The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1918-06-12

hesitated when he saw Hedwil
Then he came and bent low over he
hand. And Hedwig, because every in
stinct yearned to touch his shinln,
bent head, spoke to him very calmly
was rather distant, little cold.
You have been away, 1 think 2" sh,
said.
For day or two, hlghness.
And today" he added, reproach
fully, to-day YOU did not ride"
II did not feel like riding" Hedwil
responded llstlessly. 81 am tired.
think l am always tired"
Lemon and two humps" muttered
the crown prince. THAT'S Nikkys
Hedwig. Give it to him, please"
Milky went a trihe pale as their
| fingers touched. But he tasted his
tea, and pronounced it excellent.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto chat
tered excitedly. He told of the dog,
dilating ON its cleverness, but passing
politely over the manner of its return.
Now and then Hedwig glanced at
Milky, when he was not looking, and
always, when they dared, the young
soldiers eyes were on her.
"She will take some tea without
sugar." announced the crown prince.
While he poured it, Hedwig was
thinking. Was 1t possible that Milky,
of every one, should have been chosen
TO carry to Karl the marriage arrange
ments? What an irony! What a Jest
1t was true there was q change in
him. He looked subdued, almost sad.
"TO Karnia?" she asked when
Prince Ferdinand William Otto had
left the room. "Ofiicially?"
'Not-exactly"
"Where, in Karnia?"
81 ended" Milky confessed, "at
Wedding"
Hedwig gszed at him, her elbows
propped on the tea table. "Then,"
she said 81 think you know"
II know, highness."
And you have nothing to say?"
"Highness," Milky began huskily,
"you know what 1 would say. And
that / cannot. To take advantage of |
Otto's fancy for me, child's liking, to
violate the confidence of those who
placed me here-I am doing that, every !
what about me?" Hedwig asked. |
DO l count for nothing? Does it not |
natter at all how / feel, whether / am
lappy or wretched? Isn't that as i'm
'ortant as honor?"
Milky flung out his hands. "You
,now," he said rapidly. "What can I
ell you that you do not know thou
and times? l love you. Not as
ubject may adore his princess, but
S man loves a woman"
She drew herself up. Lover she
aid. Il do not call that love"
1T is greater love than you know"
aid poor Milky. But all his courage
led moment later, and his resolution
18th 1t, for without warning Hedwig
ropped her head on her hands and,
forlornly, fell to sObbing.
Il counted on YOU" she said wildly.
And you are like the others. No one
ares how wretched l am. / wish |
light die"
Then indeed Milky was lost. In an
stant he was ON his knees beside
pr, his arms close about her, his head
owed against her breast. And He'd
ig relaxed to his embrace. When at ]
st he turned and looked up at her,
was Hedwig who bent and kissed
m.
AT least" she whispered, 1--WE have
ID this. We can always remember,
hatever comes, that we have had y
is"
But Milky was of very human stuff, .
ID not the sort that may live by :"
He was very haggard
hen he rose to his feet-haggard, and
mouth was dOggedly set. 81 will III
yer give you up, now," he said.
Brave words, of course. But as he I'll
Id them he realized their futility.
lie eyes he turned on her were, as 1T
claimed her, without hope. For
ere was no escape. ca
Hedwig, with shining eyes, was al
idy planning. IT
I'VE will go away, Milky" she said. z