The Dermott news., 1918-04-11


seeing that she still did not compre-
bend, he explained. swiftly. He stood,
as many man has stood before. be-
tween love and loyalty to his king,
and he was soldier. He had no
choice.
1t was terrible to him to see the
light die out of her eyes. But even
compassed the child and possibly 9TH
ers of the family, he saw that they
touched her remotely, II mt all.
All she said. when Milky finished,
was: IL might have known 1t. OF
course they would get me, as they did
the others" But II moment later she
rose and threw out her arms. How
skillful they are! They knew about
It, 1t Is all a part of the plot. They
made you promise never to desert
Otto, so that their arrangements need
not be interfered with. Oh, l know
them, better than you do. They are
all cruel 1t Is the blood"
That evening the Princess Hedwig
went unannounced to her grandfathers
apartment, and demanded to be al
lowed to enter.
A gentleman in waiting bowed deep
~, but stood before the door. Your
highness must pardon my reminding
your highness," he said firmly. that
no one may enter his majesty's pres
ence without permission"
Then 20 In" said Hedwig. In a
white rage, "and get the permission"
The gentleman in waiting went in,
very deliberately, because his dignity
was outraged. The moment he had
gone however, Hedwig flung the door
open, and followed. standing. figure
Of tragic defiance. inside the heavy
curtains OF the kings bedroom.
There is no use saying you won't
see me, grandfather. For here l am
They eyed each other, the one, it
must be told. trfle uneasily, the
other desperately. Then into the
kings eyes came flash of admiration,
and just CLEAN of amusement.
so l perceive" he said. Come
here. Hedwig."
"A SA'hNA Va MANLY ""' ~
the kings bed She had cared for
| him through many illnesses. In the
intervals she retired TO her cloister and
read holy books and sewed for the
poor.
The sister went out. her black habit
dragging, but she did not sew. Some
time later she heard bitter crying in
u ~, no l.; ,r,s
tones. soothing now and very sad.
There is higher duty than happi-
ness" he said. There are greater
things than love. And one day You
will know this
When she Went in Hedwig had gone.
and the old king, lying in his bed, was
looking at the portrait of his dead
son.
The following morning the Countess
Loschek left for Il holiday. She had
the choice Of but two alternatives, 10
do as she had been commanded. for II
amounted To that, or to die. The com
mittee would not XIII her. In case she
failed them. 1t would be unnecessary
Enough that they place the letter and
| the code In the hands of the author
tiles. by some anonymous means. Well
enough she knew the chancellor's in
flexible anger, and the Archduchess
Annunciata's cold rage They would
sweep her away with gesture. and
she would die the death OF all traitors.
week! Time had been when a
week OF the dragging days at the pal
ace had seemed eternity. Now the
hours flew. The gold clock on her
dressing table. a gift from the arch
duchess. marked them with flying
hands
During the afternoon came pack
age. rather unskillfully tied with gilt
cord Opening 1t, the countess dis
closed glove box OF wood. with de-
sign of rather shaky violets burnt into
the cover. Inside was a note:
! am very sorry you are sick This Is
to put your gloves In when you travel.
Please excuse the work have done II
in "A hurry.
FERDINAND WILLIAM OTTO.
Suddenly the countess laughed. chok-
ing hysterical laughter that alarmed
Minna: horrible laughter. which left
her paler than ever. and gasping.
The old castle of the Loscheks
looked grim and inhospitable when she
reached II that night. Built during the
years when the unhelever overran
southern Europe it stood In "A com
handing position over n valley. and a
steep, walled road led up To II.
But. it's ancient glory and good re-
pute departed, Its garrison gone. its
drawbridge and moat things OF the
past. its very hangings and furnish
| ings moldering from long neglect, 1t
hung over the valley, a past menace.
an empty threat.
To this dreary refuge the countess
had fled. She wanted the silence Of
its still rooms in which to think
Wretched herself. its wretchedness
called her. AS the carriage which had
brought her from the railway turned