Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-15


4 Bobby, having passed the outpost,
carried the rest Of the situation by as
sault. Mrs. Thorpe saw Ferdinand Will
liam Otto, and went over, somewhat
puzzled, with her hand out. Il am
very glad Bobby brought you," she
said. "He has so few little friends
Then she stopped, for the prince had
brought his heels together sharply, and
Blending over her hand. had kissed it,
exactly as he kissed his Aunt Annun-
cinta's when he went to have tea with
her. Mrs. Thorpe was fairly startled.
mot at the kiss, but Ct the grace with
which the tribute was rendered. !
Then she looked down, and It rel
stored her composure to find that Fer
dinand William Otto, too, had turned
eyes toward the cake. he was, after
all, only hungry small boy. With
quick tenderness she stopped and
kissed him gravely on the forehead.
Caresses were strange to Ferdinand
William Otto. His warm little heart
Ileaped and pounded. At that moment,
The would have died for heri
Mr.. Thorpe came home little late.
lie kissed Bobby twelve times, and one
ito grow on. He shook hands absently
with the visitor. and gave the Frau
llein the evening paper-an extra
5Ivagance on which he insisted, although
lone could read the news for nothing
:lby going to the cafe on the corner,
|Then he drew his wife aside.
i Look herer' he said. Don't tell
iiBobby-no use exciting him, and Of
course it's not our funeral, anyhow
hut there's q report that the crown
prince has been kidnapped. And that's
mot all. The old king is dying!"
/, "How terriblel'
"Worse than that The old king gone
land no crown princel It may mean
almost any sort Of troubled TveI
closed up at the park for the night. p
His arm around his wife, he looked
through the doorway to where Bobby
and Ferdinand were counting the
candles. Its made me think pretty
hard" he said. Bobby mustn't goj
around alone the way he's been doing.
All Americans here are considered
millionaires. II the crown prince
could go. think how easy-"
His arm frightened around his wife,
and together they went into the birth
day feast. Ferdinand William Otto
was hungry. BE ate eageriy-chickeu,
fruit compete, potato again,
shades Of the court physicians, who
fed him at night balanced ration Of
milk, egg, and zwieback! Bobby also
ate busily, and conversation Ian.
;guished.
Then the moment came when, the
first cravings appeased, they sat back
in their chairs while Pepy cleared thel
table and brought in knife to cut the
cake. Mr.. Thorpe had excused HIM
self for moment. Now he came bach,
with bottle wrapped in newspaper
and sat down again.
II thought" he said, "as this 10 a.
real OCCASION, not exactly Roberts,
coming Of age, but marking his arrival;
lat years Of discretion, the period when
he ceases to be small boy and be-
comes a big one, we might drink a,
toast to it."
! Robert" objected the big boys
mother.
"A teaspoonful each, honey" he:
)begged. ut changes it from mere
supper to festivity."
|, He poured few drops Of wine into
the children's glasses, and filed them
Iup with water. Then he filed the,
Others, and sat smiling this big young
imam, who had brought his loved ones
across the sea, and was trying to make
them happy up a flight Of stone stairs,
lhbove concierge's bureau that
smelled Of garlic.
! "First," he said, II believe it is cus-'
Homary to toast the king. Friends, Il
live you the good king and brave
soldier, Ferdinand Of Livonia."
\! They stood up to drink 1t, and even
Pepy had glass.
I! Ferdinand William Otto was on hisi
feet first. He held his glass up in hts
right hand, and his eyes shone. He,
n-new what to do. He had seen tbs
Kings health drunk any number off
times.
sTo his majesty, Ferdinand OF Lii
,vonia," he said solemnly. "God keep
the kingi" 1
Over their glasses Mrs. Thorpe's
eyes met her husbands. How they,
trained their children herel
But Ferdinand William Otto had not
finished. II give you," he said, In his
clear young treble, holding his glass;
l.sthe president Of the United States
the president =. ~ =