Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-01-31
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 got"
ITO the park. sir. IL 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 I like. Milky and
IL"
by Milky you mea Lieutenant
LarischT
"Yes, SIR"
"Go on"
I'VE like the same things, sir-the
Pixies Peak-Or-Bust. and all that"
The kin; raised himself on his eli.
bow. "What was that?" he demanded.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
blushed, and explained. It was Bob.
by's name for the peak at the top Of
the scenic. railway. He had been on
the railway. He had been-his en-.
thusiasm carried him away. His
cheeks flushed. He sat forward on the
edge of his chair, and %gesticulated.
Il was awfully happy, sir" he ended.
1T 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 II 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
a strong hand. "You were happy" he
said. "You were d%isobedient, 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 characterization. disobedience, and
reckless disregard of the feelings of
Others"
s"Yes, SIR" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, feeling very small and
ashamed.
"Not only that. You slipped away.
You did not so openly. You sneaked
Off, Ike a thief. Are you proud Of
It'll"
"No, sir" ....
II SHALL" said the king, "reQulre no
promise from you. Promises are poor
things to hold to. I 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
me. You may 90 now"
Otto got off his chair. He was feel
ing exceedingly crushed. "Good night,
sir" he said. And waited for his
grandfather to extend his hand. But
the old king lay looking straight ahead,
with his mouth set in grim lines, and
his hands folded over his breast.
At the door the crown prince turned
and bowed. His grandfather's eyes
were fixed on the two gold eagles over
the door, but the photograph on the
table appeared to be smiling at him.
Until late that night General Nett
Itch and the king talked together. The
king had been lifted from his bed and
sat propped in a great chair. Above
his shabby dressing gown his face
showed gaunt and old. In a straight
chair facing him sat his old friend and
chancellor.
what 1t has shown is not entirely
bad" said the king, after a pause.
THE boy has initiative. And he made
no attempt at evasion. He is essential.
ly truthful"
"What 1t has also shown, sire, Is
that no protection is enough. When
], who love the lad, and would-when
could sleep, and let him get away,
as I did"
1.-THE truth u.s." said the king, tive
are both Of us getting old" He tapped
with his gnaried fingers on the blanket
that lay over his knees. "The truth
Ia ALSO" he observed q moment later,
tHut Nuo IVY AuS very A~cW"peASuEcS'
he IL alone q great DEAL"
General Mcttlich raised his shaggy
head. Many years Of wearing q sol.
4 dier's cap had not injured his heavy
gray hair. He had bristling eyebrows,
white now. and q short, fighting mus.
tache. When he was irritated, or dis.
agreed with any one. his eyebrows
Came DOWN had the mustache went up.
Many years Of association with his
king had given him the right to talk
to him as man to man. They even
quarreled now and then. It was a
braye man who would quarrel with old
Ferdinand II.
So now his eyebrows came down
and his mustache went up. How
alone, siref"
"You do not regard that bigoted
English woman 10 q companion, do
your"
"!She is q thoughtful and conscien.
: tious woman, SIRE" he said stifly. It
: happened that he had selected her.
. "She does her duty. And as to the
boy being lonely. he Inns no time To he