Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-02
CHAPTER XVI.


Milky had gone back to his lodging,
where his servant was packing his
things. For Milky was now of his
majesty's household, and must ex-
change his shabby old rooms for the
cold magnificence of the palace.
He was very downhearted. To the
crown prince, each day, he gave the
best that was In him, played and rode,
invented delightful nonsense to bring
the boys quick laughter carried
pocketfuls of bones, to the secret re-
volt Of his soldierly soul, was boylsh
and tender, frivolous or thoughtful, as
the occasion seemed to warrant.
And always he was watchful his re-
volver always ready and in touch, his
eyes keen. his body, even when it
seemed most relaxed, always tense to
spring. For Milky knew the temper
of the people, knew it as did Mathilde
gossiping in the market, and even bet
ter; knew that crisis was approach
ing, and that on this small boy in his
charge hung that crisis.
So Milky trusted in his own right
arm and in nothing else. The very
size Of the palace, it's unused rooms,
its long and rambling corridors. its
rambling wings and ancient turrets,
was against its safety.
Since the demonstration against
Karl, the riding school hour had been
given up. There were no drives in the
park. The illness of the king furnished
sufficient excuse, but the truth was
that the royal family was practically
besiegcd, by it knew not what.
Milky, summoned to the chancellor's
house that morning, had been told the
facts, and had stood, rather still and
tense, while Mettlich recounted them.
sour very precautions are our dam
ger" said the chancellor. "And the
king He stopped and sat, tapping
his fingers on the arm of his chair.
"And the king, sir?"
almost at the end. A day or two"
Karl, with Hedwig in his thoughts,
had returned to mobilize his army not
far from the border for the spring
maneuvers, and at meeting of the
kings council the matter of mobiliza-
I ton in Livonia was seriously consid-
cred.
Fat Friese favored it, and made an
| impassioned speech, with sweat thick
on his heavy face.
81 am not cowardly," he finished.
IT fear nothing for myself or for
those belonging to me. But the duty
of this council is to preserve the throne
for the crown prince, at any cost. And,
if we cannot trust the army, in what
can we trust?"
In God" said the chancellor grim
ly.
In the end nothing was done. Mobil-
| ization might preclpitate the crisis and
there was always the fear that the
army, in parts, was itself disloyal.
The king, meanwhile, lay dying, Doc
| tor Weiderman in constant attendance,
other physicians coming and going.
His apartments were silent. Rugs
| covered the corridors, that no football
disturb his quiet hours. The nursing
sisters attended him, one by his bed
side, one always on her knees AFT the
priedielI in the small room beyond. He
wanted little-now and then sip OF
water, the cooled juice of fruit. In
| jections of stimulants, given by Doctor
! Weiderman himself, had Scared his
old arms with purplish marks, and
were absorbed more and more slowly
as the hours went on.
He rarely slept, but lay inert and not
unhappy. Annunciata came. and was
at last stricken by conscience to a
prayer at his bedside. On one of her
4 last visits that was. She got up to
find his eyes fixed on her.
Father, can you hear me?'
eyes,"
Ill have been bad daughter to
| you. l am sorry. 1t is late now to
tell you, but l am sorry. Can / do
anything?'
otto" he said, with difficulty.
you want to see him?"
NO"
| She knew what he meant by that.
He would have the boy remember him
/ as he had seen him last.
you are anxious about him?"
"Nery-anxious."
Listen, father she said, STOPPING
over him. II have been hard and cold
Perhaps you will grant that have
had two reasons for 1t. But am go
Ing to do better. / win take care OF
him and ! win do all can to make
him happy. promise"
Perhaps 1t was relief. Perhaps even
then the thought of Annunciata's tar
dy and certain-to-be bungling efforts
10 make Ferdinand William Otto happy
amused him. He smiled fal2(ly.
Milky received q natar Hedwlg