The Dermott news., 1918-05-09
CHAPTER XV-Continued,
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And Karl. with Hedwig in his mind, had promised.
 X His interests shall be mine, sir," ~he1had said.
 ~had bent over the bed then, and raised the thin hand to his lips. The Interview was over. In the anteroom the kings master of the horse, the men stood waiting talking together in low tones. But the chancellor, who had gone in with Karl and then re- tired, stood by window, with his arms folded over his chest, and waited. He put resolutely out of his mind the face of the dying man on his pillows, and thought only of this thing which he%Mettlich-had brought about. There was no yielding in his face or in his heart, no doubt of his course. He saw. instead of the lovers lettering in the place. new and greater king dom. anarchy held down by an iron shod heel. peace and the fruits there of, until out of very prosperity the people grew fat and content.
 He saw boy king, carefully taught, growing into his responsibilities until, big with the vision of the country's welfare, he should finally ascend the throne. He saw the river filled with ships. carrying merchandise over the world and returning with the wealth of the world. Great buildings, too, lifted their heads on his horizon. Il dream city. with order for disorder, aixi citizens instead of inhabitants.
 When at last he stirred and sighed. it'Nwas because his old friend. in his bed in the next room. would see noth- Ing of all this. and that he himself could not hope for more than the be- ginning. before his time came also.
 The first large dinner for months was given that night at the palace, to do King Karl all possible honor. The gold service which had been presented to the king by the czar of Russia was used. The antIcipatory gloom of the court was laid aside. and jewels brought from vaults were worn for the first time in months. Uniforms of various sorts. but all gorgeous, touched une shoulders. and came away. bear Ing white, powdery traces of the meet Ing. The greenhouses at the summer palace had been sacked for flowers and plants. The corridor from the great salon 10 the dining hall. always Il dreary passage. had suddenly become fairy path of early spring bloom. Even Annunciata. hung now with ropes of pearls, her hair dressed high for A tiara of diamonds. her cameos exchanged for pearls, looked royal. Proving conclusively that clutter, as to dress, is entirely matter of value.
 Miss Braithwuite, who had begun recently to think palace the dreariest ssce in the world, and the most com rather exciting. Being British she dearly loved tho aristoeracy, and shrugged her shoulders at any family which took up less than page in the peerage. She resented deeply the in- trusion of the eommoner into British politics. and considered Lloyd George an upstart and an interloper.
 That evening she took the crown prince to see the preparations for the festivities. The flowers appealed to him, and he asked for and secured a rose, which he held carefully. But the magnificenee of the table only faintly impressed him. and when he heard that Nikky would not be present. he lost interest entirely. ''Will they wheel my grandfather in in Il chair?" he inquired.
 He Is too ill.," Miss Braithwaite saiA
 Hell be rather lonely. when they're all at the party. You don't suppose could go and sit with him, do you"
 -<it will be long after your bed ume."
 Bedtime being the one rule which was never under and circumstances broken. he did not persist. To have insisted Miss Braithwaite's book, and his rec ord was very good that week. To getier the elderly English woman and the boy went back to the school room
 The Countess Loschek. who had
 
 dressed with heavy heart. was easily tbe most beautiful of the women that night. A little court paid tribute to her beauty. and bowed the deeper and fiattered the more as she openly scorped and fiouted them. She caught once q flicker of admiration in karl's face. and although her head went high, her heart beat stormily under it.
 Hedwig was like flower that re- quired the sun. Only her sun was happiness. She was in soft white chiffons, her hair and frock alike girl ish aud unpretentious. Her mother, coming into her dressing room. had seyed her with dsfavor.
 "You louk like schoolgirl" she said, and had sent for rouge. and with her own royal hands applied it. He'd wig stood silent. and allowed her to have her way without protest. Hnd submitted, too, to q diamond pin in her