River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1918-03-21

"a princes duty is TO Inlnk. where
did you go?"
TO the park, sir. II thought I'd
Xix E to see the park by myself. It's
vel " hard to enjoy things with Miss
Braithwaite, sir. She does not really
enjoy the things 1 like. Milky and
L -
'By Milky you mean Lieutenant
Larisch?'
yes, sir.''
fGo on"
eve like the same things, sir-the
Pike's-Pe ak-or-Bust, and all that"
The king raised himself on his ell
bow. "What was that?" he demanded.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto
blushed, and explained. 1t was Bob
byfs name for the peak at the top Of
the scenic railway. He had been on
the railway. He had been-his en-
thu siasm carried him away. His
cheeks flushed. He sat forward on the
edge of his chair, and gesticulate6A
II was awfully happy, sir, he ended.
''It feels like flying, only safer. And
the lights are pretty. It's like fairy
land. There were two or three times
VIII it seemed as if we'd turn over,
or leap the track. But we didn't"
The king lay back and thought. More
than anything in the world he loved
this boy. But the occasion demanded
a strong hand. "YOu were happy" he
said. 'You were disobedient, you
we're causing grave anxiety and dis
tress-and you were happy The first
duty of a prince is to his country. His
frs lesson is to obey laws. He must
always obey certain laws, A king is
but the servant of his people, Some
day you will be the king. You Sye be-
ing trained for that high office now.
And yet you would set the example
of INSTRUMENTATION, disobedience, and
reckless disregard Of the feelings OF
Others"
Eyes, SIR" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, feeling very shall and
ashamed.
mot only that. You slipped away.
70 u did not go openly. You sneaked
off, like thief. Are you proud OF
it?"
mo, sir"
II SHALL said the king, require no
promise from you. Promises are poor
things to hold to. leave this matter
in your own hands, Otto. You will be
pun ished by Miss Braithwaite, and for
the next ten days you will not visN
me. You may go now"
Otto got off his chair. He was feel
ing exceedingly crushed. "Good night,
sir" he said. And waited for his
grandfather to extend his hand. But
the old king lay looking straight ahead,
with his mouth set in grim lines, and
his hands folded over his breast.
AT the door the crown prince turned
and bowed. His grandfather's eyes
were fixed on the two gold eagles over
thu door, but the photograph on the
table appeared to be smiling at him.
Until late that night General Nett
lich and the king talked together. The
king had been lifted from his bed and
sat propped in a great chair. Above
his shabby dressing gown his face
sh owed gaunt and old. In straight
chair facing him sat his old friend and
chancellor.
''What it has shown Is not entirely
bad" said the king, after a pause.
''The boy has initiative. And he made
no attempt at evasion. He is essential
Iy truthful"
F'What it has also shown, sire, Is
til at no protection is enough. When
I, who love the lad, and would-when
could sleep, and let him get away,
as did"
F'The truth is" said the king, "we
are both Of us getting Old" He tapped
with his gnarled fingers on the blanket
tn at lay over his knees. 1.-THE truth
is also,' he observed a moment later,
shat the boy has very few pleasures.
he is alone great DEAL"
General Mettlich raised his shaggy
he ad. Many years Of wearing sol
dier's cap had not injured his heavy
gray hair. He had bristling eyebrows,
white now, and a short, fighting mus
tache. When he was irritated, or dis
agreed with any one, his eyebrows
came down and the mustache went up.
MANY years of association with his
king had given him the right to talk
to him as man to man. They even
quarreled now and then. 1t was a
br ave man who would quarrel with old
Ferdinand III.
So now his eyebrows came down
and his mustache went UP. 'How--
alone, sire?"
''You do not regard that bigoted
English woman as a companion, do
you?"
"She is thoughtful and conscien-
tious woman, SIRE" he said stiffly. It
happened that he had selected her.
"She does her duty. And as to the
boy being lonely, he has no time to be
lonely. His tutors"
''How old is he?" fl
"Ten next month"
The king said nothing for a time.
Then-"It is hard" he said at last,
"fpr seventy-four to see with the eyes