The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-04-26

| AIc alW0yb Jubt utIlS b4tV Will yOux
information; Kaiser"
Something Ike malice showed in the
agents face. Then you also know,
sire, that 1t Is this Captain Larisch
with whom rumor couples the name of
the Princess Hedwig" He stepped back
pace or two at sight Of Karls face
you requested such information; sire"
For answer. Kari pointed to the door.
For some time after he had dis
missed the agent, Karl paced his
library alone. Kaiser brought no I'M
verified information. Therefore the
thing was true. Therefore he had had
his enemy In his hand, and now was
pledged to let him 60. For time,
then, Karl paid the penalty Of many
misdeeds. His triumph was ashes In
his mouth.
What If this boy. infatuated with
Hedwig, had hidden somewhere on the
troad Olga Loschek's letter. What.
then, II he recovered 1t and took it to
Hedwig7 What if
But at last he sent for the prisoner
upstairs, and waited for him with both
jealousy and fear in his eyes.
Five minutes later Milky Larisch
WAS ushered into the red study, and
having bowed, an insolent young bow
at that, stood and eyed the king.
II have sent for you to release yuu,"
said Karl.
Milky drew a long breath. Il am
grateful, sire"
you have been interceded for by
the chancellor of Livonia, General
Mettlich, who has just gone"
Milky bowed.
Karl fixed him with cold eyes. But
before you take leave of u.s." he said
ironically, IT should like the true story
of the night before last. Somehow,
somewhere, a letter intended for me
was exchanged for blank paper. /
want that letter"
81 know no more than you, sire.
1t is not reasonable that / would have
taken the risk 1 took for an envelope
containing nothing"
For that matter" said his majesty.
there was nothing reasonable about
anything you did"
And now Karl played his trump card,
played it with watchful eyes on Nix
ky's face. He would see If report
spoke the truth, if this blue-eyed boy
was In love with Hedwig. He was
jealous man, this Karl of the cold
eyes, jealous and passionate. Not as a
king. then, watching humble soldier
gazed at Milky.
For fear that loyalty keeps you
silent, 1 may say to you that the old
troubles between Karnia and Livonia
are over,
81 do not understand, sire"
Karl hesitated. Then, with his
twisted smile, he cast the rigid
etiquette of such matters to the winds.
1T is very simple" he said. There
will be no more trouble between these
wo neighboring countries, because a
marriage has today been arTanged-a
marriage between the Princess Hedwig,
lis majesty's granddaughter, and my
elf"
For a moment Milky Larisch closed
lis eyes.
The anniversary OF the death Of
'rince Hubert dawned bright and
unny. The place showed thin COW
ring Of snow, which chung, wet and
ticky, to the trees; but by nine
clock most Of 1t had disappeared, and
'rince Ferdinand William Otto was
1formed that the exclusion would
axe place.
Two motors took the party, by back
treets, to the landing stage. In the
rst were Annunciata, Hedwig, and
ne countess, and at the last moment
rom the second car, and begged
lace for her with him. A police agent
1t beside che chauffeur. Also another
ar Just ahead. contained other
gents, by Mettlichs order before his
eparture--a plain black motor, with
ut the royal arms
In the second machine followed a
art of the suite. Hedwig's lady. in
aiting, two gentlemen of the court,
parade dress, and Father Gregory,
,me from his monastery at Etzel to
sit his old friend. the king.
At the landing stage small crowd
I'd gathered on seeing the red carpet
Id and the gilt ropes put up, which
dicated royal visit. A small girl,
It'll hastily secured bouquet in her
IT hands, stood nervously waiting. In
ference TO the anniversary, the flow
8 were tied with black ribbon.
Annunciata grumbled when she saw
e crowd, and the occupants of the
st car looked them over carefully. 1t
manned for Hedwig to spy the black
Dbon. In the confusion, she slipped
er to the little girl, who went quite
hite with excitement "They are
veIy," Hedwig whispered. "but please
Ike of the black ribbon" The child
ed her anxiously. ut will come to
eces. highness."
Take the ribbon from your hair. It
II be beautiful"
Which was doneI But, as was not
natural, the child forgot her speech,
d merely thrust the bouquet, tied
tn large pink bow. into the hands
Prince Ferdinand William Otto.