The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1918-04-18
CHAPTER xii-Continued.


III
But long after Milky had gone he sat
In the darkness. He felt old and tired
and a hypocrite. The boy would not
forget, as he himself had not forgot
ten.
Peter Niburg was shot at dawn the
next morning. He went. a coward, to
and crying piteously. But he died a
brave man. Not once in the long hours
Of his Interrogation had be betrayed
the name of the Countess Loschck.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Will
liam Otto of Livonia was having
birthday. Now. birthday for n crown
prince of Livonia is not matter OF
cake with candles on II, and having
his ears pulled, once for each year and
an extra one TO grow on. Nor of
holiday from lessons. and picnic In
spring woods. Nor party. with chill
dren frolieking and scratching the best
furniture.
An the first place. he was wakened
ut NAV III anu tbhtH III tui ~ ttNi,t III
thu chapel. a solemn function. with the
Court assembled and slightly sleepy.
The crown prince. who was trying To
look his additional dignity of years,
sat and stood as erect as possible. and
yawned only once.
At eleven o'clock came word that the
king was too Ill to have him 10
l,,, b.,s ~, 4, a TN
for few moments that afternoon.
Prince Ferdinand William otto. who
was diagramming the sentence, "Abra-
ham Lincoln freed the slaves in Amer
lea" and doing II wrong looked UP in
dismay.
I'D like 10 know what's the use OF
having birthday" he declared re-
belliously
The king did not approve of birth
day gifts. So there We're no gifts.
None, that is, until the riding hour
came, and Milky. subverter OF all dis
cipline. He had brought fig lady.
wrapped in paper.
us quite fresh" he said. as they
walked together across the place.
"Ill give II to you when we get To the
riding school. l saw the woman my
self take II out OF her basket. SO 1t
has no germs on IT."
That afternoon. attired In his uni
form of the guards, the crown prince
received the delegation of citizens in
the great audience chamber OF the pal
ace. n solitary little figure, standing
on the red carpet before the dais nj
the end. The chancellor stood near
the boy. respondent In his dress uni
form. blue ribbon across his shirt
front, over which Mathllde had taken
hours. He was the Mettlich of the
public eye now. hard of features, i'm
passive. iniexible.
He had staged the affair well. The
crown prince, standing alone, so small,
so appealing, against his magnificent
background. was picture To touch the
hardest. Not for nothing had Mettllch
studied the people, read their essential
simplicity. their answer 10 any appeal
10 the heart. These men were men of
family. Surely no father of son
could see tina, lonely child and not
orA him loyalty.
With the same wisdom, he had given
the boy small instruction, and no
speech .of thanks. Let him say what
COMES into his head" Mettlich had
reasoned ut Will AT least be
spontaneous and boyish."
The first formalities over, and the
crown prince having shaken hands
nine times the spokesman stepped for
ward. He had brought long, written
speech, which had already been given
to the newspapers. But after mo-
ment's hesitation he folded IL up.
"Your royal highness," he said, look
ing down, II have here a long speech,
but all that IL contains can say brief
~. Ii Is your birthday, highness. We
come, representing many others, 10 pre-
sent To you our congratulations, and
the love of your people. II is our
hope"-he paused. Emotion and ex'
element Mere getting the better OF
him-"our hope, highness. that you
viii have many happy years. To fur
Their that hope. we are here today to
say that We, representing all classes,
arc.your most loyal subjects. We have
fought for his majesty the king. and
AZ necessary we will fight for you"
He glanced beyond the child at the
council, and his tone was strong and
VmpassIoned. But today we are here,
not 10 speak of war. but TO present
to you our congratulations, our de-
votion. and our loyalty"
Also casket. He had forgotten