Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-02-07

XIV "SSs INV Php'PCNt " ~
Princess Hedwig on the throne, a few
demagogues in the public s~Quares-it
| would be the end"
The king leaned back and closed his
eyes. His thin, arched nose looked
pinched. His face was gray.
"All this" he said, means what?
To make the boy a prisoner, to cut
off his few pleasures, and ven then,
at any time"
"Yes, sire,' said Mettlich doggedly.
eat any time"
All through the palace people were
sleeping. Prince Ferdinand William
Otto was asleep, and riding again the
little car in the land of delight. So
that, turning Il corner sharply, he al
most fell out of bed.
On the other side Of the city the
little American boy was asleep also.
At that exact time he was being
tucked up by an entirely efficient and
| p~lacid-eyed American mother, who felt
under his head to see that his ear was
not turned forward. She liked close.
fitting ears.
Nobody. naturally, was tucking up
Prince Ferdinand William Otto. Or
attending to his ears. But, Of course,
there were sentries outside his door,
and a valet de. chambre to be rung
for. and a number Of embroidered
eagles scattered about on the curtains
and things, aud a country surrounding
him which would n day DO his, un-
less ..
at any time" said General Nett.
Itch, and was grimly silent.
"Welly' inquired the king, after a
time. "You have something to sug.
gest, l take it."
The old soldier cleared his throat.
"Sire," he began, ut is said that a
chancellor should have but one pas.
sion, his king. l have two, my king
and my country"
The king nodded gravely. He knew
both passions, relied on both. And
found them both a bit troublesome at
times!
"Once, some years ago, sire, I came
to you with a plan. The Princess
Hedwig vas a child then, and his late
royal highness was-still with US
For that, and for other reasons, your
majesty refused to listen. But things
have changed. Between us and revo
luton there stand only the frail life
Of a boy and an army none too large
and already, perhaps, affected. There
is much discomfort, and the offspring
of discomfort is anarchy"
The king snarled. But Mettlich hal
taken his courage in his hands, an,
went on. Their neighbor and hered
itary foe was Karnia. Could the,
any longer afford the enmity of Kar
mia? One cause Of discomfort was tn
expense Of the army, and Of the fort
fications along the Karnian border. I
Karnia were allied with them, Their
would be no need Of SO great an army
They had the mineral wealth, an
Karnla the seaports. The old drear
of the empire, of a railway to the SET
would be realized.
He pleaded we'll. The idea was nc
new. To place the little King OFT
TX on the throne and keep him ther
in the face Of opposition would r,
quire support from outside. Karni
would furnish this support. For
price.
The price was the Princess He,
wig.
"That is my plea, Sire" Mettlic
finished. "Karl Of Karnia IL anxlor
to marry, and looks this way. TO a
lay discomfort and growing insure
ton, to insure the boys safety and b
throne. to beat swords into plougl
s~hares"-here he caught the king
scowl, and added-"to a certain e.
: tent, and to make us a commerce,
as well as a military nation, surel
!, sire, 1t gains much for US, and l0s'
US nothing"
"But u independence" said Il
king sourly.
n However, he did not dismiss Il
Idea. The fright Of the afternoon h,
weakened him, and II Mettlich we
9. right the royalist party would me-
st outside help to maintain the throne.
o. "Karnia" he said. "The lion al
the lamb. with tho lamb inside 4
Id lion! And In the meantime the boy
ID she should be watched always"
Il. "He has Lussln." Count Lussln VI
70 the crown princes aide-de-camp.
e, HE needs a man, SIRE" observ
m, the chancellor rather tartly.
". The king cleared his throat. 1T
an youngster he Is 60 fond Of, you
Larisch, would he please you better
~. he asked, with ironic Difference.
ID. "A good boy, sire. You may rec,
~ that bis mother" He stopped.