The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-03-16
CHAPTER !.
The Crown Prince Runs Away.


hardly princely, but the royal legs did
not quite reach the floor from the high
cifmson-velvet seat Of his chair.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto was
bored. His royal robes. consisting Of
pair Of blue serge trousers, short
Elton jacket, and stiff. rolling collar
of white linen. irked him.
He had been brought to the opera
house under misrepresentation. His
aunt, the Archduchess Annunciata. had
strongly advocated 1.-THE Flying Dutch
man." and his English governess, Miss
Braithwaite, had read him some in
spring literature about 1t. SO here he
was. and the Flying Dutchman was not
ghostly at all, nor did 1t fly. And in
stead Of flying, after dreary cons Of
singing, 1t was moved of on creaky
rollers by men whose shadows were
thrown grotesquely on the sea back
ing
The orchestra, assisted by bass
solo and intermittent thunder In the
wings, was making deafening din.
One Of the shadows on the sea back
ing took out its handkerchief and
wiped its nose.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto look
ed across at the other royal box, and
caught his Cousin Hedwig's eye. She
also had seen the handkerchief; she
took out her own scrap Of linen, and
mimicked the shadow. Then. Her
Royal Highness the Archduchess An
nunciata being occupied with the
storm, she winked across at Prince
Ferdinand William Otto.
In the opposite box were his two
Hilda, attended by Hedwig's lady In
waiting. Hedwig was eighteen. The
crown prince liked Hedwig better than
Hilda. Although she had been intro
duced formally to the court at the
Christmas-eve ball, and had been duly
king. with the usual string Of pearls
and her own carriage. she still ran of
now and then to have tea with the
crown prince and Miss Braithwaite In
the school room at the palace: and she
could eat a great deal Of bread and but
ter.
The crown prince yawned. although
II was but the middle Of the after
noon. Catching Hedwig's eye, he ran
his fingers up through his thick vel
low hair and grinned. Hedwig blushed.
She had confided to him once. while
they were walking In the garden at
the summer palace, that she was
thinking OF being in love with young
lieutenant who was attached to the
kings suite. The prince-who was
called Otto for short, by the family,
because he actually had eleven names
the prince had been much interested.
For some time afterward he had both
cred Miss Braithwaite to define being
In love. but he had had no really salts
factory answer.
In pursuance Of his quest for in
formation, he had growf quite friendly
with the young officer, whose name
was Larisch. and had finally asked to
have him ride with him at the royal
riding school. The grim old king had
granted the request, but 1t had been
quite fruitless so far after all. Lieu
tenant Larisch only grew quite red as
to the ears when love was mentioned,
although he appeared not unwilling to
hear Hedwig's name.
So now Ferdinand William Otto ran
his fingers through his fair hair, which
was favorite gesture Of the lieuten-
ants. and Hedwig blushed. The arch
duchess, sitting well back. was nod
ding. Just outside the royal box. on
the red velvet sofa, General Mettllch,
who was the chancellor, and had come
because he had been invited and stayed
outside because he said he liked to
hear music, not see it, was sound
asleep. His martial bosom, with its
gold braid, was rising and falling
peacefully. Beside him lay the princes
crown. small black derby hat.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto con-
sidered it all very wearisome. Ii one
could only wander around the corridor
or buy sandwich from the stand at
the foot of the great staircase-or, bet
ter still, if one could only get to the
street. alone, and purchase one OF the
fir women that Miss Braithwaite SO
despised! The crown prince felt In
his pocket, where his weeks allow
jance of pocket money lay comfortably
untouched.
He meditated. He could go out
quickly, and be back before they knew
IT. Even if he only wandered about
the corridor, 1t would stretch his short
legs. And outside it was a fine day.
II looked already like spring.
With the trepidation Of a canary
who finds his cage door open, and,
hopping to the threshold, surveys the
world before venturing to explore 1t,
Prince Ferdinand William Otto rose
to his feet, tiptoed past the Arch
duchess Annunciata, who did not move,
and looked around him from the door
way.
He picked up his hat and concealed
Il by his side. Then nonchalantly' as
If to stretch his legs by walking ten
feet up the corridor and back, ne
passed the dressing room door. An
other moment, ana he was out OF sight
aros:nd a bend Of the passageway, and
before him Lay liberty.