The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-06-29

heart. was stealthily Swallowed. Be
fore this, fine ladies had changed gar
ments with their maids and escaped
from divers unpleasantnesses.
At the end of two days the countess
was able to be up. She moved
lnnguidly about her room, still too
weak to plan.
And on the fourth day came the
crown prince of Livonia on Il pill
grimage.
The manner Of his coming was this:
There are more ways than one of
reaching the hearts of an uneasy peo-
plc. Remission of taxes is Il bad one.
II argues d mistake in the past in eX-
acting such titheS. Governments may
make errors, but must not acknoWl-
edge them. There is the freeing of
political prisoners, but that, too, Is
dangerous, when such prisoners
breathe sedition to the very prison
walls.
And there is the appeal to sentiment
The government, pinning all its hopes
to one small boy, would further endear
him to the people. Willy statesman
that he was, the chancellor had hit
on this to Offset the rumOrs of He'd
wigs marriage.
"A pilgrimage!' said the king, when
the matter was preached to him. For
what? My recovery? Cannot you let
your servant depart in peace?'
"Pilgrimages," observed the Chancel-
lor. have had marvellous results, sire.
| do not insist that they perform
miracles, rs some believe,"-he smiled
faintly-"but as a matter of public
feeling and a remedy for diScord, they
are sometimes Ctiicacious."
81 See" said the king. And lay still.
looking at the ceiling.
Can it DE done safe,y?" he asked
at last.
THE maddest traitor would not
threaten the crown prince on pill
grimage. The people would tear him
| limb from limb"
Nevertheless, should take all pre-
| cautions" said the king. "A mailman
|
nature of the affair"
The same day the chancellor visited
| Prince Ferdinand William Otto, and
found him returned from his drive and
busy over Hedwigs photograph frame.
1T is almost DONE" he said. Il
slipped over in one or two places, but
it is not very noticeable, is lit"
| The chancellor observed 1t judicially,
and decided that the slipping over was
not noticeable at all.
"Otto," said the chancellor gravely,
II want to talk to you very seriously
about something I~would like you to
do. For your grandfather"
"I'I do anything for him, sir"
1--WE know that. This is the point.
He has been i'll for a long time. Very
ill.,"
The boy watched him with trou-
bled face. "He looks very thin" he
said. II get quite worried when see
him."
Exactly. You have heard of Etzel?''
Prince Ferdinand William Ottos
|
He had, indeed, heard of EtZel. he
knew the famous pilgrimages in order,
and could say them rapidly, beginning
the year of Our Lord 915-the Emperor
Otto and Adelheid, his spouse; the
year of Our Lord 100, Ulrich, Count
of Ruburg; and so on.
"When people are ill.," he said sage
ly, they go to Etzel to be cured"
Precisely. But when they cannot &c
they send some one else, to pray 1or
them. And sometimes, if they have
faith enough, the holy miracle happens
and they are cured"
The chancellor was deeply religious
and although he had planned the pll
grimage for political reasons, TOR the
moment, he lost sight of them. Nha'
if, after all, this clear-eyed, clean
hearted child could bring this miracle
of the kings recovery? 1t was
famous shrine, and stranger things hat
been brought about by less worthy
agencies.
Il thought" he said, that II yot
would go to Etzel, Otto, and there pray
for your grandfathers recovery, 1t
it would be a good thing"
; The meaning of such pilgrimage
dawned suddenly on the boy. His eyes
filled, and because he considered 1t un
manly to weep, he slid from his chall
and went to the window.
I'm afraid he's going to die" N
said. in a smothered voice.
!. The chancellor followed him to TIT
window, and put an arm around hi
shoulders. Even that would not b'
so terrible, Otto" he said. death
to the old, is not terrible. 1t Is a.
open door, through which they go glad
ly, because-because those who hav'
gone ahead are waiting just beyond
, it."
Are my mother and father wait
ing"
/ "Yes, Otto"
He considered. "And my grand
mother?'
, YES"
: He'll be very glad to see them al
, again"
very happy, indeed. But we nee'
; him here, too, for a while. You Nee
t him and-I. So we will go and pra
> to have him wait little longer be
oh