The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-08-14
supper to a festivity.'

the children'S glasses, ana nlleu tnem
up with water. Then he filed the
others, and sat smiling, this big young
man, who had brought his loved ones
across the sea, and was trying to make
them happy up flight Of stone stairs,
above concierge's bureau that
smelled of garlic.
First" he said, II believe 1t is Gus
tomary to toast the king. Friends, i
give you the good king and brave
soldier, Ferdinand of Livonia."
They stood up to drink 1t, and even
Pepy had glass.
Ferdinand william Otto was on his
feet first. He held his glass up In his
right hand, and his eyes shone. He
knew what to do. He had seen the
kings health drunk any number off
times.
ITO his majesty, Ferdinand Of IL
vonin," he said solemnly. "God keep
the klngl"
Over their glasses Mrs. Thorpe's
eyes met her husbands. How they
trained their children here!
But Ferdinand William Otto had not
finished. II give you" he said, in his
clear young treble, holding his glass,
"the president Of the United States
the PRESIDENT"
''The PRESIDENT" said Mr.. Thorpe.
They drank again, except the Frau
lein, who disapproved Of children be-
ing made much Of, and only pretended
to sip her wine.
Bobby" said his mother, with
catch In her voice, haven't you some
thing to suggest-as tOastT
Bobby's eyes were on the cake; he
came back with difficulty.
"Well," he meditated. Il guess
would home be all right?"
"Home !" they all said, little shak-
lily, and drank to it.
Home! To the Thorpes, a little
house on a shady street in America
to the Fraulein, a matched cottage in
the mountains Of Germany and an old
mother; to Pepy, the room In a tene-
ment where she went nc night; to
Ferdinand William Otto, formal
suite of apartments in the palace, sur
rounded by pomp, ordered by rule and
precedent, hardened by military dis
cipline, and unsOftened by family love,
save for the grim affection Of the old
king.
Home!
After all, Pepy's plan went astray,
for the Fraulcin got the china baby,
and Ferdinand William Otto the Lin
coin penny.
"That," said Bobby's father, as a
Lincoln penny, young man. 1t bears
the portrait Of Abraham Lincoln. Have
you ever heard of him?"
The prince looked up. Did he not
know the Gettysburg address" by
heart?
"Yes, SIR" he said. "The-my
grandfather thinks that President Lin
coin was a very great man."
zone of the worlds greatest. hard
ly thought, over here" Mr.. Thorpe
paused and looked speculatively at the
boy. you'd better keep that penny
where you won't lose it," he said sob
erly. ut doesn't hurt us to try to be
good. If you're in trouble, think of
the difficulties Abraham Lincoln sur
mounted. If you want to be great
think how great he was" He was a
trifle ashamed of his own earnestness.
"All that for penny, young mani"
The festivities were taking a serious
turn. There was little packet at
each plate. and now Bobby's mother
reached over and opened hers.
"Oh!" she said, and exhibited a
gaudy tissue paper bonnet. Everybody
had one. Mr.. Thorpe's was ounces
cap, and Fraulein's giddy Pierrette
of black and white. Bobby had a
military cap. With eager fingers Fer
dinand William Otto opened his; he
had never tasted this delicious paper
cap Joy before.
1t was n crown, a sturdy bit of gold
paper, cut into points and set with
red paste jewels-a gem of a crown.
He was charmed. He put it on his
head, with the Inconsistencies of
chlldhoOd, ana posed delightedly.
The Fraulein looked at Prince Fer
dinand William Otto, and slowly the
color left her lean face. She stared.
1t was he, then, and none other.
Stupid, not to have known at the be-
ginning! He, the crown prince, here
in the home of these barbarOus
Americans, when, by every plan that
had been made, he should now be In
the hands of those who would dispose
OF him.
81 give you." said Mr.. Thorpe, rails
ing his glass toward his wife, 1.-The
giver of the feast. Boys, up with
you'll"
1t was then that the Fraulein, max
Ing an excuse. slipped out of the room.