Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-05-23
tor Weiderman who stood by the bed

u0U Wutteu.
Father Gregory. his friend Of many
years, had come again from Etzel. and
1t was he who had administered the
sacrament. The king had reused for
It. and had smiled at the father.
"SOw he said. almost In q whisper,
"you would send me clean! 1t is hard
to scour an old kettle"
Doctor Weiderman bent owe the
bed. Majesty" he implored, If there
Is anything we al do to make you
comfortable"
"Give NE Hubert's picture" said the
king. When his fingers refused to hold
1t, Annunciata came forward swiftly
and held 1t before him. But his heavy
eyes closed. With more intuition than
might have been expected Of her, the
archduchess laid It on the white cover
let, and placed her fathers hand on
1t.
The two sisters of mercy stood be-
side the bed, and looked down at the
quiet figure.
II should wish to die So" whispered
the elder. "a long life, filled with
many deeds. and then to sleep away"
"a long life, full of many sorrows!"
observed the younger one, her eyes
full of tears. "Hc has outliyed all
that he loved"
Except the little Otto"
Their glances met, for even here
there was q question.
AS IL their thought had penetrated
the haze which is, perhaps, the mist
that hides from us the gates Of heaven,
the old king opened his eyes.
"Otto!" he said. "I-wish-"
Annunciata bent over him. HE Is
coming. father she told him, with
white lips.
She slipped to her knees beside the
bed, and looked up to Doctor Weider-
man with appealing eyes.
II am afraid" she whispered. Can
you not--|
He shook his head. She had asked
a question In her glance, and he had
answered. The crown prince was
gone. Perhaps the search would be
successful. Could he not be held. then.
until the boy was found? And Doctor
Welderman had answered NO"
In the antechamber the council
waited. standing and without speech.
But in an armchair beside the door
to the kings room the chancellor sat,
his face buried in his hands. In spite
OF precautions, In spite Of everything,
the blow had fallen. The crown prince,
to him at once son and sovereign, the
little crown prince, was gone. And
his old friend, his comrade Of many
years, lay at his last hour.
Now he waited for the kings death.
Waited numbly. For, with the tolling
Of st. Stefan's bell would rise the cry
for the new king.
And there was no king.
In the little room where the sisters
kept their medicines, so useless now,
Hedwig knelt at the prie-dieu and
prayed.
The king reused again. "Ifettlich?"
he asked.
The elder sister tiptoed to the door
and opened 1t. The council turned,
dread on their faces. She placed a
hand on the chancellor's shoulder.
His majesty has asked for YOU"
When he looked up, dazed, she bent
down and took his hand,
1Courage!" she said quietly.
The chancellor stood a second In.
side the door. Then he went to the
side Of the bed, and knelt, his lips
to the cold, white hand on the counter.
pane.
"Sire!" he choked. 1T IL Met.
Itch"
The king looked at him, and placed
his hand on the bowed gray head
Then his eyes turned to Annunciata
and rested there. 1t was rs II he saw
her, not as the embittered wonnn OF
late years, but as the child Of the
woman he had loved.
"A good friend, and a good daugh.
ter" he said clearly. Few men die
so fortunate, and fewer sovereigns.'
Fills hand moved from Mettllch's head
and rested on the photograph.
The elder sister leaned forward and
touched his wrist. doctor !" she said
sharply.
: Doctor Weiderman came first, the
others following. They grouped
. around the bed. Then the oldest O
them, who had brought Annunclat,
into the world, touched her on thu
I. shoulder.
. Madame" he said. Madame, T.
his majesty has passed away"
Mettllch staggered to his feet, ant
t took q long look at the face Of his oil
sovereign and king.
In the meantime, things had beer
happening In the room where til,
: council waited. The council free O.
9 the restraint Of the chancellor's pres
D ence, had fallen into low-voiced con
~sultatton. Whit was to be done
: They knew already the rumors Of tn,
streets. and were helpless before them
They had done what they could. Bu
the boy was gone, and the city rising
Already the garrison Of the fortress
had been ordered to the palace, bu
d 1t could not arrive before midnight
. % s-L-t - = 4.