Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-02-19

HAS hUL sNAtlcu ADf ~ attcdus WAC 10
causeA-well, because / believed that
he unfortunate distrust between your
country and mine, excelIency, was
about to end"
A threat that, undoubtedly. IL the
arrangement between Karnia am Id
vonia be made, with Hedwig tosseai
the bargain, and Milky was safe
enough. But let Livonia demand too
much, or not agree at all, and Milky
was lost. Thus did Milky Larisch play
his small part in the game of nations
Suppose" said Karl unctuously.
shat we discuss first another more i'm
portant matter. confess to certain
impatience.r He bowed slightly.
The chancellor hesitated. Then he
glanced thoughtfully at the paper In
his hand.
Through long luncheon. the two
alone and even the servants dis
missed, through longer afternoon,
negotiations went on. Mettlieh fought
hard on some points, only TO meet de-
feat. Karl stood firm. The great fort
resses on the border must hereafter
contain only nominal garrsons. For.
fhe seaport strip he had almost dou.
bled his price. The railroad must be
completed within two years.
"The Princess Hedwigs" Karl said
suddenly. "She has been told, at
course?n ets
"Not officially. She knows, how
ever.'
sTTow does she regard itT'
The chancellor hesitated. Like
most young women, she would prefer
making her own choice. But that"
he added hastily, 3'is but whim.. She
is l0vable and amiable girl. When
the time comes, she win be willing
enough
Karl stared out through one Of the
heavily curtained windows. He was,
not so sure. And the time had gone
BY when he would have enjoyed the
tanning of girl. Now Ire wanted
peace-was he not paying . price for
it?--and children to inherit hiS Wells
managed kingdom. And perhaps--&hO
knows?-a little love. Before him rose
vision of Hedwig, her frank eyes, her
color that rose and fell, her soft round
body. 1T
.sYou have no reason to believe that
she has--loolSed elsewhere7v
''None, SIRE" said the chancellor
stouily.
IS BY late afternoon ALI was arranged,
papers signed and witnessed, and the
I two signatures affixed, the 0re small
'fand cramped---a soldiers hand; the
other bold and flowing-t the scrawI Of
king. And Hedwig, save for the cete-
mony, was the bride of Karl Of kdT-
lnia. a 4.
/ 1t was then that the chancellor rose
and stretched his legs. And now.
sire" he said, 'since we are friends
and no longer enemies, you win, 4
know, release that mad boy of mire.T
"When do you start back?" iss 4
"Within an hour"
/ .Before that time" sid Karl, s:you
shall have him, chancellor
And with that Mettlfch was forced
to be content. He truSted Karl no
more now than he ever had. But he
made his adieus with nj hint Of troH
4 a a
Karl stood for momAnt in the open
air. 1t was done, then, and well done.
/ 1t was hard to realize. He turtfed TO
the west, where for SO long behind the
mountains had lurked an enemy. A
+ new era was opening; peace, disatf1a-
lnent, quiet and prosperous land. He
/ had spent his years of war and women.
! That was over.
When he returned to the study the
agent Kaiser was ALREADY there But
I, Karl, big with plans fof the future.
| would have been alone, land eyed the
agent with disfavor.
'WellY" he demanded.
"We have been able to search the
,hancellors rooms, sire" the agent
said, sfor the articles mentioned last
1ight--a card case, gloves, anu silk,
handkerchief, belonging to the pris-
/, oner upstairs. He is Captain Larisch,
laide-de-camp to the crown prince Of i
Livonia.'
He had expected Karl 10 be in1-
pressed. But Karl only leoked at him
4 know that" he said scoldly You
ire always just d little late <liyonr
| Information, Kaiser"
| Something like malice showed II the
agents face. "Then you also knew,
| sire, that 1t Is this Captain 1arisch
With whom rumor couples the name o.
he Princess Hedwig." he stepped back
IA page or two at sight of Karl's face
you requested such Information, Sire
For answer, Karl pointed to the door
! For some time after he had dis
lmissed the agent. Karl paced his
library alone. Kaiser brought no nm
verified information. Therefore tho
thing was true. Therefore he had had
Ibis enemy in his hand, and now was
pledged to let him go. For a time.
then, Karl paid the penalty Of many
misdeeds. His triumph was ashes In
his mouth.
| What If this boy, infatuated with
Iedwig, had hidden somewhere On the
lroad Olga Loschek's letter. What,