The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-10-17

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't think"
"A p%rincc's duty is to think. Where
did you gof'
"To the park. sir. II thought I'd
Ike 10 see the park by myself. It's
very hard TO enjoy things with Miss
Broithwaitc. sir. She does not really
enjoy the things ! like. Milky and
l."
"By Milky you mean Lieutenant
Larischf'
ayes, sir"
eco on"
aye like the same things. sir-the
Plies penk.or.Bust, and all that"
The king raised himself on his el.
bow. "what was thatT" he demanded.
prlnc Ferdinand William Otto
blushed, and explained. II was Bob
hy's name for the peak at the top OF
the scenic railway. lie had been on
the railway. lie had been-his en-
thusiasm carried him away. His
cheeks flushed. lie sat forward on the
edge Of his chair, and gesticulated.
II was awfully happy, sir" he ended.
at feels ike flying, only safer. And
the lights are pretty. It's like fairy
land. There were two or three times
when It seemed as II we'd turn over,
or leap the track. But we didn't"
The king lay back and thought. More
than anything in the world he loved
this boy. But the occasion demanded
n strong hand. you were happy" he
said. you were d~isobedient,' you
were causing grave anxiety and dis
trcss-and you were happy! The first
duty of n prince Is to his country. His
first lesson Is TO obey laws. He must
always obey certain laws. A king Is
hut the servant Of his people. Some
day you will be the king. You are be-
ing trained for that high Office now.
And yet you would set the example
Of characterization, disobcdience, and
reckless disregard Of the feelings OF
others"
YES, sir said Prince Ferdinand
William otto, feeling very small and
ashamed.
Not only that. You slipped away.
You did not 90 openly. You sneaked
of, Ike n thief. Are you proud Of
III"
mo, sir"
81 shall" said the king. require NO
promise from you. Promises are poor
things to hold to. I leave this matter
In your WI hands. Otto. You will be
punished by Miss Braithwaite, and for
the next ten days you will not visit
me. You may 60 now"
Otto got OF his chair. He was feel
Ing exceedingly crushed. Good night,
sir" he said. And waited for his
grandfather 10 extend his hand. But
the old king lay looking straight ahead,
with his mouth set In grim lines, md
his hands folded over his breast.
AT the door the crown prince turned
and bowed. His grandfather's eyes
were fixed on the two gold eagles over
the door, but the photograph on the,
table appeared TO be smiling at him.
Until late that night General Nett
lich and the king talked together. The
King had been lifted from his bed and
sat proppcd in a great chair. Above
ms shabby dressing gown his face
showed gaunt and old. In a straight
chair facing him sat his old friend and
chancellor.
what II has shown Is not entirely
bad said the king, after n pause.
THE boy has i~nitiatlve. And he made
no attempt ut evasion. He is essential
~ truthful"
What 1t has also shown, sire, is
that no protection is enough. When
/, who love the lad, and ~would-when
| could sleep, ana let him get away,
as ! did"
THE truth Is" said the king, I've
are both of us getting old" lie tapped
with his gnarlcd fingers on the blanket
that lay over his knees. THE truth
Is also" he observed n moment later,
that the boy has very few pleasures.
He Is alone Il great deal"
General MettlIch raised his shaggy
head, Many years Of wearing a SOL
! dlor's cap had not injured his heavy
gray hair. He had bristling eyebrows,
white now, and Il short, fighting mus
tache. When he vas !rritated, or dis
agreed with any one, his eyebrows
came down and the mustache went IN.
Many years OF association with his
King had given him the right TO talk
10 MN ms man 10 man. They even
qnnrreled now and then. II was q
brave man who would quarrel with old
Ferdinand II.
so now his eyebrows came down
ana his mustache went W. How
alone, sirei"
You do not regard that bigoted
English woman as IA companion, do
your"
"Shc is n thoughtful and conscien-
tious woman, SIRE" he said stiffly. It
happened that he had selected her.
she does her duty. And as to the
boy being lonely, he has no time to be
lonely. His tutors"
How old is her"
Ten next MONTH"
The king said nothing for a time.
Then-"lt is hard" he said at last,
FOR seventy.four to see with the eyes
OF ten. As for this afternoon-why In
ne name of n fhnuaand davlla Ala