Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-02-21

| mother referred TO-" Hedwig held her
head very high, "I-she was unjust.
Am I never to have any friendsT
"Friends, highness? One may have
friends, Of course It is not friendship
| they fear"
"What thenw
"a lover" said the countess softly.
at Is impossible to see Captain Lar
isch in your presence. and not
realize"
"Go on"
"And not realize. hghness, that he
is in love with you"
slow silly" said the Princess He'd
wig, with glowing eyes.
"But hlghness !" implored the count
ess. If only you would s q little
caution. Open defiance Is Its own de-
feat"
II am not ashamed of what I d."
said Hedwig hotly.
Ashamed! OF course not. But
things that are harmless in others in
your position-you are young. You
should have friends, gayety. / am"
she smiled grimly In the darkness,
mot SO old myself but that I al un-
derstand."
Hedwig stood still. The old city was
preparing for sleep. In the place a
few lovers loitered. standing close, and
the faint tinkling Of a bell told Of the
Blessed Sacrament being carried
through the streets to some bedside Of
the dying. The Princess Hedwig
bowed her head.
1t seemed to her, all at once, that
the world was full Of wretchedness and
death. and Of separation, which might
be worse than death.
II wish I could help you, highness,'
said the countess. II should like to
see you happy. But happiness does
not come Of itself. We must fight fol
it."
Eight? What chance have I t.
fght?" Hedwig asked scornfully.
zone thing, Of course. I could do
pursued the countess. ION those days
when you wish to have tea with--his
: royal highness, I could arrange, per
haps, to let you know II any member
, Of the family intended going to hi.
. . apartments"
1t was q moment before Hedwii
comprehended. Then she turned t,
her haughtily. "When I wish to hav'
tea with my cousin" she said coldly
II shall do 1t openly. countess"
: She left the balcony abruptly, aban
: doning the countess to solitary fury
the greater because triumph ha.
> seemed so near. Alone. she went re.
and white, bit her lips, behaved &C
, cording to all the ttme-honored ira
. ditions. And eve swore-in a polite
:, ladyin.waitlng fashion, to be sure
: to get even.
=
Things were going very wrong TO
Milky Larisch.
= Perhaps, at the very first, he ha,
- been In love with the princess, not tn
:. woman. Il had been rather like hir
to fix on the unattainable and VOL
% ship It from afar. Because. for all tn
! f~rlendliness of their growing intimacy
Hedwig was still a star, whose ligh
touched him, but whose warmth wa
not for him. He would have die
fighting for her with q smile ON hi
!" Hips. But he had no hope Of Twin
for her. unless. Of course, she shout
happen to need him, which was moi
= unlikely. &c had 10 vanity whateve'
" although In parade dress, with whit
gloves, he hoped he cut a decent fgur'
Z SO she had been his star, and AZ col
70 and remote. And then, that yer
u morning. Hedwig had been throw
D. Not ~badly-she was too expert Il
% that. As a matter Of fact, feeling he
self going, she had flung two stron
y young arms around her horses necl
. and had almost succeeded In lightin
D. on her feet Il was not at oil
dramatic.
But Nikky's heart had stopped bea
y Ing. He had lifted her up from whe1
she sat, half vexed and who'll
70 ashamed, and carried her to q chat
That was oil. But when II was 4
= over, and Hedwig was only . trf
q wobbly and horribly humiiate
e. Milky Larisch knew the truth abo,
= himself, knew that hs was In loV
with the granddaughter Of his kin
y. and that under no conceivable circur
" stances would he ever b able Do Il
N her %. Knew, then. that hsppine'
and he had said Q long farewell. Of
Y. wosld thereafter travel diksrsl