River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-05-16


| his shoulder and glanced down also.
would like to be pT1nceling, thenl
No worry. No trouble Always play,
play!" He gripped the boys shoulder.
''Look, lad, at the windows about.
That is what it is to be a prince.
| Wherever you look, what do you seer
| Stablemen? Grooms? Bah, secret
agents, watching that no assassin,
such perhaps as you and /, Turk
about"
He stopped and stared, wiping the
glass clear that he might see better.
Milky without his cap, disheveled and
| flushed with exertion, was making a
frantic shot atsthe white ball, rolling
past him. Where had he seen such a
head, such flying mop of hair? All!
He remembered. 1t was the flying
young devil who had attacked him and
the others that night in the by-street,
when Peter Niburg lay stunnedI
=
| Miss Braithwaite had a bad head
ache that afternoon, and the crown
prince drove out with his aunt. The
Archduchess Annunciata went shop
ping. The crown prince sat in the
carriage and watched the people. The
man beside the coachman sat with
alert eyes. and there were others who
scanned the eE0wd intently. But it
was a quiet, almost an adoring crowd,
and there was even dog, to Prince
Ferdinand William Ottos huge de-
light.
The man who owned the dog, seeing
the child's eyes on him, put MIN
through his tricks. Truly wonderful
dog, that would catch things on its
nose and lie dead, rousing only to
whistle which it's owner called Ga
briefs trumpet.
Rrince Ferdinand William Otto.
growing excited, leaned quite out of
the window. "What is your dogs
name?" he inquired, in his clear treble.
The man took off his hat and bowed.
'Toto, highness. He is Of French
origin"
He is very nice dog. / have al
ways wanted a dog like that. He
must be a great friend"
"a great friend, highness." He
would have expatiated on the dog, but
he was uncertain of the etiquette OF
the procedure. His face beamed with
pleasure, however. Then a splendid
impulse came to him. This dog, his
boon companion, he would present to
the crown prince. It was all he had,
and he would give it, freely, even
though it left him friendless.
But here again he was at loss.
Was it the proper thing? Did one do
such things in this fashion, or was
there procedure? He cooked an eye
at the box of the carriage, but the two
Ymen sat impressive, immobile.
Finally he made up his mind. Hat
in hand, he stepped forward. "High-
ness" he said nervously, "since the
dog pleases you, II would present
him to you" =,
ITO me?" The crown princes voice
was full Of incredulous JOY.
eyes, highness. If such thing be
permissible"
"Are you sure you don't mind"
"He is the best I have, highness. I
wish to offer my best"
Prince Ferdinand William Otto al
most choked with excitement. 81 have
always wanted one," he cried. eff
you are certain you can spare him, I'll
be very good to him. No one" he
said, sever gave me dog before. I'd
like to have him now, If / may"
The crowd was growing. 1t pressed
closer, pleased at the boys delight.
Truly they were participating in great
things. A small cheer and many
smiles followed the lifting of the dog
through the open window of the car
riage. And the dog was surely a dog
to be proud of. Already it shook
Hands with the crown prince.
Perhaps, iii that motley gathering,
there were some who viewed the scene
with hostile eyes, some who saw, not
child glowing with delight over
gift, but one of the hated ruling fam
lily, a barrier, an obstacle in the way
of freedom. But if such there were,
they were few. 1t was, indeed, as the
lterrorists feared. The city loved the
boy.
Annunciata, followed by an irritated
Hilda, came out of the shop. Hilda's
wardrobe had been purchased, and
was not to her taste.
"Good heavens" cried the arch
duchess, and stared into the carriage.
"Otto"
"He is NINE" said the crown prince
fondly. "He is the cleverest dog. He
can do all sorts Of things"
''Put him out"
"But he is mine," protested Ferdi-
nand William Otto. Gle is a gift.
That gentleman there, in the corduroy
jacket"
"Put him out" said the Archduchess
Annunciata.
There was nothing else to do. The
crown prince did not cry. He was
much too proud. He thanked the
donor again carefully, and regretted
that he could not accept the dog. He