The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-05-04

famed Indifferent mother though she
was, she made capital Of fear for
Hedwig's happiness.
At last she succeeded in irritating
the king-a more difficult thing now
than In earlier times, but not so hard
matter at that He listened quietly
until she had finished, and then sent
her away. When she had got part
way to the door, however, he called
her back. And since king Is king,
even If he is ones father and very old,
she came.
"Just one word more" he said, in
| his thin, old, high-bred voice. Much
Of your unhappiness was of your own
making. You, and you only, know how
much. But nothing that you have said
| can change the situation. | am merely
compelled to make the decision alone,
and soon. l have not much time"
SO, after all, was the matter of the
Duchess Hedwig's marriage arranged,
q Composite outgrowth of expediency
and obstinacy, Of defiance and anger
And so was 1t fastened.
Irritation gave the king strength
+! That afternoon were summoned In
haste the members of his council-fat
old Friese, young Marschall with the
rat face. austere Bayerl with the
white skin and burning eyes, and 9TH
ers. And to them all the king dis.
closed his royal will. There was some
demur. But, after all, the kings viii
was dominant. Friese could but voice
his protest and relapse into greasy
silence.
The chancellor sat silent during the
conclave, silent, but intent. On each
sneaker he turned his eyes, and waited
until at last Karls proposal, with its
i promises, was laid before them in full
Then. and only then, the chancellor
rose. His speech was short. He told
them Of what they all knew, their owl
insecurity. He spoke but word OF
the crown prince, but that softly. Anc
he drew for them o picture of the
future that set their hearts to glowing
Ia throne secure, greater Kingdom
freedom from the costs Of war, a har
Dor by the sea.
The battle, which was no battle al
all was won. He had won. The coun
trv had won. The crown prince hac
won Only Hedwig had lost. Ant
onlv Mettlich knew just how she hac
lost.
The necessity for work brought the
king the strength to do 1t. Mettlict
remained with him. Boxes were
brought from vaults, unlocked and ex
omined. Secretaries came and went
A. eight O'Clock a frugal dinner was
snreod in the study, and they ate Il
almost literally over state documents
on and on, until midnight or there
abouts. Then they stopped. The thing
was arranged. Nothing was left no"
hut TO carry the word to Karl.
Two things were necessary: haste
The king. having determined 1t, Woult
lose no time. And dignity. The grand
daughter Of the king must be offere'
!. with ceremony. No ordinary king
messenger, then, but some dlgnitary Q
the court. =,
To this emergency Mettlich rose Tx
; the doughty old warrior and Statesman
TINT he was. IF you are willing sire
he said, as he rose, Il will go myself.
"Whenw
"since it must be done, the soone
the better. Tonight, sire"
ITO the capital?'
"Not so far. Karl is hunting. he
at Wedding"
He went almost Immediately, an
!, the king summoned his Wallets, and wa
cot to bed. But long after the aut'
mobile containing Mettlich and two st
+ cret agents was on the road toWar
the mountains, he tossed on ms na'
row bed. To what straits had the
t come indeed! He closed MS eye
I YEARLY. Something had gone OUT
his life. He did not realize az mrs
! what it was. When he did, ne smile
his old grim smile in the darkness.
He had lost a foe. More than an!
+h;nc pnrhans. he had dearly loved