The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-08-03


years. had come again from Etzel, and
! it was he who had administered the
sacrament. The king had reused for
| 1t, and had smiled at the father.
so" he said almost in whisper,
you would send. me clean. II is hard
to scour an old kettle"
Doctor Weiderman bent over the
bed. Majesty he implored, "if there
Is anything we can do to make you
! comfortable"
Give me Hubert's picture" said the
king. When his fingers refused to hold
| it. Annuncata came forward swiftly
and held it before him. But his heavy
eyes closed. With more intuition than
might have been expected of her the
archduchess laid it on the white cover
LET. and placed her fathers hand on
/ it.
The two sisters of mercy stood be-
side the bed, and looked down at the
quiet figure.
II should wish to die So whispered
the elder. "A long life, filled with
many deeds, and then to sleep away"
"A long life, full Of many sorrows. :"
observed the younger one. her eyes
full of tears He has outliyed all
that he loved
Except the little Otto"
Their Chances met, for even here
there was q question.
AS If their thought had penetrated
the haze which is, perhaps, the mist
that hides from US the gates Of heaven,
the old king opened his eyes.
"Ottoi" he said. ''I-wish-"
Annunciata bent over him. HE is
coming, father" she told him, with
white lips.
She slipped to her knees beside the
bed. and looked up to Doctor Wcider-
man with appealing eyes.
Il am afraid" she whispered. Can
you not"
He shook his head. She had asked
a question in her glance, and he had
answered. The crown prince was
gone. Perhaps the search would be
successful. Could he not be held, then,
until the boy was found? And Doctor
Wederman had answered NO"
In the antechamber the council
waited, standing and without speech.
But in an armchair beside the door
to the kings room the chancellor sat,
his face buried in his hands. In spite
of precautions, in spite Of everything,
the blow had fallen. The crown prince,
to him at once son and sovereign, the
little crown prince, was gone. And
his old friend, his cOmrade of many
years, lay at his last hour.
Now he waited for the kings death.
Waited numbly. For, with the tollins
of st. Stefan's bell would rise the cry
for the new king.
And there was no king.
In the little room where the sisters
kept their medicines, SO useless now,
Hedwig knelt at the prie-dieu and
prayed.
The king reused again. "Mettlich:
he asked.
The elder sister tiptoed to the door
and opened 1t. The council turned
; dread on their faces. She placed q
hand on the chancellor's shoulder
: IFS majesty has asked for you"
When he looked up, dazed, she bent
down and took his hand.
Courage, she said quietly.
The chancellor stood a second In
side the door. Then he went to the
| side of the bed, and knelt, his lips
to the cold, white hand on the counter
pane.
, "Sire," he choked at is Met
Itch"
: The king looked at him, and placed
his hand on the bowed gray head
Then his eyes turned to Annunciata
, and rested there. 1t was as If ne saw
, her. not as the embittered woman Of
, late wears, but as the child of The
, | woman he had loved.
"a good friend, and a good daueh
, | ter he said clearly. Few men di'
+ so fortunate, and fewer sovereigns.
His hand moved from Mettlich's head
I | and rested on the photograph.
, The elder sister leaned forward ant
touched his wrist. "Doctor!' she SALE
8 sharply.
{ Doctor Weiderman came first, thu
others following. They grouped
around the bed. Then the oldest o
q them, who had brought Annunciat'
into the world. touched her on tn
. shoulder.
MADAME" he said. Madame, /
= his majesty has passed away"
$ Mettlich staggered to his feet, ant
I took a long look at the face Of his oil
q sovereign and king.
e Tn the meantime, things had beer
happening in the room where tn
+ council waited. The council free
e tho restraint of the chancellor's pres
b ence had fallen into low-voiced con
sultation. What was to be done
; They knew already the rumors OF tn
streets. and were helpless before them
They had done what they could. Blu
the boy was gone, and the city rising
Already the garrison Of the fortres
had been ordered to the palace, bu
4 4 could not arrive before midnight
. Friese had questioned the wisdom OF II
|. at that. and was for flight as soon