The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-03-14
By Mary
Roberts Rinehart


king. "that you have alarmed great
many people"
'Tm sorry, sir. I didn't think"
"a princes duty is to think. WherS
did you go?"
:'To the park. sir. IL thought I'd
like to see the park by myself. It's
very hard to enjoy things with Miss
Braithwaite. sir. She does not really
enjoy the things I like. Milky and
l."
by Milky you mean Lieutenant
LarischT
Eyes, sir"
"Go on."
"we like the same things, sir-the
Pikes-Peak-or- Bust, and all that"
The king raised himself on his el-
bow. "what was thatf" he demanded.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
blushed, and explained. 1t was Bob
by's name for the peak at the top Of
the scenic railway. He hnd been on
the railway. He had been-his en-
thusinsm carried him away. His
cheeks flushed. He sat forward on the
edge of his chair, and gesticuiated.
81 was awfully happy, sir" he ended.
"It feels like flying. only safer. And
the lights are pretty. It's like fairy
land. There were two or three times
when 1t seemed as II we'd turn over.
or leap the track. But We didn't"
The king lay back and thought. More
than anything in the world he loved
this boy. But the occasion demanded
n strong hand. "You were happy" he
said. "You were disobedient, you
were causing grave anxiety and dis
tress-and you were happy! The arst
duty of prince Is to HIS country. His
first lesson Is to obey laws. He must
always obey certain laws. A king II
but the servant of his people. Some
day you will be the king. You are b.
Ing trained for that high office now.
And yet you would set the example
OF insubordination. disobedience, and
reckless disregard Of the feelings OF
Others"
"Yes, sir" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto. feeling very small and
ashamed.
"Not only that, You slipped away.
: You did not go openly. You sneaked
Off, like thief. Are you proud Of
itf'
mo, SIR"
ri SHALL" said the king. "require no
promise from you. Promises are poor
} things to hold to. leave this matter
In your own hands, Otto. You will b.
punished by Miss Braithwaite. and for
: the next ten days you will not visit
] me. You may 60 now"
Otto got OF his chair. He was feel-
ing exceedingly crushed. Good night,
= SIR" he said. And waited for his
!, grandfather to extend his hand. But
5 the old king lay looking straight ahead.
] with his mouth set In grim lines, and
his hands folded over his breast.
At the door the crown prince turned
and bowed. His grandfather's eyes
were fixed on the two gold eagles over
the door. but the photograph on the
table appeared to be smiling at MIN.
: Until late that night General Nett
I Itch and the king talked together. The
king had been lifted from his bed and
: sat propped In a great chair. Above
Z his shabby dressing gown his faco
showed gaunt and old. In a STRAIGHT
I chair facing him sat his old friend anG
chancellor.
"what 1t has shown IL not entirely
bad" said the king, after q pause
"The boy has initiative. And he mad
I; no attempt at evasion. He IL essential
\ ly truthful"
Y "What It has also shown. sire, q
a that no protection Is enough. WheEl
h !. who love the lad. and would-whsz|
v could sleep. and let him get away
as did"
! 1.-The truth is," said the king, "w(
are both of US getting old" He tapped
I with his gnarled fingers on the blanke1
that lay over his knees. "The truth
q Is ALSO" he observed moment later
n 'that the boy has very few pleasure
q He is alone great DEAL"
j General Mettlich raised his shagE1
I head. Many years of wearing q sol|
dier's cap had not injured his heavl
gray hair. He had bristling eyebrow
= white now, and short, fighting mta
tache. When he was irritated. or did
\ agreed with any one, his eyebrow
: came down and the mustache went uu|
II Many years Of association with hlI
4 king had given him the right to tai
to him as man to man. They evG1
4 quarreled now and then. 1t was
brave man who would quarrel with oll
Ferdinand II.
Y SO now his eyebrows came dow
and his mustache went up. How
alone, slre?"
"You do not regard that bigote
N English woman as a companion, q
your"
"She Is thoughtful and consclet
D. tious woman. Sire" he said stiffly.
a. happened that he had selected b.
le "She does her duty. Aud as to th