The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1918-09-27
CHAPTER xi.
A. a Man May Love a Woman.
10


Hedwig came TO tea that afternoon.
She came In softly, and dejuatly, for
she was doing forbidden thing, but
Prince Ferdinand William Otto had
pur dway the frame AGAINST such u
contingency. He mad, ns II matter of
fnci. been putting cold cloths on Miss
Brnlihwaite's forehead.
II always do it," he informed He'd
wig Il like doiag 1t. 1t gives me
something to do. She likes them
rather dry. so the water doesn't run
down her neck"
Had Miss Braithwaitc not been i'll.
Hedwig would have talked things over
with her then. There was no one else
to whom she could go. Hilda refused
10 consider the prospect of marriage
ms anything but pleasurilble, and be-
tween her mother and Hedwig there
had never been any close relation
ship.
hut Miss Braithwaite lay motionless,
her face set In lines of suffering. aud
after time Hedwig rose and tiptoed
out of the room.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto was
excited. Tea had already come. and
on the rare occasions when the COVER
ness was Ill, it was his privilege to
pour the tea.
Milky is coming" he said rapidly,
"and the three of us will have party.
Please don't tell me how you like your
tea. and see if l can remember"
VERY well. dear" Hedwig said
gently. and went to the window.
Milky entered almost Immediately.
IS II matter of fact. although he
showed no trace of 1T, Milky had been
having an extremely bad time since
his return the chancellor, who may or
may not have known that his heart
was breaking. had given him q very
severe sc0ldlng on the way back from
Wedeling. 1t did Milky good. too, for
~ reused him to his own defense, and
innde him forget, for few minutes
anyhow. that life was over for him,
and TINT tho chancellor carried his
death sentence In his old leather dis
patch case.
After thar. arriving In the capital.
they had driven to the little office
in back street, and there Milky had
reused himself again enough to give
give the location of the house where
he lived. But he slumped again after
that, ate no dinner. and spent a long
ish time I'm the plnce, staring up at
Annuncinta's windows. where he had
once seen Hedwlg on the balcony.
Then, late in the evening" Milky
WIS summoned to the kings bedroom
and cnme out pale. with his shoulders
very square. He had received real
wiggIng this time. and even con
femplated throwing himself In the
river. Only he could swim SO dam
Dslly we'll
But he had the natural elasticity OF
youth. and sort of persistent belief
iii his own luck. rather like the chan
cellor's confidence in seven as mum.
ber-a confidence. by the why, which
the countess could easily hive shaken
So he had wakened the next morning
rather cheerful than otherwise, and
over a breakfast of broiled ham had
refused to look ahead farther than the
day.
That afternoon, In the study, Milky
hcsitated when he saw Hedwig
Then he came and bent low over hei
hand. And Hedwig. because every In
stinct yearned to touch his shining
bent head, spoke to him very calmly
was rather distant. little cold.
You have been away. l think?" shs
said.
For day or two, highness.
"And today" he added, reproach-
fully, "today you did not ride"
Il did not feel like riding" Hedwip
responded listlessly. II am tired.
think am always tired"
Lemon and two Jumps" muttered
the crown prince. That's Nikky's
Hedwig. Give 1t to him, please"
Milky went trifie pale as their
fingers touched. But he tasted his
tea, and pronounced 1t excellent.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto chat
tered excitedly. He told of the dog
diluting on its cleverness, but passing
politely over the manner Of Its return
Now and then Hedwig glanced al
Milky. when he was not looking, and
always. when they dared, the young
soldiers eyes were on her.
"She will take some ten without
sugar." announced the crown prince.
While he poured 1t. Hedwig was
thinking. Was 1t possible that Milky