The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-06-14


! But although he had pointed to tn
kings condition and theirs-as al
argument for immediate marriage-h
: failed. The thing would be done, Blu
, properly and in good time. Karl lief
, them in bad temper, well concealed
and had the pleasure of being hisset
through the streets.
But he comforted himself with thu
thought of Hedwig. He had taken hel
iQ his arms before he left, and she hat
, made no resistance. She had even, II
view of all that was at stake, made 9
desperate effort to return his kiss, and
} found herself trembling afterward.
In two weeks he was to return to
her, and he whispered that to her.
On the day after the dinner party
Otto went TO a hospital with Miss
Braithwaite. 1t was the custom of the
palace to send the flowers from its
spectacular functions to the hospitals,
and the crown prince delighted in
these errands.
So they went, escorted by the func-
tionaries of the hospital, past the mill
tary wards, where soldiers in shabby
uniforms sat ON benches in the spring
sunshine, to the general wards beyond.
The crown prince was almost hidden
behind the arInful he carried. Miss
/ Braithwaite had all she could hold.
A convalescent patient, in slippers
many sizes too large for him, wheeled
the remainder in a barrow, and almost
upset the barrow in his excitement.
Through long corridors into wards
fresh scrubbed against his arrival,
with white counterpanes exactly
square, and patients forbidden to move
and disturb the geometrical exactness
of the beds, went Prince Ferdinand
William Otto. At each bed he stopped,
selected a flower, and held 1T out.
Some there were who reached out, and
took it with smile. Others lay still,
and saw neither boy nor blossom.
''They sleep, highness," the nurse
would say.
"But their eyes are open."
"They are very weary, and resting"
In such cases he placed the flower
on the pillow, and went on.
One such, however, lying with va
cant eyes fixed on the ceiling, turned
and glanced at the boy, and into his
empty gaze crept faint intelligence.
1t was not much. He seemed to ques-
ton with his eyes. That was all. AS
the little procession moved on, how
ever, he raised himself on his elbow.
"Who was that?"
The ward, which might have been
interested, was busy keeping its COW
ers straight and in following the pro-
gress of the party. For the man had
not spoken before.
"The crown prince"
The sick man lay back and closed
his eyes. Soon he slept. His comrade
In the next bed beckoned to sister.
'He has spoken" he said. "Either
he RECEIVERS, or-he dies"
But Haeckel did not die. He lived
to do his part In the coming crisis,
to prove that even the great hands Of
Black Humbert on his throat were
not so strong as his own young spirit;
lived, indeed. to confront the terrorist |
as one risen from the dead. But that |
day he lay and slept, by curious irony |
the flower from Karl's banquet in q |
cup Of water beside him.
On the day before the carnival, He'd |
wig had visitor, none other than the
Countess Loschek. Hedwig, all her |
color gone now. her high spirit crushed,
her heart torn into fragments and |
neatly distributed between Milky, who
had most of 1t, the crown prince, and
the old king. Hedwig, having given
her permission to come, greeted her
politely but without enthusiasm.
"Highness r. said the countess sur
veying her, "may I speak to you frank
w"
please do" Hedwig REPLIED.
Everybody does, anyhow. Especially
when 1t is something disagreeable."
Olga Loschek watched her warily.
She knew the family as only the out
slider could know it.; knew that He'd
wig, who would have disclaimed the
FACT. was like her mother in some
Kings, notably In a disposition to be
mild until certain moment, submits
,ive, even acquiescent, and then sud-
lenly to become, as 1t were, royalty
md grow cold, naughty. But IL He'd
Wig was driven in those days, SO was
he countess, desperate and driven to
desperate methods.
Il am presuming, highness, on your
Mothers kindness to me, and your
,wn."
swell, go on" said Hedwig resign
IDLY. But the next words brought her
lp In her chair.
Are you going to allow your life
o be ruined7" was what the countess
aid 81
Careful! Hedwig had thrown up her
lead and looked at her with hostile
yes. But the next moment she had
orgOtten she was princess, and the [
to the king. and remem- {
'eredy only that she was woman, and /
error-ktr1cken. She lung out her /
rms, apd then buried her face In I
hem.
"How dan help itr' she said. Ii
"How can Jon do itf' Olga Loschek /
AFTER al, It y you who
must do thts thing. No ono else. 1t I
) you they are Offering O The altar /
tha1r amhat200N II