Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-16
Will totter. Like this one"

'That is what I said. Rouse your
self, Annunclata. Leave that little
boudoir of yours, with its accursed
clocks and it's heat and its flub-dub-
berry, and see what Is about you Dis
content! Revolution! We are hardly
safe from day to day. Do you think
that what happened nine years ago
was flash that died as it came? Non
sense. Read this !"
he held out the paper and she put
on her pince-nez and read its headings,
a trifle disdalnfully. But the next mo-
ment she rose, and stood in front Of
him, almost as pale as he was. "You
allow this sort of thing to be pub
lished?"
mo. But it is published
"And they dare to say things like
this? Why, tit is"
Exactly. It is, undoubtedly" He
was very calm. II would not have
troubled you with it. But the sit
uation is bad. We are rather help.
less"
"Not-the army, too?"
"What can we tell? These things,
spread like fires. Nothing may hap
pen for years. On the other hand. to-
morrow"
The archduchess was terrified. She,
had known that there was disaffection'
about. She knew that in the last few.
years precautions at the palace had:
been increased. Sentr1es were doubled.
| Men in the uniforms Of lackeys, but
doing no labor, were everywhere. But
with time and safety she had felt SCI
cure.
"Of course" the king resumed:
things are not as bad as that paper;
Indicates. It is the voice Of the few,
rather than the many. Still, 1t Is a
voice."
Annunciata looked more than her age
now. She glanced around the room
Jas though, already, she heard the mob
at the doors.
ITO return to the matter Of He'd
wigs marriage" said the king. Ct"
Marriage! When our very lives are
Threatened!
Il would be greatly honored," said,
the king. III might ,be permitted to
finish what was saying"
|! She had the grace to flush.
Under the circumstances" the
king resumed, "Hedwigs marriage
takes on great sfguiflcance-great po-,
litical significance"
! For half-hour then, he talked to
her. More than for years, he I'M
bosomed himself. He had tried. His
ministers had tried. Taxes had been
frightened; the representation Of the
people increased, until, as he saiu, he.
was only nominally a ruler. But dis
content remained. Some who had gone
to America and returned with savings
enough to set themselves up in BUSH
ness, had brought back with them the
American idea.
Annunciata listened to the end. She
felt no pity for those who would bet
ter themselves by discomfort and it's
product, revolt. She felt only resent
ment, that her peace was being threat
ened, her position assailed. And in
her resentment she included the king
himself. He should have done better.
And something Of this she did not
hesitate to say. "Karnia is quiet
enough," she finished, final thrust.
"Karnia is better OF. A lowland,
most Of it, and fertile" But a spot
of color showed in his old cheeks. II
Jam glad you spoke Of Karnia. What
ever plans we make, Karnia must be-
considered"
"Why1 Karnia does not consider
g."
| BE raised his hand. "You are
wrong. Just now. Karnia is doing W
the honor Of asking an alliance with
us. A matrimonial alliance"
The archduchess was hardly sur.
prised, as one may believe. But she
was not minded Tos yield too easily.
The old resentment against her father
famed. Indifferent mother though she
was, she made capital Of 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, AMI you only, know how
much. Bat nothing that you have said
can change the situation. / am merely
compelled to make the decision alone
| and soon. have not much time"
So, after all, was the matter Of the
Duchess Hedwig's marriage arranged,
a composite outgrowth Of expediency!
and obstinacy, Of defiance and anger!
And so was 1t fastened
Irritation gave the king strength.
That afternoon were summoned in
haste the members of his council-fat,
old Friese, young Marschall with the
rat face. austere Bayerl with the
white skin and burning eyes, and 9TH
ers. And to them all the king dis
(Contfnued ON f.ARa Savenl