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

Mother. you cannot look back. an;
and remember your own life, and ~
low me TO be wretched. You can
not, :"
Hedwig began to cry.
me archduchesS hated tears, anC
her softer moments were only mo
mentS. Dry your eyes, and don't b.
silly she said coldly. You have nj
ways known that something of tn,
sort was inevitable"
She moved toward the door. The
two princesses and her lady in wait
ing remained still until she had left
the table. Then they fell in behind
her, and the little procession moved to
the stuffy boudoir, for coffee. But
Hilda slipped her arm around her sis.
tiers waist, and the touch comforted
Hedwig.
he may be very nice" Hilda volun.
teered cautiously. perhaps it is Karl
/ am quite mad about Karl, myself
Hedwig, however, was beyond listen
ing. She went slowly to a window,
and stood gazing out. Looming against
the skyline, in the very center Of the
place, was the heroic figure of her dead
grandmother. She fell 20 wondering
about these royal women who had pre-
ceded. Her mother, frankly unhappy
In her marriage, permanently embit-
tered; her grandmother. Hedwig had
never seen the king young. She could
not picture him as lover. To her
he was fine and lonely figure. But
romantic? Had he ever been roman.
tic?
She slipped out onto the balcony
and closed the curtains behind her.
AS her eyes grew accustomed to the
darkness she saw that there was some
one below, under the trees. Her heart
beat rapidly. In a moment she was
certain. 1t was Milky down there,
Milky, gazing up at her as child may
look at a star. With quick gesture
Hedwig drew the curtain back. A
thin ray Of light fell on her, on her
slim bare arms, on her light draperies,
on her young face. He had wanted
to see her and he should see her. Then
she dropped the curtain, and twisted
her hands together lest, in spite or
her. they reach out toward him.
Did she fancy it, or did the figure
salute her? Then came the quick ring
of heels on the old stone pavement.
She knew his footsteps, even as she
knew every vibrant, eager infection OF
his voice. He went away, across the
square, like one who, having bent MS
knee to a saint, turns back to the Dusi-
ness of the world.
In the boudoir the archduchess had
picked up some knitting to soothe her
tangled nerves. "You may play now,
Hllda," she said.
Annunciata dozed, and Hilda played
softly. The countess opportunity mad
come. She put down the dreary en-
broidery with which she hlled the
evenings, and moved to the
window. She walked quietly ike
cat.
Her first words to Hedwig were
those of Peter Niburg as he linked
arms with his enemy and started GOWN
tho street. "A fine night, highness,
she said.
Hedwig raised her eyes to the stars.
1T is very lovely"
"a night to spend out-of-doorS' III
stead of being shut UP ehe
finished her sentence with d snius u
the shoulders.
uodwig was not fond of the count
ess she did not know why. Ihe
truth being, of course, that between
tbom Law the barrier of her own IN
nocence. When the countess arm
touched hers, she drew aside.
.Tonight," said the lady IN Waiting
II should like to be IN
motor. speeding over mountain roaus'
r oo,,a from the mountains, you know.
And | miss them
Hedwig moved, little ihlpatieh,y'
but rs the countess went on she us
toned After all, Milky, too, came
from the mountains. AND because she
yas sorry for the countess, VINO was
,anosict and perhaps because just
thon she had to speak to some one
sbe turned to her at last with the thihs
that filled her nina.
"Tbis marriage" she said bitterly
ers :. toIked about? Am l the only
one In the palace who has not known
about It'll"
mo highness, 1 had heard nothing:
NJ course. there are always rumors.
sAs TO the other, the matter my