Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-08

i'm her marriage, permanently ,embit-
tered; her grandmother. Hedwig had
never seen the king young. She could
not picture him as lever. TIC he-
he was a fine and lonely figure. But
romantic? Had he ever been roman,
tic?
/. She slipped out onto the Daicony
land closed tho curtains behind her.
AS her eyes grew accustomed to the
darkness she saw that there was some
one below, under the trees, Her heart
beat rapidly. In a moment she was
certain. It, was Milky down there,
Milky, gazing up ut her as child may
look at . star. With a quick gesture
!Hedwig drew the curtain back. A
thin ray Of light fell on her, on her
slim bare arms, on her light draperies,
on her young face. BE had wanted
to SEQ her, and he should see her. Then
she dropped the curtain, and twisted
her hands together lett, in spite Of
her, they reach out toward him.
Did she fancy 1t, or did the figure
salute herr Then came the quick ring
,of heels on the old stone pavement.
She knew his footsteps, even as she
knew every vibrant, eager infection Of
his voice. He went away, across the
square, like one who, having bent his
knee to I saint. turns back to the bust
ness Of the world.
/ In the boudoir the archduchess had
picked up some knitting to soothe her
tangled nerves. You may play now,
Hilda," she said.
Annunciata dozed, and Hilda played
softly. The countess opportunity had
come. She put down the dreary en-
broidery with which she filed the
drearier evenings, and moved to the
window. She walked quietly, like q
cat. !:
! Her first words to Hedwig were
those of Peter Niburg as he linked
arms with his enemy and started down
the street. "A fine night, highness,n;
she said. i;
E: Hedwig raised her eyes to the stars.
ut is very lovely"
J "A night to spend out-of-doors, in
stead Of being shut up" She
finished her sentence with q shrug Of
the shoulders. i
J Hedwig was not fond Of the count.
ess. She did not know why. The
truth being, Of course, that between
them lay the barrier Of her own in
nocence. When the countess arm
touched hers, she drew aside.
; Tonight" said the lady in waiting
dreamily, II should like to be in a
motor, speeding over mountain roads.
I come from the mountains, you know.
And I miss them" /
J Hedwig moved, little impatiently.
but as the countess went on, she lis
tened. After all, Milky. too, came
from the mountains. And because she
was sorry for the countess, who was
homesick, and perhaps because just
then she had to speak to some one,
she turned to her at last with the thing
that filed her mind.
: "This marriage" she said bitterly.
els it talked about? Am I the only
one in the palace who has not known
about it?" /.
! mo, highness, had heard nothing.
OF course, there are always rumors."
! "As to the other, the matter my
mother referred to-" Hedwig held her
head very high, "I-she was unjust.
Am I never to have any friends?"
! "Friends, highness? One may have
friends, Of course. It is not friendship
they fear" I
/; "What then7"
F. "A lover" said the countess softly.
ut Is impossible to see Captain Lar
isch in your presence, and not
realize"
eco on"
; "And not realize, highness, that he
is In love with you"
GLOW silly!" said the Princess He'd
wig, with glowing eyes. b
"But highness y implored the count
,ess. IF only you would use little
caution. Open defiance is it's own de-
feat"
81 am not ashamed Of what I do"
said Hedwig holly.
/. Ashamed! OF course not. But
things that are harmless in others in.
your position-you are young. You
should haye friends, sayety. / am"
she smiled grimly In the darkness,
mot so old myself but that can un-
derstand."
ITO n continuedl
80 = y. -