The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-03-14
CHAPTER l.
The Crown Prince Runs Away.

The Crown Prince sat In the royal
box and swung his legs. This WIS
hardly princely, but the royal legs did
not quite reach the floor from the high
-crimson-velvet seat Of his chair.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto was
bored. His royal robes, consisting of
a pair of blue serge trousers, a short
Eton jacket, and stiff. rolling collar
of white linen. irked him.
He had been brought to the opera
house under misapprehension. His
aunt, the Archduchess Annunciata, had
strongly advocated "The Flying Dutch
man." and his English governess, Miss
Braithwaite, had read him some In
spring literature about II. So here he
was, and the Flying Dutchman was not
ghostly at all, nor did II fly. And in
stead Of flying, after dreary cons of
singing, It was moved off on creaky
rollers by men whose shadows were
thrown grotesquely on the sea back
ing.
The orchestra, assisted by q bass
solo and intermittent thunder In the
wings, was making deafening din.
One Of the shadows on the sea back
ing took out its handkerchief and
wiped its nose.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto look
ed across at the other royal box, and
caught his Cousin Hedwig's eye. She
also had seen the handkerchief; she
took out her own scrap Of linen. and
mimicked the shadow. Then, Her
Royal Highness the Archduchess An
nunciata being occupied with the
storm, she winked across at Prince
Ferdinand William Otto.
In the opposite box were his two
cousins. the Princesses Hedwig and
Hilda. attended by Hedwig's lady in
waiting. Hedwig was eighteen. The
crown prince liked Hedwig better than
Hilda. Although she had been intro
duced formally to the court at the
Christmas-eve ball, and had been duly
presented by her grandfather, the
king, with the usual string of pearls
and her own carriage, she still ran of
now and then to have tea with the
crown prince and Miss Braithwaite in
the school room at the palace; and she
could eat great deal OF bread and but
ter.
The crown prince yawned, although
It was but the middle Of the after
noon. Catching Hedwig's eye. he rar
his fingers up through his thick vel
low hair and grinned. Hedwig blushed
She had conflded to him once, while
they were walking in the garden a
the summer palace, that she was
thinking of being In love with young
lieutenant who was attached to the
kings suite. The prince-who wa
called Otto, for short, by the family
because he actually had eleven name!
the prince had been much interested
For some time afterward ne had both
cred Miss Bralthwaite to define beini
in love, but he had had no really salts
factory answer.
In pursuance Of his quest for In
formation, he had grown quite friendl.
with the young officer. whose nam
was Larisch, and had finally asked t
have him ride with him at the roya
riding school. The grim old king hat
granted the request, but 1t had beel
tenant Larisch only grew quite red n
to the ears when love was mentioned
although he appeared not unwilling t
hear Hedwig's name.
So now Ferdinand william Otto RAJ
his fingers through his fair hair, whicl
was favorite gesture Of the lieuter
ants, and Hedwig blushed. The arch
eta han oh
ding. Just outside the royal box, o.
the red velvet sofa, General Mettlicf
who was the chancellor, and had com
because he had been invited and stage
outside because he said he liked I
hear music, not see 1t, was SCUM
asleep. His martial bosom, with II
gold braid, was rising and fallin
peacefully. Beside him lay the prince
crown. small black derby hat.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto cor
sidered 1t all very wearisome. II on
could only wander around the corrido
or buy a sandwich from the stand q
the foot of the great staircase-or, be,
ter still, If one could only get to tn
street, alone, and purchase one of tn
uB WOncu tiut nhisS DiuituWditc
despised! The crown prince felt
his pocket, where his weeks allow
ance of pocket money lay comfortabl
untouched.
He meditated. He could go ou
quickly. and be back before they kne'
1t. Even If he only wandered abou
the corridor. 1t would stretch his shoi
legs. And outside 1t was fine da.
1t looked already like spring.
With the trepidation of a canar
who finds his cage door open. ant
hopping to the threshold, surveys tn
world before venturing to explore
Prince Ferdinand William Otto ros
to his feet, tiptoed past the Arcl
duchess Annunciata, who did not NOV
and looked around him from the doo
way.