The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-03-15
By Mary
Roberts Rinehart


king, "that you have alarmed a great
many people"
"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't think"
"a princes duty is to think. Where
did you go?"
"To the park, sir. II thought I'd
like to see the park by myself. It's
very hard to enjoy things with Miss
Braithwaite, sir. She does not really
enjoy the things / like. Milky and
l."
"By Milky you mean Lieutenant
LarischY'
Eyes, sir"
| $50 on"
"We like the same things, sir-the
Pike's-Peak-or-B and all that"
| The king raised himself on his ell
bow. "What was that?" he demanded.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
blushed, and explained. 1t was Bob
by's name for the peak at the top of
the scenic railway. He had been on
the railway. He had been-hfs en-
thusiasm carried him away. His
cheeks flushed. He sat forward on the
edge of his chair, and gesticulated..
II was awfully happy, SIR" he ended.
''It feels like flying, only safer And
the lights are pretty. It's like fairy
land. There were two or three times
when 1t seemed as if we'd turn over,
or leap the track. But we didn't"
The king lay back and thought. More
than anything in the world he loved
this boy. But the occasion demanded
strong hand. "YOu were happy" he
said. you were disobedient, you
were causing grave anxiety and dis
tress-and you were happy! The first
duty of a prince is to his country. His
first lesson is to obey laws. He must
always obey certain laws. A king is
but the servant of his people. Some
day you will be the king. You are be-
ing trained for that high office now.
And yet you would set the example
of INSTRUMENTATION, disobedience, and
reckless disregard of the feelings of
others"
Eyes, sir" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, feeling very small and
ashamed.
"Not only that. You slipped away.
You did not go openly. You sneaked
off, like thief. Are you proud of
it?"
! mo, sir"
81 shall" said the king, require no
promise from you. Promises are poor
things to hold to. l leave this matter
IN your own hands, Otto. You will be
punished by Miss Braithwaite, and for
The next ten days you will not visit
ne. You may go now"
Otto got off his chair. He was feel
ng exceeding ely crushed. "Good night,
;ir," he said. And waited for his
to extend his hand. But
he old king lay looking strsight ahead,
With his mouth set in grimm lines, and
lis hands folded over his breast.
At the door the crown prince turned
md bowed. His grandfather's- eyes
we're fixed on the two gold eagles over
he door, but the photograph on the
able appeared to be smiling at him.
Until late that night General Nett
Ich and the king talked together. The
ing had been lifted from his bed and
at propped in a great chair. Above
is shabby dressing gown his face
bowed gaunt and old. In a straight
hair facing him sat his old friend and
hancellor.
''What it has shown is not entirely
ad," said the king, after a pause.
The boy has initiative. And he made
o attempt at evasion. He is essential
: truthful"
"What it has also shown, sire, Is
lat no protection is enough. When
who love the lad, and would-when
could sleep, and let him get away,
5 / did"
1.-THE truth is" said the king, eve
re both Of US getting DID," He tapped
18th his gnarled fingers on the blanket
lat lay over his knees. 1.-THE truth
Also" he observed a moment later,
hat the boy has very few pleasures.
e is alone great deal"
General Mettlich raised his shaggy
lad. Many years of wearing a sol
er's cap had not injured his heavy
'ay hair. He had bristllng eyebrows,
bite now, and q short, fighting mus
che. When he was irritated, or dis
reed with any one, his eyebrows
me down and the mustache went up.
Many years Of association with his
ng had given him the right to talk
him as man to man. They even
Iarreled now and then. 1t was
ave man who would quarrel with old
,rdinand H.
So now his eyebrows came down
ID his mustache went up. How
one, sire"
'You do not regard that bigoted
lglish woman as a companion, do
NJ"
"She is thoughtful and conscien-
us woman, SIRE" he said stiffly. It
opened that he had selected her.
he does her duty. And as to the
y being lonely, he has no time to be
lely. His tutors"
How old is hep
Ten next month"
The king said nothing for a time.
en-It is hard" he said at last,
A