The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-08-01

inuH now ana must ACT mans puTt
In the world.
"May I se~ hIm7" he asked. "I-
didn't see him before"
Your people are waiting, SIRE" the
chancellor said gravely. ITO ruler,
his people rnust come drst."
And 30. 10 the clear light from the
room behind him, Otto the Ninth first
stood before his people. They looked
up, and hard eyes grew soft, tense
muscles rciaxed. They saw the erect
ness Of tile small figure, the steadl-
ness Of the blue eyes that had fought
back their tears. the honesty and fire
and courage of this small boy who
was the king.
Let such Of the revolutionists MS re-
mained scream before the parliament
house. Let the flames burn and the
drums beat The solid citizens, the
great mass of the people. looked up
at the king and cheered nightly. Rev
olution had that night received Its
death blow at the hands Of child.
The mob prepared to 90 home to bed.
While King Otto stood on the bal
cony. down below In the crowd an
American woman looked up, and sud.
denly csught her husband by the arm.
"Robe%t," she said, Robert, It is
Bobby's little friend!"
"Nonsense he retorted. "It's
rather dramatic, isn't III Nothing
like this at homei See, they've
crowned him already"
But Fobby's mother looked with the
clear eyes Of most women. and all
| mothers.
"They have not crowned him." she
said. smiling, with tears In her eyes.
"The absurd little kingl They have
forgotten to take of his paper crown"
The dead king lay In state in the
royal chapel. Tall candles burned at
his head and feet. set In long black
standards. His uniform lay at his
feet, his cap, his sword. The flag Of
his country was draped across him. He
looked very rested.
In q small private chapel nearby
lay old Adelbert. They could not do
him too much honor. He. too. looked
rested. and he. too. was covered BY
the nag, and no one would have
guessed that a part Of him had died
long before. and lay buried on . bat
tle6eld. 1t was, unfortunately, his old
uniform that he wore. They had add
ed his regimental nag to the national
one. and on 1t they had set his shabby
cap. He, too. might have been q king.
There were candles at his head and
feet, also; but alas, he had now no
sword.
Thus It happened that old Adelbert
the traitor lay in state In the palace,
and that monks. In long brown robes,
knelt and prayed by him. Perhaps he
needed their prayers. But perhaps, In
the great accounting. things are bal
anced up. the good against the bad. In
that case. who knowsf
The palace mourned and the palace
rejoiced. Haeckel had told what he
knew and the leaders Of the terrorists
were In prison. Some. In high places,
would be hanged with q silken cord,
as was their due. And others would
be esthetically disposed Of. The way
was not yet clear ahesA but the crisis
was passed and safely.
Early in the evening. soon after he
had appeared on the balcony. the court
had sworn fealty to Otto the Niath
He had stood on the dais in the throne
room. very much washed and brushed
by that time. and the ceremony had
taken place. Such q shout from re
lieved throats a. went up. such a clat
ter as swords were drawn from scab
bards and held upright In the air.
"Ottol" they cried. And again
"Otto."
The little king had turned quite pale
with excitement.
Late In the evening Milky Lariscf
went to the council room. The coun
ell had dispersed. and Mettlich sa
alone. When Milky was announced HI
frowned. Then. very family, HI
smiled. But he was stern enough wher
the young soldier entered. Milky
came to the point at once.
II have come" he said. ITO know
what am to do. SIR"
"Dor' asked the chancellor. eoldly
whether the crown-whether tn
king 10 safe or not" said Milky. look
Ing dogged and not at all now like th'
picture Of his mother. ~ am guilty o.
of all that happened"
The chancellor had meant tn be yer,
hard. But he had come through I
great deal. and besides. he saw some
thing Milky did not mean him to see
He was used to reading men. He saw
that the boy had come to the breaking
point.
. "Sit down." he said. "and tell M
about IT,"
But Milky would not sit. He stood
looking straight shead. and told tn
: story. He left nothing out. the seem
, on the roof, his broken promise.
) uAlthou ~h ha addod his oulv ,worx