The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-05-03
CHAPTER VIII-continued.

The quay receded, red carpet and all
Only the blare of the band followed
them, and with the persistence o.
sound over water, followed them fol
some time.
It was Hedwig who showed the mos
depression on the trip, after all. Early
that morning she had attended mass
In the royal chapel. All the household
had been there, and the king had been
wheeled in, and had sat in his box
high in the wall, the door of which
opened from his private suite.
Looking up, Hedwig had seen his
gray old face set and rigid. The court
had worn black, and the chapel was
draped in crepe. She had fallen on
her knees and had tried dutifully to
pray for the dead Hubert. But her
whole soul was crying out for help for
herself.
So now she So rery quiet, and won
deres s5odi things.
r.ince Ferdinand William Otto sat
by the rail and watched the green
banks flying by.
When no one was looking, he broke
n flower from the bouquet and flung it
overheard. He pretended that 1T was
i'oat, and was going down to Karnia,
Allied with soldiers ready to fight.
But the thought of soldiers brought
Milky 20 his mind. His face clouded.
Its very strange about Milky" he
said. HE is away somewhere. / wish
be had sent word he was going"
Hedwig looked out over the river.
The archduchess glanced at Miss
Braithwaite. fThere is no news?" she
asked, in an undertone.
'None," said Miss Braithwaite.
A sudden suspicion rose in Hedwig's
mind and made her turn pale. What
if they had sent him away? Perhaps
they feared him enough for that If
that were true, she would never know.
She knew the ways Of the palace well
enough for that. In a sort of terror
she glanced around the group, so COM
fortably disposed. Her mother was |
looking out, with her cool, impassive |
gaze. Miss Braithwaite knitted. The |
countess, however, met her eyes, and |
there was something strange in them
triumph and bit of terror, too, had I
she but read them. For the countess
had put in her plea for holiday and
had been refused.
The new fortress faced the high road
der. 1t stood on bluff over the river,
and was, as the crown prince decided.
not so unlike the desk, after all, ex-
cept that it had moat around it.
Hedwig and the countess went with
the party around the Notifications.
The archduchess and ISIS Braithwaite
had sought fire. Only the countess,
faOwever seemed really interested.
Hedwig seemed more intent on the dis
tant line of the border than on any
thing else. She stood on rampant
and stared out at it, looking very sad.
Even the drill-when at word all the
great guns rose and peeped over the I
edge at the valley below, and then
dropped backed again as if they had {
seen enough-even this failed to rouse |
ner.
81 wish you would listen, Hedwig,"
said the crown prince, almost fretfully. q
TITS so interesting. The enemy's sol 1
aiers would come up the river In boats,
and along that road on foot. And then G
we would raise the guns and shoot at r
hem. And the guns would drop back d
again, before the enemy had time to
lin at Them b
But Hedwig's interest was so evil .
lently assumed that he turned to the U
The countess professed t
milling terror, and stood little way L
Jack from the guns, looking on. But v
Prince Ferdinand William Otto at last
eaxed her to the top Of the emplace- n
nent.
There's q fine view up there" he L
Irged. "And the guns won't hurt you. p
heres nothing in them" T
To get up it was necessary to climb 81
n iron ladder. Hedwig was already "
here. About dozen young officers h
lad helped her up, and ruined as 81
AMY pairs OF white gloves, although b.
Ec<awfx could climb like cat, and