The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-07-13
CHAPTER xV-continued.

o, o. TIC emu or the short
interview. II should like to feel that
nis interests will be looked after. not
only here, but by you and yours. We
nave certain element here that ia
troublesome
And Karl. with Hedwie In his mind
had promised.
His interests shall be mine. str.
he had said
he had bent over the bed then. and
raised the thin hand to his lips. The
interview was over. In the onteroom
the kings master of the horse, the
chamberlain. and few other gentle
men stood waiting. talking together In
dow tones. But the chancellor, who
had gone in with Karl and then re-
tired, stood by a window, with his
arms folded over his chest, and waited.
He put resolutely out of his mind the
face of the dying man on his pillows,
and thought only Of this thing which
he-Mettlich-had brought about.
There was no yielding in his face or
in his heart, no doubt Of his course.
He saw, instead of the lovers lettering
In. the place, new and greater king
dom. anarchy held down by an IRON
Shod heel, peace and the fruits there
of. until out Of very prosperity the
people grew fat and content.
He saw boy king, carefully taught,
growing into his responsibilities until,
big with the vision of the country's
welfare, he should finally ascend the
throne. He saw the river filled with
ships, carrying merchandise over the
world and returning with the wealth
OF the world. Great buildings, too,
lifted their heads on his horizon, q
dream city, with order for disorder,
and citizens instead Of Inhabitants.
When at last he stirred and sighed,
# was because his old friend, In his
bed in the next room, would see moth
ing Of all this, and that he himself
could not hope for more than the be-
ginning, before his time came also.
The first large dinner for months
was given that night at the palace, to-
do King Karl all possible honor. The
gold service which had been presented
to the king by the czar Of Russia was
used. The antlcipatory gloom of the
court was laid aside, and jewels
brought from vaults were worn for the
first time in months. Uniforms OF
various sorts, but all gorgeous, touched
fine shoulders, and came away, bear
ing white, powdery traces of the meet
Ing. The greenhouses at the summer
palace had been sacked for flowers and
plants. The corridor from the great
salon to the dining hall, always
dreary passage, had suddenly become
a fairy path Of early spring bloom.
Even Annunciata, hung now with
ropes of pearls, her hair dressed high
for a tiara of diamonds, her canoes
exchanged for pearls, looked royal.
Proving conclusively that clutter, as 10
dress, is entirely matter OF value.
Miss Braithwaite, who had begun
recently to think palace the drearlest
place in the world, and the most COM
monplace, found the preparations
rather exciting. Being British she
dearly loved the aristocracy, anu
shrugged her shoulders at any family
which took up less than a page In the
peerage. She resented deeply the IN
trusion Of the commoner into Br1usn
politics, and considered Lloyd Georse
an upstart and an interloper.
That evening she took the crown
prince to see the preparations for tne
festivities. The flowers appeared "
him, and he asked for and secured
rose, which he held carefully. But lne
magnificence of the table only 1alhtiy
impressed him, and when ne heaiu
that Milky would not be present. NJ
lost interest entirely. win they
wheel my grandfather In in chalf {
ne inquired.
HE is too ILL.," Miss Braithwaite
said.
"Hell be rather lonely, when they I,
all at the party. You don't suppose .,
could go and sit with him, DO yous
1T will be long after your oeu
Tine"
Bedtime being the one rule which "as
never under and circumstances Drohen
he did not persist. To have ihStS'. =
might have meant five marks OIL -
Miss Braithwaites book, and MS re-
ord was very good that week. ~
gether the elderly English woman an al,
the boy went back to the school rooin
The Countess Loschek, who NAV
dressed with heavy heart, was eash.
the most beautiful of the women lna
night. A little court paid tribute :
her beauty, and bowed the deeper aL'
hattered the more as she OPEN
scorned and fiouted them. She causn
once a flicker Of admiration IN nai.
face, and although her head wen
high, her heart beat .stormiy unue
it.
Hedwig was like flower thar n
uuired the sun. Only her sun wa
happiness. She was In soft VIM.
chiffons. her hair and frOck alike g'r'
ish and unpretentious. Her motne'
coming into her dressing room' ma
eyed her with disfavor. :,
"You look like SCHOOLGIRL, n''
said, and had sent for rouge. and VIII
her own royal hands applied IL. he.
wig stood silent, and allowed her
49,