The Dermott news., 1918-05-09

met the council in session, and had had, because of their growing alarm, rather his own way with them.
 But although he had pointed to the kings condition and theirs-as an argument for immediate marriage-he failed. The thing would be done. but properly and in good time. Karl left them in bad temper, well concealed, and had the pleasure of being hissed through the streets.
 But he comforted himself with the thought of Hedwig. He had taken her In his arms before he left, and she had made no resistance. She had even, in view of all that was at stake. made n desperate effort To return his kiss, and found herself trembling afterward.
 In two weeks he was to return to her, and he whispered that to her.
 On the day after the dinner party otto went to q hospital with Miss Braithwatte. IL was the custom of the palace to send the flowers from it's 1 spectacular functions to the hospitals, and the crown prince delighted i'll | these crrands.
 So they went. escorted by the func- tionaries of the hospital, past the mili- tary wards, where soldiers i'll shabby uniforms sat on benches in the spring sunshine. to the general wards beyond. The crown prince was almost hidden behind the armful he carried. Miss Braithwaite had all she could hold. A convalesceut patient, in slippers many sizes too large for him, wheeled the remainder in q barrow, and almost upset the barrow in his excitement.
 Through long corridors into wards fresh scrubbed against his arrival with white eounterpanes exactly square. and patients forbidden to move and disturb the geometrical exactness of the beds, went Prince Ferdinand William Otto. At each bed he stopped. selected flower, and held 1t out. Some there were who reached out. and took it with smile. Others lay still, and saw neither boy nor blossom.
 "They sleep, highnesS, the nurse would say.
 But their eyes are open.'
 "They are very weary, and resting"
 In such cases he placed the flower on the pillow, and went on.
 one such, however, lying with va cant eyes fixed on the ceiling, turned and glanced at the boy, and into his empty gaze crent Ii faint intelligence Ii was hot much. He seemed to ques- tion with hs eyes That was all. As the little procession moved on, how ever, he raised himself on his elbow.
 Who was that?"
 The ward, which might have been interested. was busy keeping its cov- CTS straight and in following the pro- gress of the party. For the man had not spoken before.
 The crown prince"
 The sick man lay back and closed his eyes. Soon he slept. His comrade in the next bed beckoned to sister
 "lIe has spoken" he said. Either i he recovers. or-he dies"
 But Haeckel did not die. He lived to do his part in the coming crisis, to prove that even the great hands of Black Humhert on his throat were not SO strong as his own young spirit i lived. indeed. to confront the terrorist as one risen from the dead. But that l day he lay and slept by curious irony the flower from karls banquet in q cup of water beside him.
 On the day before the carnival, He'd wig had visitor. none other than the i Countess LdSchek. Hedwig, all her color gone now. her high spirit crushed, ] her heart torn into fragments and neatly distributed between Nikky, who i had most of IL, the crown prince, and l the old king. Hedwig. having given her permission to come, greeted her l politely but without enthusiasm.
 "TlghnesSl" said the countess sur l veylng her, may l speak to you frank ly?"
 Please do," Hedwig replied. Everybody does, anyhow. Especially when it is something disagreeable."
 olga Loschek watched her warily. She knew the family as only the out sider could know. 1t; knew that He'd wig, who would have disclaimed the i fact, was like her mother in some things, notably in disposition to be mild until n certain moment, submis- sive, even aequiescent, and then sud denly to become. as it were q royalty and grow cold. naughty. But if He'd wig was driven in those days, so was the countess, desperate and driven to desperate methods.
 T am presuming, highness, on your mothers kindness to me, and your own"
 Well, go on." said Hedwig resign edly. But the next words brought her up in her chair.
 Are you going to allow your life to be runed" was what the countess said.
 Careful Hedwig had thrown up her head and looked at her with hostile eyes. But the next moment she had forgotten she was princess, and the granddaughter 10 the king, and remem- bered only that she was woman, and