Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-09
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3, Hedwig stood still. The old city was
preparing for sleep. In the place a,
few lovers loitered, standing close, and:
the faint tinkling of bell told Of the
Blessed :. Sacrament being carried
Through the streets to some bedside OF
the dying. The Princess Hedwig
bowed her head.
It seemed to her, all at once, that
the world was full Of wretchedness and
death, and of separation, which might
,,be worse than death.
II wish / could help you, highness,'
said the countess. Il should like to
see you happy. But happiness does
mot come or Itself. We must light fof
it."
Eight? What chance have I to
fight?" Hedwig asked scornfully.
"One thing, of course. could do"
pursued the countess. ION those days
when you wish to have tea with-his,
royal highness, I could arrange, per-,
laps, to let you know If any member
of the family intended going to his
apartments"
It was q moment before Hedwig
comprehended. Then she turned to
her haughtily. "When I wish to- have
tea with my cousin" she said colby,
IT shall do 1t openly, countess"
~. She left the balcony abruptly, aban-
doning the countess to solitary fury
the greater because triumph had
seemed so near. Alone, she went red
and white, bit her lips. behaved at.
icording to all the time-honored ira
ditions. And even swore-in polite,
lady-in-waiting fashion, to be sure,
to get even.
Things were going very wrong for
Milky Larisch.
Perhaps, at the very first, he had
been In love with the princess, not the
woman. It he'd been rather like him
to fix on the unattainable and wor-
ship 1t from afar. Because, for all the
friendliness. of their growing intimacy,
IHedwig was still star, whose light
touched him, but whose warmth was
mot for him. He would have died
lighting for her with a smile on his
lips. But he had no hope Of living
iifor her, unless. Of course, she should
Happen to need him, which was most
unlikely. He had no vanity whatever,
although in parade dress, with white
gloves, he hoped he cut a decent figure.
So she had been his star, and as cold
land remote. And then, that very
morning. Hedwig had been thrown.
mot badly-she was too expert for
that. AS matter Of fact, feeling her
lself going, she had flung two strong
young arms around her horses neck,
land had almost succeeded in lighting,
ION her feet. It was not at all
dramatic. /
But Nikky's heart had stopped beat
ling. He had lifted her up from where
she sat, half vexed and wholly
ashamed, and carried her to chair.
That was all. But when 1t was all
lover, and Hedwig was only trif1e,
Iwobbly and horribly Inundated,
Milky Larisch knew the truth about
himself knew that he was in love,
with the granddaughter Of his king.
land that under no conceivable circum-
stances would he ever be able to tell
her so. Knew, then, that happiness
and he had said a long farewell, and
MOULD thereafter travel different
roads. /
So that night he started ont to think
things over. Probably never before In
his life had he deliberately done such
IA thing. He had never, as fact
thought much at all. It had been his
comfortable habit to let the day take
care Of itself. Beyond minor prob
llems Of fnance-minor because his I'M
come was trifing-he had considered
little. In the last border war he had
distinguished himself only when it was
a matter Of doing, not Of thinking. /,
!: But he was young, and the night
was crisp and beautiful. He took a.
long breath, and looked up at the stars.
After all, things might not be so bad.
IIfHieiwiY might refuse this marriage.
They were afraid that she would, or
why have asked his help? When he
Thought Of King Karl, he drew himself
Iup, and his heels rang hard on the
pavement. Karl! A hard man and a.
good king that was Karl. And old.
From the full manhood of his twenty
three years Milky surveyed Karls al,
most forty, and considered it age.
Il. It was typical Of Milky to decide
that he needed hard walk. He
translated, most Of his motions into
motion. 50 he set Off brislsly, turn
ing into the crowded part Of the city.
d And hera IT was that Milky hapa