Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1918-05-24
CHAPTER xII-continued.


III
But long after Milky had gone he sat
IN the darkness. He felt old and tired
and hypocrite. The boy would not
forget, as he himself had not forgot
ten.
Peter Niburg was shot at dawn the
next morning. He went, coward, to
his death, held between two guards
and crying piteously. But he died a
brave man. Not once in the long hours
of his interrogation had be betrayed
the name Of the Countess Loschek.
.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Will
liam Otto of Livonia was having a
birthday. Now, birthday for crown
prince of Livonia is not a matter of a
cake with candles on it, and having
his ears pulled, once for each year and
an extra one to grow on. Nor of a
holiday from lessons, and a picnic in
spring woods. Nor party, with chill
dren frolicking and scratching the best
furniture.
In the first place, he was wakened
at dawn and taken to early service in
the chapel, solemn function, with the
court assembled and slightly sleepy.
The crown prince, who was trying TO
look his additional dignity of years.
sat and stood as erect as possible, and
yawned only once.
AT eleven o'clock came word that the
\ king was too i'll to have him to
q luncheon, but that he would see him
for few moments that afternoon.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto, who
q was diagramming the sentence, "Abra-
ham Lincoln freed the slaves in Amer
ica," and doing it wrong, looked up in
s dismay.
I'D like to know what's the use of
3 having a birthday" he declared re
belliously.
The king did not approve of birth
day gifts. So there were no gifts.
None, that is, until the riding hour
came, and Milky, subverter of all dis
cipline. He had brought fig lady,
wrapped in paper.
'Its quite fresh" he said, as they
walked together across the place.
'I'll give it to you when we get to the
gliding school. ] saw the woman my
self take it out of her basket. So it
has no germs on it."
That afternoon, attired in his uni
form of the guards, the crown prince
received the delegation of citizens in
the great audience chamber of the pal
ace, solitary little figure, standing
on the red carpet before the dais at
the end. The chancellor stood near
the boy, respondent in his dress uni
form, blue ribbon across his shirt
'front.' over which Mathilde had taken
hours. He was the Mettlieh of the
public eye now, hard of features, inn
passive inflexible.
He had staged the affair well. The
crown prince, standing alone, so small,
SO appealing, against his magnificent
background was a picture to touch the
hardest. Not for nothing had Mettlich
studied the people, read their essential
simple ", their answer to any appeal
10 the neart. These men were men of
family. Surely no father of a son
could see that lonely child and not
offer him Loyalty.
With the same wisdom, he had given
the boy small instruction, and no
speech Of thanks. LET him say what
comes into his head" Mettlich had
reasoned. ''It will at least be
spontaneous and boyish."
The first formalities over, and the
\ crown prince having shaken hands
Z nine times, the spokesman stepped for
ward. He had brought long. written
speech, which had already been given
10 the newspapers. But after a mo-
'hents hesitation he folded it up.
1our royal highness," he said, look
ing down, Il have here a long speech,
Out All that it contains can say brief
~ II is your birthday, highness. We
Solne, representing many others, TO pre-
sent to you our congratulations, and
me love of your people. 1t is our
uope he paused. Emotion and ex-
Sitement were getting the better of
nln-"our hope, highness, that you
vii nave many happy years. To fur
'nef mat hope, we are here today to
ous mat we, representing all classes,
le youi most loyal subjects. We have
Susht Tor his majesty the king. and
r. necessary we will Eight for you"
&c glanced beyond the child at the
o1hci, and his tone was strong and
- ASSIGNED. But today we are here,
~ % speak Of war. but to present |
you our congratulations, our de-
'ouon' and orr loyalty
'a0 a easket- He had forgotten