The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1918-05-31


AnIuhciata grumbled when she saw
the crowd, and the occupants Of thu
first car looked them over carefully. L
remained for Hedwig to spy the blacl
ribbon. In the confusion, she slipped
over to the little girl, who wen quite
white with excitement. 'They are
lovely" Hedwig whispered, "but please
take off the black ribbon" The child
eyed her anxiously. 1T will come t.
pieces, h%ighness."
take the ribbon from your hair. II
viii be beautiful"
Which was done! But, as was not
unnatural, the child forgot her speech,
and merely thrust the bouquet. tied
with a large pink bow, into the hands
of Prince Ferdinand William Otto.
Here" she said. 1t was, perhaps
the briefest, and therefore the most
agreeable presentation speech the
crown prince had eve heard.
The quay receded, red carpet and all.
Only the blare Of the band followed
them, and with the persistence of
sound owe water, followed them for
some time.
1t was Hedwig who showed the most
depression on the trip, after all. Early
that morning she had attended mass
in the royal chapel. An the household
had been there, and the king had been
wheeled in, and had sat In his box,
high in the wall, the door Of which
opened from his private suite.
Looking up, Hedwig had seer his
gray old face set and rigid. The court
had worn black, and the chapel was
draped in crepe. She had fallen on
her knees and had tried dutifully to
pray for the dead Hubert. But her
whole soul was crying out for help for
herself.
So 10Y she sat very quiet, and WON
dered about things.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto sat
by the rail and watched the green
banks flying by.
When no n was looking, he broke
a flower from the bouquet and flung it
overheard. He pretended that 1t was a
boat, and was going down to Karnia,
filed with soldiers ready to fight.
But the thought Of soldiers brought
Milky to his mind. His face clouded.
Its very strange about Milky" he
said. "He is away somewhere. I wish
he had sent word he was going" :
Hedwig looked out over the river.
The a~rchduchess glanced at Miss
Braithwaite. There is no news?" she
asked, In an %undertone. :
"None," said Miss Braithwaite.
A sudden suspicion rose In Hedwig's
mind, and made her turn pale. What
If they had sent him away7 Perhaps
they feared him enough for thatl If
that were true, she would never know.
She knew the ways Of the palace well
enough for that. In a sort of terror
she glanced around the group. so COM
fortably disposed. Her mother was
looking out, with her cool, impassive
gaze. Miss Braithwaite knitted. The
countess, however, met her eyes, and
there vas something strange in them
triumph and a bit Of terror, too, had
she but read them. For the countess
had put in her plea for a holiday and
had been refused.
The new fortress faced the high road
some five miles from the Karnian bor-
der. 1t stood on a bluff over the river,
and was, as the crown prince decided,
no so unlike the desk, after all, ex-
cept that 1t had a moat around it.
Hedwlg and the countess went with
the party around the Notifications.
The archduchess and Miss Braithwaite
had sought a fire. Only the countess,
however seemed really interested.
Hedwig seemed more intent on the dis
tant line of the border than on any
thing else. She stood on a rampant
and stared out at 1t, looking very sad.
Even the drill-when at a word all the
great guns rose and peeped over the
edge at the valley below, and then
dropped backed again as If they had
seen ~enough-even this failed to rouse
her.
Il wish you would listen, Hedwig,"
said b crown prince, almost fretfully.
tits so interesting. The enemy's SOL
diers would come up the river in boats,
and along that road on foot. And then
we would raise the guns and shoot at
them. And the guns would drop back
again, before the enemy had time to
aim at them"
But Hedwig's interest was so evi.
IDENTIFY assumed that he turned to the
countess. The countess professed
smiling terror, and stood q little way
back from the guns, looking on. But
Prince Ferdinand William Otto at last
coaxed her to the top Of the emplace-
There's a fine view up there" he
urged. "And the guns won't hurt you.
There's nothing In them"
To get up it was necessary to climb
iron ladder. Hedwig was already ]
there. About q dozen young officers {
had helped her up, and ruined as !
many pairs Of white gloves, although I
Hedwig could climb like a cat, and
really needed no help at all.