River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-04-11
CHAPTER V.-Continued.

Mother, you cannot look back, and
and remember your own life, and al
low me to be wretched. You can
notl'
HedWig began to cry.
The archduchess hated tears, and
her softer moments were only mo-
ments. 'Dry your eyes, and don't be
silly" she said coldly. "You have al
ways known that something of the
sort was inevitable"
She moved toward the door. The
two princesses and her lady in wait
ing remained still until she had left
the table. Then they fell in behind
her, and the little procession moved to
the stuffy bOudoir, for coffee. But
HIlda slipped her arm around her Sis
ter's waist, and the touch comforted
Hedwig.
"He may be very NICE" Hilda vOlun-
teered cautiously. perhaps it is Karl.
/ am quite mad about Karl, myself
Hedwig, however, was beyond listen
ing. She went slowly to a window,
and stood gazing out. Looming against
the skyline, in the very center of the
place, was the heroic figure of her dead
grandmother. She fell to wondering
about these royal women who had pre-
coded. Her mother, frankly unhappy
in her marriage, permanently embit-
tered; her grandmother. Hedwig had
never seen the king young. She could
not picture him as a lover. To her
he was fine and lonely figure. But
romantic? Had he ever been roman.
tic?
She slipped out onto the balcony
and closed the 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. 1t was Milky down there,
Milky, gazing up at 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. He had wanted
to see her, and he should see her. Then
she dropped the curtain, and twisted
uSE LOSGtUGI 1CSlY Ala OpAIS "a
her, they reach out toward him.
Did she fancy it, or did the figure
salute her? 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
\ 0I- - 10 NYcyS
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 filled the
drearier evenings. and moved to the
window. She walked quietly, like a
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,"
she said.
Hedwig raised her eyes to the stars.
att is very lovely"
"a night to spend out-of-doors, in
stead of being shut up" She
finished her sentence with a shrug of
the shoulders.
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
motor, speeding over mountain roads.
/ come from the mountains, you know.
And / miss Them"
Hedwig moved, a 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.
SIS it talked about? Am 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 either, the matter my