Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-11
CHAPTER XVI.
Milky and Hedwiu.


Milky and Hedwig.
Milky had gone back to his lodging.
where his servant was packing his
things. For Milky was now of his
majesty's household, and must ex-
change his shabby old rooms for the
cold magnif1cence Of the palace.
: He was very downhearted. To the
crown prince, each day, he gave the
best that was in him. played and rode,
invented delightful nonsense to bring
the. boys quick laughter, carried
pocketfuls Of bones, to the secret re-
volt Of his soldieriy soul, was beyish
and tender, frivolous or thoughtful, as
the occasion seemed to warrant.
/ And always he was watchful, his re-
volver always ready and in touch, his
eyes keen, his body, even when 1t
seemed most relaxed, always tense to
spring. For Milky knew the temper
of the people, knew 1t as did Mathilde
gpssiping in the market, and even bet-
ter; knew that q crisis was approach
ing and that O. this small boy in his
charge hung that crisis.
!; So Milky trusted in his own right
arm and in nothing else. The very
size Of the palace. Its unused rooms,
Its long. and rambling corridors. its
rambling wings and ancient turrets,
was against it, safety.
since the demonstration against
Karl, the riding school hour had been
given up. There were no drives in the
park. The illness Of the king furnished
sufncient excuse, but the truth was
that the royal family WIS practically
besieged, by It knew not what.
i Milky. summoned to the chancellor's
house that morning, had been told the
facts, and had stood, rather still dnd
tense, while MetSlich recounted them.l
: sour very precautions are our dan
ger" said the chancellor. "And the
king" He stopped and sat- tapping
his fingers on the arm Of his chair.
| 'And the king, slr?"
! almost at the end. A day or two"
Karl, with Hedwig in his thoughts,
had returned to mobilize his army not
far from the border for the spring
maneuvers, and at a meeting OF the
kings council the matter Of mobiliza-
zion in Lvonia was seriously consid-
Iered.
Eat Friese favored 1t, and made an
,impassioned speech, with sweat thick
io,, bta hoavv fare
! 81 am not cowardly," he finished.
III fear nothing Tor myself or for
those belonging to me. But the duty
lot this council is to preserve the throne
flor the crown prince, at any cost. And,
liz We cannot trust the army, in what
can we trustT
I! "In Cod" said the chancellor grim
".
!! In the end nothing was done. Mobil-
Iization might precipitate the crisis and
there was always the fear that the
army, in parts, was itself dsloyal.
! The king, meanwhile, lay dying, Doc
tor Weiderman. In constant attendance,
.other physicians coming and going.
his apartments were silent. Rugs
covered the corridors, that no football
disturb his quiet hours. The>nursing
sisters attended him. one by his bed
side, one always on her knees at the
8priedleu In the small room beyond. He
wanted little-now and then a sip of
water, the cooled juice Of fruit. In
jections Of stimulants, given by Doctor
Weideruan himself, had SCARED his
old arms with purplish marks. and
were absorbed more and more slowly
as the hours went on.
!. He rarely slept. but lay inert and not
unhappy. Annunciata came, and was
ut last stricken by, conscience to q
prayer at his bedside. On one Of her
last visits that was. She got up to
Ind his eyes fixed on, her.
Father, can you hear met"
Y EYES,
!! .1-I have bee: bad daughter 70
you. ap sorry. It is late now to
tell you, but Tam sorry. Can l, do
bnythingY
@Otto." he said, with difficulty.
Z. ''You want to see him?"
mo-"
. Che knew what he meant by that.
He would have the boy remember him
MS ne nal 5esa liz III ST. s! : 5 :
lyon are anxious about him p
/, svery-anxious."
i Listen, father" she said, STOPPING
pver him. II have been hard and cold.
Perhaps 'you will grant that have
had two reasons for It. But I am go
Ing to do better. / will take care Of
him and viii do all / can to make
hin hspp2 7 promiaa.r