The Elbert County tribune., 1918-07-26
By Mary
Roberts Rinehart


king. "that you have alarmed . great
many people,"
''I'm sorry. sir. didn't think"
"a princes duty is to think Where
did you go7'
ITO the park. sir. I'll thought I'd
like to see the park by myself. It's
very hard to enjoy things with Miss
Brnithwaite. sir. She does not really
enjoy the things I like. Milky and
T."
BY Milky you mean Lieutenant
Larischr
"Yes. SIR
go on"
1--WE like the same things, sIr-the
Pikes-Peak-or-Bust. and nil that"
The king raised himself on his ell
bow. "what was that?" he demanded.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
blushed, and explained. It was Bob
by's name for the peak at the top OF
the scenic railway. He had been on
the railway. He had been-his en-
thusiasm carried him away. His
cheeks flushed. He sat forward on the
edge of his chair. and gesticulated.
II was awfully happy. SIR" he ended.
"Tt feels like flying. only safer. And
the lights are pretty. It's like fairy
land. There were two or three times
when 1t seemed as II we'd turn over.
or leap the track. But we didn't"
The king lay back and thought. More
than anything In the world he loved
this boy. But the occasion demanded
n strong hand. You were happy" he
said. You were disobedient. you
were causing grave anxiety and dis
tress-and you were happyl The first
duty OF prince Is to his country. His
first lesson IL to obey laws. He must
always obey certain laws. A king IL
but the servant OF his people. Some
day you will be the king. You are be-
Ing trained for that high office now.
And yet you would set the example
Of insubordinntion. disobedlence, and
reckless disregard Of the feelings OF
Others"
Yes, SIR" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, feeling very small and
ashamed.
mot only that. You slipped away.
You did not 20 openly. You sneaked
or. like thief. Are you proud of
itr
mo. SIR"
Il shall" said the king, require no
promise from you. Promises are poor
things to hold to. leave this matter
in your own hands, Otto. You will be
punished by Miss Braithwnite. and for
the next ten days you will not visit
me. You may go now"
Otto got on his chair. He was feel
ing exceedingly crushed. @Good night.
SIR" he said. And waited for his
grandfather to extend his hand. But
the old king lay looking straight ahead.
with his mouth set In grim lines, and
his hands folded over his breast.
At the door the crown prince turned
and bowed. His grAndfather's eyes
were fixed on the two gold eagles over
the door. but the photograph ON the
table appeared to be smiling at him.
Until late that night General Nett
Itch and the king talked together. The
king had been lifted from his bed and
sat propped in great chair. Above
his shabby dressing gown his face
showed gaunt and old. In straight
chair facing him sat his old friend and
chancellor.
what 1t has shown is not entirely
baG," said the king. after pause.
''The boy has Initiative. And he made
no attempt Mt evasion. He Is essential
Iy truthful"
"What 1t has also shown, sire, Is
that no protection Is enough. When
!. who love the lad. and would-when
/ could sleep, and let him get away,
as did"
"The truth is." said the king. I'VE
are both Of us getting old" He tapped
with his gnaried fingers on the blanket
that lay over his knees. "The truth
is also" he observed a moment later.
that the boy has very few pleasures.
He is alone a great deal"
General Mettllch raised his shaggy
head. Many years of wearing a SOL
dier's cap had not injured his heavy
gray hair. He had bristiing eyebrows.
white now, and short. fighting mus
tache. When he was irritated, or dis
agreed with any one. his eyebrows
came down and the mustache went up.
Many years of association with his
king had given him the right to talk
to him as man to man. They even
quarreled now and then. 1t was
brave man who would quarrel with old
Ferdinand II.
SO now his eyebrows came down
and his mustache went up. How
alone, sireT
'You do not regard that bIgoted
English woman as companion, do
your
"She is n thoughtfuI md conscien
tious woman. SIRE" he said stiffly. 1t