Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-01
CHAPTER I.

/, SpsSNs . 80 -
! The Crown Prince Runs Away.
I The Grown Prince sat in the royal
box and swung his legs. This was
hardly princely, but the royal legs did
not quite reach the floor from the high
crimson-yeivet seat or mis- chair.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto was
bored. His royal robes, consisting Of
a pair Of blue serge trousers, short
Elton Jacket, and a.stiff, rolling collar
of white linen, irked him.
He had been brought to the opera
house under misapprehension. His
aunt, the Archduchess Annunciata, had
strongly advocated 1.-THE Flying Dutch
man." and his English governess. Miss
Braithwaite, had read him some In
spring literature about it. So here he
was. and the Flying Dutchman was not
ghostly at all, nor did 1t fly. And in
stead of flying, after dreary cons Of
singing, II was moved oil On creaky
rollers by men whose shadows were
thrown grotesquely on the sea back
ing.
The orchestra, assisted by bass
solo and intermittent thunder in the
wings, was making deafening din.
One Of the shadows on the sea back
ing took out its handkerchief and
wiped Its nose.
4 Prince Ferdinand William Otto look
ed across at the other royal box, and
caught his Cousin Hedwig's eye. She
also had seen the handkerchief; she
took out her own scrap of linen, and
mimicked the shadow. Then, Her
Royal Highness the Archduchess An
nunciata being occupied with the
storm. she winked across at Prince
Ferdinand William Otto. ~
Il In the opposite box were his two
cousins, the Princesses Hedwig and
Hilda, attended by Hedwig's lady in
waiting. Hedwig was eighteen. The
crown prince liked Hedwig better than
Hilda. Although she had been intro
duced formally to the court ut the
Christmas-eve ball, and had been duly.
presented by her grandfather, the
king, with the usual string Of pearls
and her own carriage, she still ran of
now and then to have tea with the
crown prince and Miss Braithwaite in
the school room at the palace; and she
could eat Z great deal Of bread and but
ter.
The crown prince yawned, although
1T was but the middle Of the after
noon. Catching Hedwig's eye, he ran
his fingers up through his thick yell
low hair and grinned. Hedwig blushed.
iShe had confded to him once, while
they were walking in the garden at
the summer palace. that she was
thinking Of being In love with a young
lieutenant who was attached to the
kings suite. The prince-who was
called Otto, for short, by the family.
because he actually had eleven names
the prince had been much interested.
For some time afterward he had both.
erred Miss Braithwaite to define being
in love. but he had had no really satis-
factory answer.
In pursuance Of his quest for In.
formation he had grown quite friendly
!. with the young officer, whose name
was Larisch, and had finally asked to
have him ride with him at the royal
riding school. The grim old king had
granted the request, but 1t had been
quite fruitless 50 far after all. Lieu
tenant Larisch only grew quite red as
+ to the ears when love was mentioned,
although he appeared not unwilling to
hear Hedwig's name.
So now Ferdinand William Otto ran
his fingers through his fair hair, which
was favorite gesture of the lieuten.
ants, and Hedwig blushed. The arch
duchess. sitting we'll back. was nod
ding. Just outside the royal box, on
the red velvet sofa, General Mettlich,
who was the chancellor, and had come
because he had been invited and stayed
outside because he said he liked TO
hear music. not see 1t, was sound
asleep. His marital bosom, with its
gold braid, was rising and falling
peacefully. Beside him lay the princes
crown, q small black derby hat.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto con-
ssidered II all very wearisome. II one
could only wander around the corridor
or buy sandwich from the stand=at
the foot OF the great staircase-or, bet
y ter still, II one could only get to the
street, alone. and purchase one of the
fig women that Miss Braitfrwaite so
desplsedi The crown prince felt in
hiS pocket, where his weeks allow
ance y pocket money lay comfortably
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