The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-04-04

mother referred to-" Hedwig held her
head very high, "I-she was unjust.
Am I never to have any friends7"
"Frends. highness7 One may have
friends, of course. It Is not friendship
they fear"
"What then7"
"A lover" said the countess softly.
1T Is impossible to see Captain Lar
isch in your presence. and not
realize"
go on"
"And not realize. highness. that he
Is in love with you"
"How silly!" said the Princess He'd
wig, with glowing eyes.
"But highness !" implored the count
ess. If only you would use a little
caution. Open defiance is its own de-
feat"
II am not ashamed Of what 1 do,"
said Hedwig hotly.
"Ashamedl OF course not. But
things that are harmless in others in
your position-you are young. You
should have friends, gayety. am"
she smiled grimly in the darkness,
mot SO old myself but that can un-
derstand."
Hedwig stood still. The old city was
preparing for sleep. In the place q
few lovers loitered, standing close, and
the faint tinkling Of a bell told Of the
Blessed Sacrament being carried
through the streets to some bedside Of
the dying. The Princess Hedwig
bowed her head.
1t seemed to her. all at once, that
the world was full Of wretchedness and
death, and Of separation, which might
be worse than death.
II wish could help you, highness," )"
said the countess. II should like to
see you happy. But happiness does
not come Of itself. We must fight for
it."
"Fight7 What chance have I to
fight" .Hedwig asked scornfully.
zone thing. Of course, I could do"
pursued the countess. ION those days
when you wish to have tea with-kis
royal highness. I could arrange, per-
haps, to let you know II any member
Of the family intended going to his
apartments"
1t was moment before Hedwig
comprehended. Then she turned to
her haughtily. "When wish to have
tea with my cousin" she said coldly.
II shall do 1t openly, countess"
She left the balcony abruptly, aban.
doning the countess to solitary fury,
the greater because triumph had
seemed SO near. Alone, she went red
and white, bit her lips, behaved &C.
cording to all the time-honOred ira.
ditions. And even swore-in a polite,
lady-in-waitlng fashion, to be sure
to get even.
Things were going very wrong for
Milky Larisch.
Perhaps, at the very first, he had
been In love with the princess, not the
woman. It had been rather like him
to fix on the unattainable and wor.
ship It from afar. Because, for all the
friendliness Of their growing intimacy
Hedwig was still star, whose light
touched him, but whose warmth was
not for him. He would have died
fighting for her with a smile on his
lips. But he had no hope Of living
for her, unless, Of course, she should
happen to need him, which was most
unlikely. He had no vanity whatever
although In parade dress, with white
gloves, he hoped he cut a decent figure
So she had been his star, and as cold
and remote. And then, that very
morning, Hedwig had been thrown
Not badly-she was too expert fol
that. As matter Of fact, feeling her.
self going. she had flung two strong
young arms around her horses neck
and had almost succeeded In lighting
on her feet. It was not at all
dramatic.
But Nikky's heart had stopped beat.
Ing. He had lifted her up from where
she sat, half vexed and wholly
ashamed, and carried her to a chair
That was all. But when 1t was all
over, and Hedwig was only a trifs
wobbly and horribly humiliated
Milky Larisch knew the truth about
himself, knew that he was Ia love
With the granddaughter of bis king
and that under no cor cei'abln circum
stances would he eyer be able to tel
her TO. Knew, then. that hapriness
and he had said long farewell. and
would thereafter travel different
roads.