Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-17

Noull anu u sort OF persistent Dclct
/ In his own luck, rather like the Chan
| Jcllor's confidence In scveu as a number
"A confidence. by the way, which the
[ Countess could easily have shaken. SO
he had Weakened the next morning rather
cheerful than otherwise, and over n
breakfast of broiled ham had refused
to look ahead farther than the day.
That afternoon In the study Milky
hcsitated when he saw 1Icdwig Then he
camo and bent low over her hand. And
lledwig, because every instinct yearned
Co touch his shining, bent head, spoke
10 him very calmly, was rather distant,
"a little cold
You have been away, think?' she
said
For n day or two, lIighness."
The Crown Prince put small nap
kin around the handle Of the silver tea
pot, lie know from experience that II
was very hot. His face was quite
screwed up with cNertlon,
and today" said Milky rcproachfully,
today you did not ride"
Il did not feel like riding" HcdwiE
responded lstlessly Il am tired /
think | am always tired
Lemon and two Jumps muttercd the
/ Crown Prince That's Nikky's He'd.
wig. Give It TO him. please"
/ Milky went a trinc pale as their
| fingers touched But he tasted his tea
and pronounced It excellent
Prince Ferdinand William otto chat
tered eXCitcdly He told Of the dog.
dilating on its clcvcrncss, but passing
politely over tho manner OF it's return.
Now and then Hedwig glanced at Nikky
when hc was not looking. and always.
when they dared, the young soldiers eyes
we're ON her.
"Shr viii take somo tca without
sugar" announced the Crown Prince
While he poured It. IIcdwig was think
Ing Was il possible that Milky. NJ
every ono, should have been chosen TO
carry 10 Kari tho marriage arrange
mcnts? What an irony, What a Jest
. II was true there was a change i'm him
lie looked subdued, almost sad
'To Haruia?' sho asked. when Prince
Ferdinand William otto had again lott
the room. "Oficially?"
"Not--eXactly.'
Where. IN Karuia?'
81 ended" Milky confessed, at Wedc-
ling"
Hedwg gazed at him, hcr elbows
propped on the tea table "Thcn," she
said, + think you know"
II know, IIighncss."
And you have nothing to say"
Milky looked at her with desperate
eyes. What can say, HiGhucss? Only
that-it is very terrible 10 mo-that
. /" lie rose abruptly and stood looking
down at her
That you--" said Ilcdwig softly
"Hirhness," Nikky began mskly.
YOU know what would say And that
! cannot. To take advantage Of Otto's
fancy Tor mo- a childs liking, 10 viola n
the confidence oC those who placed me
/ here am doing that, every moment"
What about me- Hcdwig asked
/ "Do / count for nothing Does IT. not
matter at all how feel, whether 7 am
happy or wretrhed? Isn't that as Inn
| portaut rs honor"
Nikky flung out his hands You
l,uow,' hc said rapidly what can |
tell you that you do not know a thou
sand times 7 love YOU. .<ot az a
subject may adore his princess, but as
"A mau loves woman
/ Il too said IIcdwE Aud held out
her hands
But he did not take them. Almost il
was AS though he would protect her from
herself But he closed his cyes for u
moment, that he might not see that ap-
pealing gesture "T, who lovo you moro
than life. who would God help mo, for
felt eternity for you--I dare not take YOU
! i'm my arms
Hcdwig's arms fell. She drew her
/ self up. Love" she said Il do not
| call that love"
1T is greater love than you know"
/ said poor Milky But all his courage
| died "A moment later, and his resolution
with It, for without warning HedwiG
! dropped her head on her hands and,
crouchIng forlornly, fell to sobbinG.
Il counted on YOU" she said wildly.
/ And YOU are like tho others No one
cares how wrctchcd I am. | wish |
might die"
Then indeed Milky was lost In an iu.
| stant he was on his knees beside her, his
arms close about her, his head bowed
/ against her breast And HcdwiE relaxed
80 his embrace When At last hc turned
/ and looked up Al her, It was lIcdWig who
bent and kissed him
"At least" aho whispered we havo
had this. VIC can alvsy9 remember.
/ whatever como-, that wo have had this. "
/ Put Milky WIS Of very human stuff,
/ and not tho sort that may hyo hy
rusmoricC He was very haGgard when
/ he rose to his foot--haggard, and his
/ mouth was doggodly got. II VIII mover
/ give YOU up, nov" hs said
Bravo words. If course. But as ho
/ said thcm no realized their futillty, The
| eyes he turned on her were, as he
. claimed her. with hope. For there Was
no escape. lie had given his word 70
stay near the Grown Prince, always TO
watch him, 20 guard him with his life,
| II necessary. And he had promised, at
least, not to block the plans for tho new
alliance.
TTcdwiG, with shining eyes, was al
ready planning.
"Wc will 60 away, Milky she said
And it must he soon, because other
. wise
Milky dared not touch her again,
knowing what he had 10 say Dearest,
he said. bending toward her, that Is
what wc cannot do"
"No?' She looked up puzzled, but sttll
confident And why COW ardly oucY'
/ Because I have given my word 10 rc-
main with tho Grown Prince Then,
seeing that she still did not comprehend,
/ he explained, swiftly. Aftcr all, she had
= right TO know, and he was desperately
anxious that she should understand. lie
/ stood, a. many a man has stood before,
between lovo and loyalty to his King,
/ aud he was a soldier, lie had no choice.
/ II WIS terrible to him 10 see the light
die out of hcr eyes But even as lie
| told hcr Of the dangers that cOmpassed
| tho child and possibly others Of the
| family, hc saw that they touched her
| remotely, II at all. what she saw, aud
what he saw, through lcr eyes. was not
| riot and anarchy, a threatened throne,
| 4. q. .lg M q