River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-05-09
CHAPTER vlIl-continued.

,
The 0uav receded, red carpet and all.
Only the blare Of the band followed
them. and with the persistence or
sound over water, followed them Tor
some time.
1t was Hedwig who showed the most
depression on the trip, after all. Early
that morning she had attended mass
in the royal chapel. All the household
had been there, and the king had been
wheeled in, and had sat in his box,
high in the wall, the door OF Whlcn
opened from his private suite.
Looking up, Hedwig had seen MS
gray old face set and rigid. The court
had worn black, and the chapel was
draped in crepe. She had fallen on
her knees and had tried dutifully to
pray for the dead Hubert. But her
whole soul was crying out for help Tor
herself.
So now she sat very quiet, and Won
dered about things.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto sat
by the rail and watched the green
banks flying by.
a flower from the bouquet and flung it
overheard. He pretended that it was
boat, and was going down to Karnia,
filed with soldiers ready to fight.
But the thought of soldiers brought
Milky to his mind. His face clouded.
sIt's very strange about Milky" he
said. "He is away somewhere. wish
L. rrriT1 Cp
Hedwig looked out over the river.
The archduchess glanced at Miss
Braithwaite. '"There is no news" she
asked, in an undertone.
None said Miss Braithwaite.
A sudden suspicion rose in HedWlg'S
mind, and made her turn pale. What
if they had sent him away? Perhaps
they feared him enough for that! If
that were true, she would never know.
She knew the ways Of the palace well
enough for that. In a sort of terror
she glanced around the group, so COM
fortably disposed. Her mother was
looking out, with her cool, impassive
gaze. Miss Braithwaite knitted. The
countess, however, met her eyes, and
triumph and a bit of terror, too, had
she but read them. For the countess
had put in her plea for holiday and
had been refused.
The new fortress faced the high road
some five miles from the Karnian bor-
der. 1t stood on bluff over the river,
and was. as the crown prince decided,
oil
cept that it had q moat around it.
Hedwig and the countess went with
the party around the Notifications.
The archduchess and ISIS Braithwaite
had sought fire. Only the countess,
however seemed really interested.
Hedwig seemed more intent on the dis
tant line of the border than on any
thing else. She stood on a rampant
and stared out at it, looking very sad.
Even the drill-when at a word all the
great guns rose and peeped over the
edge at the valley below, and then
dropped backed again as if they had
seen enough-even this failed to rouse
her.
at wish you would listen, Hedwig,"
said the crown prince, almost fretfully.
sIt's SO interesting. The enemy'S SOL
liers would come up the river in boats,
and along, that road on foot. And then
we would raise the guns and shoot at
them. And the guns would drop back
again, before the enemy had time to
aim at them"
But Hedwig's interest was so evil
IDENTIFY assumed that he turned to the
countess. The countess protested
smiling terror, and stood little way
back from the guns, looking on. But
Prince Ferdinand William Otto at last
coaxed her to the top of the emplace-
ment.
There's fine view up there" he
urged. ''And the guns won't hurt you.
There's nothing in them"
To get up it was necessary to climb
an iron ladder. Hedwig was already
there. About dozen young officers
had helped her up, and ruined as
many pairs of white gloves, although
Hedwig could climb like a cat, and