River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-05-23
CHAPTER xI.
AS a Man May Love Woman.

AS Man May Love WOHIaH'
HedWig came to tea that afternoon.
She came in softly, and defantly, for
she was doing a forbidden thing, but
Prince Ferdinand William Otto had
put away the frame against such
contingency. He had, as matter OF
fact, been putting cold cloths on MISS
BraithWaite's forehead.
81 always do it," he informed He'd
wig. Il like doing it. It gives me
something to do. She likes them
rather dry, SO the water doesn't run
down her neck"
Had Miss Braithwaite not been i'll,
HedWig would have talked things over
with her then. There was no one else
to whom she could go. Hilda refused
TO consider the prospect of marriage
as anything but pleasurable, and be-
tween her mother and HedWig there
had never been any close relation
ship.
But Miss Braithwaite lay motionless,
her face set in lines Of suffering, and
after a time Hedwig rose and tiptoed
out of the room.
! Prince Ferdinand William Otto was
excited. Tea had already come, and
on the rare occasions when the COVER
ness was i'll, it was his privilege to
pour the tea.
Milky is coming" he said rapidly,
"and the three of us will have party.
Please don't tell me how you like your
tea, and see if can remember"
"Very well, DEAR" Hedwig said
gently, and went to the window.
Milky entered almost Immediately.
AS a matter Of fact, although he
showed no trace of it, Milky had been
having an extremely bad time since
his return; the chancellor, who may or
may not have known that his heart
was breaking, had given him very
severe scolding on the way back from
Wedding. 1t did Milky good, too, for
1t reused him to his own defense, and
made him forget, for few minutes
anyhow, thato life was over for him,
and that the chancellor carried his
death sentence in his old leather dis
patch case.
After that, arriving in the capital,
they had driven to the little office
in a back street, and there Milky had
reused himself again enough to give
a description of Peter Niburg, and to
give the location Of the house where
he lived. But he slumped again after
that, ate no dinner, and spent long
ish time in the place, staring up at
Annunciata's windows, where he had
once seen Hedwig on the balcony.
Iaf sY 10 ~
was summoned to the kings bedroom,
and came out pale, with his shoulders
very square. He had received a real
Wigging this time, and even con-
templated throwing himself in the
river. Only he could swim SO DAM
nably well!
But he had the natural elasticity of
youth, and a sort of persistent belief
in his own luck, rather like the chan
cellor's confidence in seven as a num-
ber-a confidence, by the way, which
the countess could easily have shaken.
So he had Weakened the next morning
rather cheerful than otherwise, and
over u breakfast of broiled ham had
refused to look ahead farther than the
day.
That afternoon, in the study, Milky
hesitated when he saw Hedwig.
Then he came and bent low over her
hand. And Hedwig. because every in
Stinct yearned to touch his shining
bent head, spoke to him very calmly,
was rather distant, a little cold.
''You have been away, 1 think?' she
said.
For a day or two, highness.
'And today" he added, reproach-
fully, to-day you did not ride
81 did not feel like riding" Hedwig
responded liStlessly. Il am tired.
think 1 am always tired"
Lemon and two Jumps" muttered
the crown prince. That's Nikky's,
Hedwig. Give it TO him, please"
Milky went a trifle pale as their
fingers touched. BJS he tasted his
tea, and pronounced it excellent.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto chat
tered excitedly. He told of the dog,
dilating on its cleverness, but passing
politely over the manner of its return.
Now and then Hedwig glanced at
Milky, when he was not looking, and
always, when they dared, the young
soldiers eyes were on her.
"She will take some tea without
sugar" announced the crown prince.
While he poured it, Hedwig was
thinking. Was it possible that Milky,
of every one. should have been chosen
70 carry To Karl fha Ynarviape arrange