Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-02-21
CONTINUED from yesterday

Kari releases LaIAbcIs a1toE teiunB MN "a
the coming wedding.
Continued from yesterday
"And but little to sit on old Abel
bert added dryly. However, two peo-
pie require but two chairs. Here is
one"
But the boy would not sit down.
He ranged the room, frankly curious,
exclaimed at the pair of ring doves
who lived in box tied to the window
sill, and asked for crumbs for them
Adelbert brought bread from his small
store.
The boy cheered him. Els interest
In the old saber, the intentness with
which he listened to its history, the
poiteness with which he ignored his
hosts infrmity, all won the old mans
heart.
These Americans downstairs were
not all bad, then. They We're too rich,
Of course. No one should have meat
three times day, as the meat seller
reported they did. And they were pay
ing double rent for the apartment be-
low. But that, Of course, they could
not avoid, not knowing the real charge.
The boy was frankly delighted. And
when old Adelbert brought forth from
his basket sausage and, boiling it
lightly, served him slice between two
pieces of bread, an odd friendship
was begun that was to have unfore-
leo ho hrnl rnu
bread together.
Gradually, over the meal, and the
pigeons, and what not, old Adelbert
unburdened his heart He told of his
years at the opera. where he had kept
his glasses clean and listened to the
music until he knew by heart even the
most difficult passages. He told of the
crown prince, who always wished
opera glasses, not because he needed
them, but because he liked to turn
them wrong end before, and thus make
the audience appear at great dis
tance. And then he told Of the loss
of his position.
The American lad listened politely,
but his mind was on the crown prince.
Does he wear a crown?" he de-
handed. II saw him once in car
riage. but think he had hat. When
will he be king?"
when the old king dies. He is
very old now. was in a hospital
once, after battle. And he came in.
He put his hand on my shoulder. like
(, ftfvss-t,, fT1.,c<~o<od a. ~, fl,a ohfId,c
small one-"and said" Consider
ing that old Adelbert no longer loved
his king, 1t is strange to record that
his voice broke.
.'Will he die soon?' Bobby put in,
He found kings as much of novelty
us to Prince Ferdinand William Otto
they were the usual thing.
"Who knows? But when he dies
the city will learn at once. The great
bell of the cathedral, which never
rings save at such times, will toll
They say 1t is sound never to be
forgotten. L. Of course, have never
heard it. When it tolls. all in the city
will fall on their knees and pray. II
Is the custom"
Bobby. reared to strict Presbyterian
Ism and accustomed to kneeling but
once day, and that at night beside
his bed, in the strict privacy Of his
own apartment, looked rather startled
What will they pray for?" he said.
And old Adelbert, with new bitter
ness, replied that the sons of kings
needed much prayer. Sometimes they
were hard and did cruel things.
And then the crown prince viii be
king" Bobby reflected. 'If were a
king, "a make people stand around
But has the crown prince only grand
father. and no father?"
'He dled--the boys father. He was
murdered, and tlse princess his mother
alxo.g
ibby's eyes opened wids. "wh'
did itf"
'Terrorists said old Adelbert. Ant
would not be persuaded 70 saw more