Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1918-06-07

famed. Indifferent mother though she
was, she made capital of a fear for
Hedwig's happiness.
At last she succeeded In irritating
the king-a more difficult thing now
| than in earlier times, but not so hard
matter at that. Pe listened quietly
until she had finished, and then sent
her away. When she had got part
way to the door, however, he called
her back. And since king is king,
even if he is ones father and very old,
| she came.
Gust one word more" he said, in
his thin, old, high-bred voice. much
making. You, and you only, know how
much. But nothing that you have said
can change the situation. l am merely
compelled to make the decision alone,
and soon. I have not much time"
| SO, after all, was the matter of the
Duchess Hedwig's marriage arranged,
a composite outgrOwth of expediency
and obstinacy, of defiance and anger.
And so was it fastened.
Irritation gave the king strength.
! That aftern Ion were summoned in
haste the members of his cOuncil-fat
old Frese. young Marschall with the
rat face, auStere Bayerl with the
white skin and burning eyes, and 9th
ers. And to them all the king dis
| closed his royal will. There was some
| demur. But, after all, the kings will
was dominant. Friese could but voice
! his protest and relapse into greasy
silence.
The chancellor sat silent during the
conclave, silent, but intent. On each
! sneaker he turned his eyes, and waited
until at last Karl's proposal, with it's
4 promises. was laid before them in full.
Then, and only then, the chancellor
rose. His speech was short. He told
them of what they all knew, their own
insecurity. He spoke but word of
the crown prince, but that softly. And
he drew for them a picture of the
future that set their hearts to glowing
"a throne secure, q greater kingdom,
freedom from the costs Of war, har-
Dor by the sea.
The battle, which was no battle at
all. was won. He had won. The cOun-
fry had won. The crown prince had
won. Only Hedwig had lost. And
| only Mettlich knew just how she had
lost.
The necessity for work brought the
king the strength to do it. Mettlich
remained with him. Boxes were
brought from vaults, unlocked and ex-
amined. Secretaries came and went.
at eight clock a frugal dinner was
spread in the study, and they ate it
almost literally over state documents.
On and on, until midnight or there
abouts. Then they stopped. The thing
was arranged. Nothing was left now
but to carry the word to Karl.
Two things were necessary: Haste.
The king, having determined it, would
lose no time. And dignity. The grand
daughter of the king must be offered
with ceremony. No ordinary kings
messenger, then, but some dignitary OF
the court.
To this emergency Mettlich rose like
the doughty old warrior and statesman
that he was. eff you are willing, sire"
he said. as he rose, II will go myself"
"WhenT
"Since it must be done, the sooner
the better. Tonight, sire"
ITO the capital?"
"Not so far. Karl is hunting. He is
ct Wedding"
He went almost Immediately, and
the king summoned his Wallets, and was
got to bed. But long after the auto
mobile containing Mettlich and two Sc
cret agents was on the road toward
the mountains, he tossed on his mar
row bed. To what straits had they
come indeed! He closed his eyes
YEARLY. Something had gone out of
his life. He did not realize at first
what it was. When he did, he smiled
his old grim smile in the darkness.
He had lost a foe. More than any
thing, perhaps, he had dearly loved q
foe.