Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-02-08
r. much discomfort. and the offspring
Of discomfort Is anarchy

The king snarled. But Mettiich had
taken his courage in his hands, and
went on. Their neighbor and hered.
itary foe was Karnia. Could they
any longer afford the ennity Of Kar.
mia? One cause OF discomfort was the
expense Of the army, and of the forti.
fications along the Earnian border. II
Karnia were allied with them, there
would be no need of so great an army
They had the mineral wealth, and
KarIia the seaports. The old dream
Of the empire, of railway TO the sea,
would be realized.
He pleaded well. The idea was not
new. To place the little King Otto
TX on the throne and keep him there
in the face Of opposition would re.
dnire support from outside, KaFnia
would furnish this support. For d
price.
The price was the Princess He'd.
wig.
'sThat is my plea, SIRE Mettlici
!nished. "Karl Of Karnia Is anxiou
to marry, and looks this way. To al
lay discomfort and growing insurrec-
ton, to insure the boys safety and his
throne. to beat our swords into plough
silares"--here he. caught the kings
scowl, and added--"to. certain ex-
tent, and to make us commercial
as well as military nation, surely,
sire, 1t gains much for ms, and loses
us nothing.,'
HBut our independence = said the
king souriy.
However, he did not dismiss the
idea. The fright of the afternoon had
weakened him, and If Arcttlich were
right the royalist party would need
outside help TO maintain the throne.
"Karniav' he snid. "The lion and
the lamb, with the lamb inside the
Iioni And in the meantime the boy"
HE should be watched always"
''He has Lussin." Count Lussln was
the crown princes ais;e-de-cam?.
He needs man, sire" observed
the chancellor rather tartly.
The king cleared his throat. "This
yoiingstcr he is so fond Of, young
Larisch, would he please you better r
he asked, with ironic Difference.
8 good boy, sire. You nay recall
that his mother He stopped.
Perhaps the old kings memory was
good. Perhaps there was q change in
Mettlich's voice.
"a good boy?'
"Nonc better. sire. He Is devoted
to his royal highness, He Is outside
now" s
'fBrIng him il. I'll have a look al
him."
Milky, summoned by a chamberlain.
stopped inside the doorway and bowed
deeply. Il !,
Come here" said the King.
He advanced.
"How old are your
"Twenty-three, sire..''
in the grenadiers, believe" '
Milky bowed. .
Like hcrsesi" said the King sud.
denly. 4
q
Very much, SIRE"
"And boys?"
.sI--some boys, Sire"
"Humphi Quite right, too. Little
devils. most of Them He drew him
self up in his chair. sTieutenant
Larisch,' he said, Ellis royal highness
the crown prince has taken d liking
to YOU. believe 1t is to you that our
fright today is due"
Nikly's heart thamped. He went
rather pale.
1T Is my intention, Lieutenant Lar
isch. to place the crown prince in your
personal charge. For reasons need
not go into, it Is imperative that he
take no more excursions alone. want
a real friend for the little crown
prince. One who is both brave and
loyal
Afterward, in his small room, Milky
composed a neat, well-rounded speech,
in which he expressed his loyalty,
gratitude, and undying devotion to the
crown prince. It was an elegant lit.
tie speech. unluckily, the occasion for
1t had gone by two hours.
I'll am grateful, SIRE" was what
he said. e." And there he stopped
and choked up. It was rather dread
full.
81 depend on you, Captain Larisch,"
said the king gravely, and nodded his
head IN gesture OF dismissal.
Milky backed toward the door. struck
a hassock. all but went down. bowed
again at the door. and He'd.
IA fine lad" said General MettIIch,
'sbut no talker."
ssAll the better" replied his majes-
ii. II am tired Of men who talk
well. And' --he smiled family II
am tired Of you. You talk too wen.
You make me think, I don't want to
think. I've been thinking all my life.
It is time to rest, my friend"
- "a