The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-04-06

mother referred TO-" Hedwig held he
! mead very high, "I-she was unjust
Am l never to have any friends?"
Friends, highness? One may hay,
friends of course. 1t is not friendship
they fear"
What then?"
"A lover" said the countess softly
1T IS impossible to see Captain Lar
lsch in your presence, and no
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 little
caution. Open defiance is its own de
feat"
L am not ashamed of what do,
said Hedwig holly.
Ashamed! OF course net. But
things that are harmless in others In
your position-you are young. You
should have friends. gayety. 1 am
she smiled grimly in the darkness,
mot so old myself but that 1 can I'M
derstand."
Hedwig stood still. The old city was
preparing for sleep. In the place a
few lovers loitered, standing close, and
the faint tinkling Of bell told Of the
Blessed Sacrament being carried
through the streets to some bedside Of
the dying. The Princess Hedwig
bowed her head.
It seemed to her, all at once, that
the world was full Of wretchedness and
death, and of separation, which might
be worse than death.
Il 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,"
'Fight? What chance have I to
fght?" Hedwig asked scornfully.
Zone thing, Of course, could do"
pursued the countess. "On those days
when you wish to have tea with-his,
royal highness, / could arrange, per-
haps, to let you know if any member
of the family intended going to his
apartments"
1t was a moment before Hedwig
comprehended. Then she turned to
her haughtily. "When 1 wish to have
tea with my cousin" she said coldly,
Il shall do it 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 ac-
cording to all the time-honored ira
ditions. And even swore-in a polite,
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 1t from afar. Because, for all the
of their growing intimacy.
was still a star, whose light
touched him, but whose warmth was
not for him. He would have died
fighting for her with q 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
He had no vanity whatever,
in parade dress, with white
gloves, he hoped he cut 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 for
hat. AS a matter of fact, feeling her
self going, she had flung two strong
young arms around her horses neck,
md had almost succeeded in lighting
IN her feet. 1t was not at all
iramatic.
But Nikky's heart had stopped beat
ng. He had lifted her up from where
;hc sat, half vexed and wholly
ashamed, and carried her to chair.
That was all. But when it was all
,ver, and Hedwig was only trifie
vobbly and horribly Inundated
Iikky Larisch knew the truth about |
himself, knew that ne was in love
With the granddaughter of his king, |
md that under no conceivable circum- |
tances would he ever be able to tell |
Ter so. Knew, then, that happiness |
md he had said long farewell, and |
would thereafter travel different |
Dads.
So that night he started out to think |