The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-08-07
CHAPTER XVII.

william Otto changed the cold cloth
on her head, she did not even move
The Countess Loschek had brought hel
some medicine.
at cured her very quickly" said the
crown prince, shuffling the cards with
clumsy fingers. He and Milky were
playing a game in which matches rep
resented money. The crown prince
had won nearly all of them and was
quite pink with excitement. "Its my
deal, isn't it? When she goes to sleep
like that, she nearly always wakens ur
much better. She's very sound
asleep"
Milky played absently, and lost the
game. The crown prince triumphant
ly scooped up the rest of the matches,
Then he lounged to the window, his
hands in his pockets. There was
something on his mind which the
chancellor's reference to Hedwigs pic
ture had recalled. Something he
wished to say to Milky, without look
ing at him.
SO he cleared his throat, and looked
out the window, and said, very cas-
ually:
"Hilda says that Hedwig is going to
get married"
$50 hear, highness."
"She doesn't seem to be very happy
about it. She's crying, most of the
time"
1t was Nikky's turn to clear his
throat. Marriage is serious mat.
ter" he said. 1T is not to be gone
into lightly"
''Once, when I asked you about mar
riage, you said marriage was when two
people loved each other, and wanted
to be together the rest Of their lives"
SWELL" hedged Milky, "that is the
idea, rather"
81 should think" said Prince Ferdi-
nand William Otto, slightly red, shat
you would marry her yourself"
Milky being beyond speech for an
instant and looking, had his royal high
ness but seen him, very tragic and
somewhat rigid, the crown prince went
on:
"She's a very nice girl" he said; 81
think she would make good wife,"
There was something of reproach in
his tone. He had confidently planned
that Milky would marry Hedwig, and
that they could all live on forever in
the palace. But, the way things were
going, Milky might marry anybody,
and go away to live, and he would lose
him.
"Yes," said Milky, in strange voice,
''she-I am sure she would make
good wife,"
At which Prince Ferdinand William
Otto turned and looked at him. 81
wish you would marry her Yourself"
he said with his nearest approach to
impotence. 81 think she'd be willing.
I'll ask her, If you want me to-"
Half-past three, then, and Milky
trying to explain, within the limits of
the boys understanding of life, his
position. Members of royal families,
he said, looking far away, over the
child's head, had to do many things
for the good of the country. And
was one of them. He sat,
bent forward, his hands swung be-
tween his knees, and tried to visualize,
for Otto's understanding and his own
heartache, the results of such a mar
riage.
Some of it the boy grasped. A navy,
ships, railroad to the sea-those he
could understand. Treaties were be-
yond his comprehension. And with a
child's singleness of idea, he returned
TO the marriage.
I'm sure she doesn't care about it,"
he said at last. IF l were king /
would not let her do 1t. And'-he
sat very erect and swung his short
legs-"when l grow up, l shall fight
for navy, If want one, and shall
marry whoever like"
At quarter to four Olga Loschek
was announced. She made the curtsy
inside the door that palace ceremonial
demanded and inquired for the COVER
ness. Prince Ferdinand William Otto,
WIN
TO see If she still slept.
81 think you are very good doc
tor" he said. smiling, and went out
to Miss Braithwaite's sitting room.
1t was then that Olga Loschek
played the last card, and won. She
moved quickly to Nikky's side.
II have message for you" she
said.
A light leaped into Nikky's eyes.
For mel"
do you know where my boudoir
SO"
"I-yes, countess"
"If you will go there at once and
wait, some one will see you there as
soon as possible" She put her hand
On his arm. "Don't be foolish and
proud" she said. "She is sorry
about last night, and she is very I'M
happy"
The light faded out of Nikky'c eyes.
She was unhappy and he could do