The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-06-22
CHAPTER xlI-Continued.

III
But long after Milky had gone he sat
in the darkness. He felt old and tired
and a hypocrite. The boy would not
forget, as he himself had not forgot
ten.
Peter Niburg was shot at dawn the
next morning. He went, coward, to
his death, held between two guards
and crying piteously. But he died a
brave man. Not once in the long hours
of his interrogation had be betrayed
the name Of the Countess Loschek.
The Crown Prince Ferdinand Will
liam Otto of Livonia was having
birthday. Now, birthday for crown
prince of Livonia is not matter of
cake with candles on it, and having
his ears pulled, once for each year and
an extra one TO grow on. Nor of
holiday from lessons, and a picnic in
spring woods. Nor party, with chill
dren frolicking and scratching the best
furniture.
In the first place, he was wakened
at dawn and taken to early service In
the chapel, solemn function, with the
court assembled and slightly sleepy.
The crown prince, who was trying to
look his additional dignity of years.
sat and stood as erect as possible, and
yawned only once.
At eleven o'clock came word that the
king was too Ill to have him to
luncheon, but that he would see him
for few moments that afternoon.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto, who
was diagramming the sentence. "Abra-
ham Lincoln freed the slaves In Amer
ica," and doing it wrong, looked up In
sdismay.
'I'd like to know what's the use OF
having a birthday" he declared re
.belliously.
The king did not approve Of birth
day gifts. So there were no gifts.
None, that is, until the riding hour
came, and Milky, subverter of oil dis
-cipline. He had brought a fig lady,
wrapped in paper.
"It's quite fresh" he said, as they
walked together across the place.
'I'll give it to you when we get to the
riding school. saw the woman my
self take it out of her basket. So 1t
has no germs on it."
That afternoon, attired In his uni
form of the guards, the crown prince
received the delegation of citizens In
the great audience chamber of the pal
ace, solitary little figure, standing
on the red carpet before the dais at
the end. The chancellor stood near
the boy, resplendent In bis dress uni
form, a blue ribbon across his shirt
front, over which Mathilde had taken
hours. He was the Mettlich of the
public eye now, hard of features, I'M
passive, inflexible.
He had staged the affair well. The
crown prince, standing alone, so small
SO appealing, against his magnificent
background, was picture to touch the
hardest. Not for nothing had Mettlich
studied the people, read their essential
simplicity, their answer to any appeal
to the heart. These men were men or
family. Surely no father Of son
could see that lonely child and not
offer him loyalty.
With the same wisdom, he had given
the boy small instruction, and no
sppech of thanks. LET him say what
comes into his head" Mettlich had
reasoned. 1T will at least be
spontaneous and boyish."
The first formalities over, and the
crown prince having shaken hands
nine times, the spokesman stepped for
ward. He had brought long, written
speech, which had already been gwen
to the newspapers. But after a mo-
anents hesitation he folded 1T up.
Your royal highness," he said, LOOK
dng down. 81 have here long speech,
hut all that it contains can say brief'
". It is your birthday, highness. we
come. representing many others, to pre-
sent to YOU our congratulations. and
the love of your people. It Is oui
hope"-he paused. Emotion ana e1
citement were getting the better o.
him-"our hope, highness. that you
will have many happy years. TO tur
Their that hope, we are here To-Day .
saw that we, representing all classes
are your most loyal subjects. We have
fought for his majesty the king ane
IL necessary we will fight for YOU
He glanced beyond the child at tn
council. and his tone was strong ant
1mpassioned. "But today we are here
not to speak Of war, but to presen
to you our congratulations our de
votion, and our loyalty"
Also a casket. He had forgotten