Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-01

"Thcrc,D Said Annunciats, "You Look
Less Like Baby"
OF King Karl. There We're two reasons
for this !, Karl's presence and his pur-
| pose-as yet unannounced. but sur
missed, and even known--and the sit
uation in the city,
That was bad. The papers had been
ordered to make no mention of the
occurrence of the afternoon, but it was
web known. There were many at the
! table who felt the whole attempt fool
hardy, the setting of a match to in
! fiammabIe material. There were otn-
ers who resented Karl's presence in
Livonia and all that it implied. And
perhaps there were, too, among the
| guests, one or more who had but re-
Gently sat in less august and more aw-
full company.
Beneath all the brilliance and chat
! ter, the sparkle and gayety, there was,
then, uneasiness, wretchedness, and
even treachery. And outside the pail
ace, held back by the guards, there
still stood part Of the sullen crowd
| which had watched the arrival Of the
| carriages and automobiles, had craned
forward to catch glimpse of uniform
or brilliantly shrouded figure entering
| the palace. and muttered as 1t looked.
Dinner was over at last. The party
moved back to the salon, a vast and
empty place hung with tapestries and
gayly lighted. Here the semblance Of
gayety persisted, and Karl affability
| itself, spoke few words to each of
/ the guests. Then 1t was over. The
| guests left, the members of the coufl-
ell each with a wife on his arm,
frowsy, overdressed women most Of
them. The council was chosen for
ability and not for birth. At last only
the suite remained, and constraint
| vanished.
| The family withdrew shortly after to
a small salon off the large one. And
there, at last. Karl cornered Hedwig
and demanded speech.
"Where?'' she asked, glancing around
| the crowded room.
/
he said. 'Unless--there is a bal
cony."
"But do you think 1t is necessary"
s'why notT'
Because what l have to say does
not matter"
at matters very much to me-" he
replied gravely.
Hedwig went first, slipping away
quietly and unnoticed. Karl asked the
archduchess' permission to follow her
and found her waiting there alone,
rather desperately calm now, and with
a tinge of excited color in her cheeks.
Because he cared a great deal and be-
cause, as kings go, he was neither
hopelessly bad nor hard, his first words
were kind and genuine, and almost
brought her to tears.
"Poor little grit" he said.
He had dropped the curtain behind
him, and they stood alone.
Don't" said Hedwig; II want to be
very calm. and am sorry for myself
already"
"Then you think it is all very ter
rible?"
She did not reply, and he drew a
chair for her to the rail. When she
was seated, he took up his position
beside her. one arm against pillar.
II wonder, Hedwig," he said, 'sif II
is not terrible because it Is new TO you,
and because you do not know me very
we'll. Not" he added hastily, 'that
think your knowing me well would
be an advantage am not so idiotic
But you do not know me at all, and
for good many years / must have
stood in the light of an enemy. 1t is
not easy to readiust such things
witness the reception had today!''
'Why must we talk about lit" He'd
wig demanded, looking up at him sud
denly with a flash of her old spirit
ut will not change anything"
Perhaps not. Perhaps-yes. You
see, am not quite satisfied. / do not
want you, unless you are willing. II
would be a poor bargain for me, and
not quite fair
A new turn, this, with vengeance
Hedwig stared up with startled eyes
! 1t was not enough to be sacrificed
And as she realized all that hung on
the situation, the very life Of the king
dom, perhaps the safety OF her family
} everything, she closed her eyes fol
; fear he might see the fright in them
Karl bent over and took one of her
cold hands between his two warm ones
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