Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-03-22

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length, even, at the end, rising and
pacing a few steps up and down the
room. But when he had concluded,
when the dog, so to speak, had fled
yelping to the country of dead hopes,
Prince Ferdinand William Otto merely
gulped, and said:
"Well, / wish I could have a dog"
The chancellor changed his tactics
by changing the subject. 81 was won
dering this morning, as 1 crossed the
park, If you would enjoy an excursion
soon. Could 1t be managed, Miss
Braithwaite2"
"I dare say" said Miss Braithwaite
dryly. although I must say, If there
is no Improvement in punctuation and
capital letters"
"What sort of excursionr" asked his
royal highness, guardedly. He did not
care for picture galleries.
"Out-of-doors, to see something in-
teresting. A real excursion, up the
river"
'To the fort? I do want to see the
new fort"
AS a matter of truth, the chancellor
had not thought of the fort. But like
many another before him, he accepted
the suggestion and made it his own.
ITO the fort, of course" said he.
"And take luncheon along, and eat
1t there, and have Hedwig and Nikkyf'
And see the guns?"
But this was going too fast. Milky,
of course, would go, and If the princess
cared to, she too. But luncheon! It
was necessary to remind the crown
prince that the officers at the fort
would expect to have him join their
mess.A There was a short parley over
this, and 1t was finally settled that the
officers should serve luncheon but that
there should be no speeches.
"Then that's settled" he said at last.
"I'm very happy. This morning I shall
apologize to M. Puaux."
During the remainder of the morn
ming the crown prince made various
excursions to the window to see IL the
weather was holding good. Also he
asked, during his half hours intermis-
sion, for the great box of lead soldiers
that was locked away in the cabinet.
81 shall pretend that the desk is a
fort, Miss Braithwaite," he said. do
you mind being the enemy, and pre-
tending to be shot now and then2"
But Miss Braithwaite was correcting
papers. She was willing to be a passive
onaDau an6 hn notfad OF hyrt chn droxv
the line at falling over. Prince Ferdi-
nand William Otto did not persist. He
was far too polite. But he wished in
all his soul that Milky would come.
Milky, he felt, would die often and
hard.
But Milky did not come.
At twelve o'clock, Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, clad In his riding gar
ments of tweed Knockers, puttees, and
a belted jacket, stood by the school
room window and looked out. The
inner windows of his suite faced the
court yard, but the schoolroom opened
over the place-a bad arrangement
surely, seeing what distractions to les
sons may take place in a public square,
what pigeons feeding in the sun, what
bands with drums and drum majors.
what children flying kites. +
ST don't understand It," the crown
prince said p%laintively. HE is gen.
orally very punctual. Perhaps"
But he loyalty refused to finish the
sentence. The perhaps" was q
~grievous thought, nothing less than
that Milky and Hedwig were at that
moment riding in the ring together,
and had both forgotten him.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto con.
suited his watch. 1t was of gold, and
on the inside was engraved:
ITO Ferdinand William Otto from
his grandfather, or the occasion Of his
taking his first communion"
Its getting rather late," he OBJ.
served.
Miss Braithwaite looked troubled.
mo doubt something has detained
him." she said, with unusual gentle.
ness. "You might work at the frame
for your Cousin Hedwig. Then, If
Captain Larisch comes, you can still
have a part of your lesson"
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
frightened. The burnt wood photo
graph frame for Hedwig was his de-
light. And yesterday, as a punishment
for the escapade Of the day before, it
had been put away with an alarming
air of flnality.
The typography outfit was produced,
and for fifteen minutes Prince Ferdi-
nand William Otto lab0red, his head
on one side, his royal tongue slightly
protruded. But, above the thin blue
smoke of burning, his face remained
wistful. He was afraid, terribly
afraid, that he had been forgotten
again.
81 hope Milky is not ILL.," he said
once. HE smokes a great many ciga-
ro++oc Ha couS ha Rnovve fhnU ore