The Dermott news., 1918-05-30

ana waited.
Father Gregory. his friend of many
years. had come again from Etzel. and
1t was he who had administered the
sacrament The king had reused for
it. and had smiled Mt the father,
$50" he said almost In whisper.
you would send me clean, 1t is hard
To scour an old kettle
Doctor Weiderman bent over the
bed Majesty" he implored. III there
is anything we can do to make you
comfortable"
Give me IIubert'S picture" said the
king When his fingers refused 10 hold
II, Annunciata came forward swiftly
and held il before him. But his heavy
eyes closed. With more intuition than
might have been expected of her. the
arcbducheSS 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 10 die SO, whispered
~
many deeds. and then To sleep away. :"
~ long life. full of many SORROWS -
observed the younger one her eyes
full of tears. He has outlived all
hat he loved
Except the little otto"
Their glanccs met. for even here
there was question.
As II 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.
otto" he said "I-wish-''
Annunctata 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 Weider
man with appealing eyes.
Il am afraid" She whispered. Can
you not.
He shook his head. She had asked
n question IN her glance, and he had
answered. The crown prince WAS
gone. Perhaps the search would he
successful Gould he not he held then
until The boy was found; And Doctor
Weiderman had answered Ne
In the antechamher the council
waited. standing and without speech.
EHt in an armchair beside thr door
to the kings room the chancellor salt
his face buried Ia his hands. II spite
Of precautions, in spite of everything
he blow haa fallen. The crown prince.
20 hiu nj oner soH aud sovereign. the
little crown prince. MAS gone And
his old friend, his enmrnde al many
Years. lay nj his last hour
Nav he waited far The kings death
Matted numbly Fer, with the tolltnS
Of 81 Stcfun's bell would rise the cry
for thc new king
Aud there was no king,
In the little room where the sisters
kept their medicines. So useless now,
uedwtS knelt at the prte-dicu and
prayed.
The King reused again. -Metrtichsa
he asked.
The elder sister ttptoed to=thc door
aud opened 1t. The council turned
dread un their faces. She placed II
hand on the chancellor'S shoulder,
Ills majesty has asked for you.
When he looked up. dnzed she bent
down aud took his hand
"couraee,' she said quietly.
The chancellor stood second in
side The door Then he went 10 the
side of the bed and knelt. his lips
Ia the cold. white hand on the counter
pane.
Sire :" he choked 1T is Nett
Itch"
The king looked AT him. and placed
his hand on the bowed gray head.
Then his eyes turned tn Annunciata
and rested there. Ii WAS AZ il he saw
her, not as the emhittered woman of
late years. but as the child Of the
woman he had loved.
"A good friend. aud good daurh.
ter" he said clearly. Few men die
So fortunate. and fewer soveregns"
His hand moved from Mettlich's head,
and rested on the photograph.
The elder sister leaned forward and
touched his wrist Doctor :" she said
sharply.
Doctor Weiderman came first. the
others following They grouped
around the bed Then the oldest of
them. who had brought Annunciata
into the world. touched her on the
shoulder
"Madame,"' he snld. Madame, /
his ma iesty has passed away"
Mettlch staggered to his feet and
took n long look at the face Of his old
sovereign and king.
In the meantime. things Ind been
happening In the room where the
council waited The council free Of
the restraint of the ehancellorS pres
ence had fallen into low-yaleed con
sultntion. What was TO be donef
They knew already the rumorS OF the
streets. and were helpless before them.
They had done what they could. Rut
the hoy was gone. aud the city rising.