Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-03
she king lay back and thought. More
/ anything in the world he loved

l anything in the world he loved
i boy. But the occasion demanded
4 .ong hand. "You we're happy" he
said. "You were disobedient, you
were causing grave anxiety and dis
ltress-and you were happy! The first
duty of prince is to his country. His
first lesson is to obey laws. He must
always obey certain laws. A king is
but the servant Of his people. Some
lday YOU will be the king. You are be-
ing trained for that high office now.
And yet you would set the example,
of INSTRUMENTATION, disobedience, and
/ reckless disregard of the feelings Of
Others"
4 .'Yes, SIR" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, feeling very small and
ASHAMED. |
"Not only that. You slipped away
You did not go openly. You sneaked
Aloff like thief Are you proud Of
lit?" i;
mo, sir" !
] II SHALL" said the king, require no,
promise from you. Promises are poor.
things to hold to. leave this matter
4 lin your own hands, Otto. You will be
Epunished by Miss Braithwaite, and for
I the next ten days you will not visit
me. You may 60 now"
II Otto got of his chair. He was feel.
ling exceedingly crushed, Good night,
sir" he said. And waited for his
grandfather to extend his hand. But,
the old king lay looking straight ahead.
with his mouth set in grim lines, and
his hands folded over his breast.
l. At the door the crown prince turned
and bowed. His grandfather's eyes
were fixed on the two gold eagles over,
the door, but the photograph on the
table appeared'to be smiling at him.
Until late that night General Nett
Itch and the king talked together. The
king had been lifted from his bed and
sat propped in great chair. Above
his shabby dressing gown his face
showed gaunt and old. In straight
chair facing him sat his old friend and
chancellor.
"What 1t has shown is not entirely
bad" said the king, after pause.
r"The boy has Initiative. And he made
no attempt at evasion. He is essential
ly truthful"
"What 1t has also shown, sire. Is,
that no protection is enough. When
I, who love the lad, and would--when
/ could sleep, and let him get away,
as did"
.'The truth is," said the king, I'VE,
are both Of us getting old" He tapped
with his gnarled fingers on the blanket
that lay over his knees. 1.-THE truth
y is ALSO" he observed a moment later,
that the boy has very few pleasures.
He is alone great deal"
General Mettlich raised his shaggy
head. Many years Of wearing a sol.
tier's cap had not injured his heavy
gray hair. He had bristling eyebrows.
white now, and short, fighting NUS
tache. When he was irritated, or dis
agreed with any one, his eyebrows
came down and the mustache went
up.
Many years Of association with his
king had given him the right to talk
/ Ito him as man to man. They even
auarreled now and then. It was a
brave man who would quarrel with old
Ferdinand II.
n So now his eyebrows came down
land his mustache went up. How
alone, sire7"
"You do not regard that bigoted
English woman as companion, do
you?" /;
"She is q thoughtful and conscien-i
tious woman. SIRE" he said stfffly. It
happened that he had selected her.
|"She does ger duty. And as to the
boy being lonely, he has no time to be
lonely. His tutors"
'How old is he?" !:
Ten next month";
The king said nothing for time.
Then-''It is hard" he said at last,
e'for seventy-four to see with the eyes
of ten. AS for this afternoon-why in
the name Of a thousand devils did
they take him to see the Flying
DutchmanT I detest It."
'Her royal highness-"
IA "Annunciata is fool" said his MAJ
jesty. Then, dismissing his daughter
with a gesture, 1--WE don't know how
to raise. our children here" he said
impatientiy. The English do better.
And even the Germans
Z It Ii mt ..tiquette to lower ones
eyebrows 1t 4 King and glare. But