwise thing" she said
tf your mother knew" She
shrugged her shoulders.
"You have only been kind. I have so
few who really care"
The countess curtsied, and made for
the door. II must 60" she said, "be-
fore I go further, highness. My
apology is that saw you unhappy, and,
that resented it, because"
"YesT'
.'Because I considered it unnecesl
eary."
She was q very wise woman. She
left then, and let the next step come
from dedwig. It followed, as q mat
ter Of record, within the hour, At least
tour hours sooner than she had antici-
pated. She was In her boudoir, not
reading, not even thinking, but sitting
staring ahead, q Minna had seen her
do repeatedly In the past weeks. She
dared not think, for that matter.
Hedwie's notification that she would
visit her, found tho countess at leisure
and alone. She followed the announce
ment almost Immediately, and If she
had shown cowardice before. che
showed none now. She disregarded
the chair Olga Loschek offered, and
came to the point with directness
that was like the Hng'A
IT have come" she said simply, ITO
find out what to do"
The countess was as direct.
II cannot tell you what to do, high
ness. I can only tell you what Z
would do"
every WELL" Hedwig showed a
touch Of impotence. This was Quib-
bling. and It annoyed her.
II should 60 away, now, with tho
person I cared about"
"Where would you got"
1.-THE world IL wide. highness."
"Not wide enough to hide in, I am
efraid."
( "For myself" said the countess, "the
problem would not be difficult I
should 80 to my place In the noun
tains. An old priest, who knows ma
well. would perform the marriage!
After that they might find me II they
qiked. It would be too late.''
"This priest-he might be difficult =
"Not to young couple, come to him,
perhaps, in peasant costume. They
are glad to marry, these fathers
There is much irregulanty. l fancy"
she added, still with her carefully de-
tached manner. "that marriage could
be easily arranged"
: But, before long, abe had dropped
her pretense Of aloofness, and was tax;
ing tho lead. HedwiE weary with the
struggle, and now trembling with
nervousness, put herself in her hands,
listening while she planned, agreed!
eagerly to everything. Something of
grim amusement came into Olga Los4
chek's face after a time. BY doing this
thing she would lsse everything. It
would be impossible to conceal her
connivance. No one, knowing Hedwig.II
would for moment imagine the plan
hers. Or Nikky's, either, for that matt
ter.
I: She, then. would lose everything
even Karl, who was already lost to herr
But and her face grew set and her
eyes hard-she would let those plot1
tiers in their grisly catacombs do their;
own filthy work. Her hands would be-
clean Of that. Hence her amusement,
that at this late day she, Olga Loschek.
Sh.c...a &c ss:vsn. her own soul.
So 1t was arranged, to the last de-
tail. For it must be done at once.i
Hedwig, trife terrified, would have
postponed it day or SO, but the
countess was insistent. Only she knew
how the very hours counted, had them
numbered, indeed, and watched them
flying by with q sinking heart.
II she gave a f1eeting Thought TO ui5,
palace, to the crown prince and his Inn
pending fate, she dismissed 1t quick
~. She had no affection for An
nunciata, and az to the boy, let them
look out for him. Let Mettlich guard
his treasure, or lose 1t to his peril.
The passage under the gate was not
Of her discovery q informing.
60 be Continued.