The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-11-21

famed. Indifferent mother though sne
was, she made capital Of Q fear for
Hedwig's happiness.
At last she succeeded In irritating
the king-A more difficult thing now
than In earlier times, but not % hard
q matter at that He listened quietly
until che had finished. and then ssat
her away. When she had got part
way to the door. however. he called
her back. And siaos q hing u . king,
even II he u ones fathsr and veEy old.
she came.
"Just one wefo more" he said. I'm
his thin, old. Mgh-bred voice. ''Huch
Of your unhappinsss was Of your own
making. Yoo. and you only, know how
much. But nothing that you have said
can change the situation. I am merely
compelled to make the decidon 0one.
and sooA. have not much tiue."
SO. after an. was tie matter Of the
Duchess HedwiIs marriage arranged,
coaposite outsrowth OF expsdiency
and obstinacy, Of defiance and anger.
And 90 was 1t hastened.
Irritation gave the king strength.
That afternoon were summoned In
haste the members Of his eouncil-fat
old Friese, young Aarschan With the
rat face, austers Bayeri with the
white skin and burning eyes. and 9TH
ers. And to them all the king dis
closed his royal will There was some
demur. But, aftsr all, the kings viii
was dominant. Ttiess could but voice
his protest and relapse into greasy
silence.
The chancellor eat silent during the
conciave, Silent but intent. On each
speaker he turned his eyes. and waited
until at last Kari's proposal with its
promises. vas laid bsfors tAsm In full.
Then, and only then. ths chancellor
rose. HIS speech was short He told
them Of what they an knew. their own
insecurity. He spoke but q word Of
the crown prince. but that softty. And
he drew for them q picture Of the
future thar set their hearts to glowing
"A throne secure. q greater Kingdom,
freedom from the costs Of war. har-
Dor BY the sea.
The battle, which was NO battle at
all, was won. He had won. The coun-
try had won. The CROWN prince had
won. Only Hedwig had lost And
only Mettlich knew Just how she had
lost.
The necessity for work brought the
king the strength to do It Nettlich
remained with him. Boxes were
brought from vaults, unlocked and e1-
amined. Secretaries came and went.
At eight O'Clock . frugal dinner was
spread in the study, and they ate It
almost literally over state documents.
On and on. until midnight or there
abouts. Then they stopped. The thing
was arranged. Nothing was left now
but to carry the word to Karl.
Two things were necessary: Haste.
The king. having determined it. would
lose no time. And dignity. The grand
daughter Of the king must be offered
with ceremony. No ordinary kings
messenger. then, but some dignitary Of
the court. z.
To this emergency Nsttlich rose hkS
the doughty old warrior and statesman
that he was. III you are willing. sire"
he said, ~ he rose, II will 70 myself"
"Whenr
.sincs 1t must bs done, the sooner
the better. Tonight, sire"
ITO the eapitalf'
"Not 20 far. Karl u hunting. He u
at WedelinE."
He went almost Immediately, and
the king summoned his Wallets, and was
got to bed. But long after the auto
mobile containing Nettlich and two -
cret agents was on the road toward
the mountains he tossed on his mar
row bed. To what straits had they
come fndeedi He closed his eyes
wearily. Something had gone out Of
his life. He did not realise at nrst
what 1t was. When he did. he smiled
his old grim smile In the darkness.
He had lost . foe. More than any
thing. perhaps, he had dearly loved Q
foe.
cHAprER Will