The Elbert County tribune., 1918-11-15

fuiHer OrtBOryi nlb Irlenu OF many
years. had come again from Etzel, and
it was he who had administered the
sacrament. The king had reused for
1T, and had smiled at the father.
"Sol" he said, almost In a whisper,
.'you would send me cleani 1t is hard
to scour an old kettle"
Doctor Weidermaa bent over the
| bed. Majesty" he implored. 'ff there
| is anything we can do to make you
comfortable"
"Give me Hubert's picture" said the
king. When his fingers refused to hold
IT, Annunciata came forward swiftly
and held 1t before him. But his heavy
eyes closed. With more intuition than
might have been expected of her, the
archduchess laid 1t on the white cover
let, and placed her fathers hand on
1t.
The two sisters of mercy stood be-
side the bed, and looked down at the
quiet figure.
81 should wish to die so,'' whispered
| the elder "A long life, filed with
many deeds. and then to sleep awayi'
"A long life. full of many sorrows /"
full of tears. HE has outlived all
that he loved"
Except the little Otto"
Their glances met. for even here
there was a question.
AS II their thought had penetrated
the haze which is, perhaps. the mist
that hides from us the gates of heaven,
the old king opened his eyes.
"Ottow he said. 'T-wish-"
Annunciata bent over hiBs- "He Is
coming, father" she told him, with
white lips.
She slipped to her knees beside the
bed. and looked up to Doctor Welder-
man with appealing eyes.
81 am afraid" she whispered. "Can
you not-?"
He shook his head. She had asked
a question in her glance, and he had
answered. The crown prince was
gone. Perhaps the search would be
successful. Could he not be held, then,
until the boy was found? And Doctor
Weiderman had answered No"
In the antechamber the council
waited, standing and without speech.
| But in an armchair beside the door
| to the kings room the chancellor sat,
his face buried In his hands. In spite
| of precautions, in spite of everything
the blow had fallen. The crown prince
to him at once son and sovereign, the
little crown prince. was gone. And
his old friend, his comrade of many
years, lay at his last hour.
Now he waited for the kings DEATH
Waited numbly. For. with the tolling
Of st. Stefan's bell would rise the cry
for the new king.
And there was no king.
In the little room where the sisters
kept their medicines. so useless now,
Hedwig knelt at the prie-dieu and
prayed.
The king reused again. "Mettlich?'
he asked.
The elder sister tiptoed to the door
and opened It. The council turned.
dread on their faces. She placed n
hand on the chancellor's shoulder.
His majesty has asked for you"
When he looked up, dazed, she bent
down and took his hand.
"Courage!" she said quietly
The chancellor stood n second In
side the door Then he went to the
side of the bed, and knelt, his lips
to the cold, white hand on the counter
pane.
"Sire!" he choked at is I-Mett-
lich."
The king looked at him, and placed
his hand on the bowed gray head.
Then his eyes turned to Annunciata
and rested there. 1t was as IL he saw
her, not as the embittered woman of
late years, but as the child of the
woman he had loved.
"a good friend, and a good daugh-
ter" he said clearly. Few men die
so fortunate, and fewer soverelgns."
His hand moved from Mettlich's head,
and rested on the photograph.
The elder sister leaned forward and
touched his wrist. Doctor ~ she said
sharply.
others following. They grouped
around the bed. Then the oldest of
them, who had brought Annunciata
into the world, touched her on the
shoulder.
MADAME |" he said. Madame, I
his majesty has passed away"
Mettlich staggered 10 his feet, and
took long look at the face of his old
sovereign and king.
In the meantime. things had been
happening In the room where the
council waited. The council free Of
the restraint of the chancellor's pres
ence, had fallen into low-voiced con
sultatIon. What was to be donef
They knew already the rumors of the
streets, and were helpless before them.
They had done what they could. But
| IL. I.o.r ,.-ns rona anl the city rising.