The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-05-17
CHAPTER XII.
AS a Man May Love a Woman.

RedWig came TO tea that afternoon
She came in softly, and defiantly, fol
she was dong a forbidden thing, bu
Prince Ferdinand William Otto haC
put away the frame against such 6
contingency. He had, us a matter OF
fact, been putting cold cloths on Miss
Braithwaite's forehead
Il always do it," he informed He'd
wig. Il like doing it. 1t gives me
something to do. She likes them
rather dry. so the water doesn't run
DOWN her neck"
Had Miss Braithwaite 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
TO consider the prospect of marriage
as anything but pleasurable, and be-
tween her mother and Hedwig there
had never been any close relation
ship.
But Miss Braithwaite lay motionless,
her face set In lines of suffering, and
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.
'sNikky is coming" he said rapidly,
"and the three of US will have a party.
Please don't tell me how you like your
tea. and see If I can remember"
Every well, dear" Hedwig said
gently. and went to the window.
Milky entered almost Immediately.
AS 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
wac breaking, had given him a very
severe scolding Oh the way back from
Wedding. 1t did Milky good, too, for
1t reused him TO his own defense, and |
made him forget, for a few minutes |
anyhow, thats life was over for him, |
and that the chancellor carried his |
death sentence in his old leather dis |
patch case.
After that, arriving in the capital,
they had driven to the little Office +
In back street, and there Milky had
reused himself again enough to give
a description of Peter Niburg, and to
give the location of the house where
he lived. But he slumped again after
that, ate no dinner, and spent a long
ish time in the place, staring up at
Annunciata's windows, where he had
once seen Hedwlg on the balcony.
Then, late in the evening, Milky
was summoned to the kings bedroom,
and came out pale. with his shoulders
very square. He had received real
wigging this time, and even con-
templated throwing himself in the
river. Only he could swim so dam
nably Well
But he had the natural elasticity Of
youth, and sort of persistent belief
In his own luck, rather like the chan
ceIlor's confidence in seven as num-
5er-a confidence, by the way, which
the countess could easily have, shaken.
So he had Weakened the next morning |
rather cheerful than otherwise, and
over a breakfast of broiled ham had
refused to look ahead farther than the
lay.
That afternoon, In the study, Milky
lesitated when he saw Hedwig.
Then he came and bent low over her
land. And Hedwig, because every in
Itinct yearned to touch his shining
tent head, spoke to him very calmly
vas rather distant, little cold.
"You have been away, think?" she
aid.
For day or two, highness.
"And today" he added, reproach-
ully, "today you did not ride"
Il did not feel like riding" Hedwig
esponded listlessly. II am tired
hink am always tired"
Lemon and two Jumps" muttered
be crown prince. That's Nikky's.
[edwig. Give it to him, please" az
Milky went a trife pale as their
ngers touched But he tasted his 7
"a, and pronounced it excellent. b
Prince Ferdinand William Otto chat tn
sred excitedly. He told OF the dog,
Hating on its cleverness, but passing re
olitely over the manner Of its return.
ow and then Hedwig glanced at ~
ikky, when he was not looking, and W
ways, when they dared, the young
,ldier's eyes were on her. kl
she will take some tea without es
lgHf," announced the crown prince. 4
While be- poured 1t, Hedwig was
linking. Was It possible that Milky, st
every one. should have been chosen on
enrE1 - xnra thu marriage arfnnGo-f