Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-06-07

j The family withdrew shortly after ia
IA small salon of the large one. And
there, at last, Karl cornered Hedwia
and demanded speech.
i "Where7" she asked. glancing around
the crowded room.
II shall have to leave that to you. =
&c sa.a. "unless-there Is bal
cony."
"But do You think 1t II necessary r
'Why not?"
| because what have to say does
not matter"
/ 'It matters very much to me-" he
replied gravely.
| Hedwig went first, slipping away
quietly and unnoticed. Karl asked the
archduchess' permission to follow her
and found her waiting there alone,
rather desperately calm now. and with
Ia tinge of excited color in her cheeks,
Because he cared great deal, and be,
cause, as kings 60, he was neither
hopelessly bad nor hard, his first words
were kind and genuine. and almost
brought her to tears.
poor little grill" he said.
He had dropped the curtain behind
him, and they stood alone.
don't" said Hedwig; II want to bl
very calm, and am sorry for myself
already" a
.Then You think It Is IN very ter
So aid not reply. ana 10 drew I
chair for her to the rail. When she
was seated, he took. up his position
beside her, one arm against pillar.
II wonder, Hedwig," he said, ~ II
is not terrible because It Il new to. yon.
and because you do not know me very
well. Not" he added hastily, "that
II think your knowing me well would
be an advantage! I am not so idiotic.
But you do not know me at ALL and
for good many years I must have
stood in the light Of an enemy. It is
not easy to readjust such things
witness the reception had today"
"Why must we talk about it?'' He'd
wig demanded, looking up at him sud.
denly with flash Of her old spirit,
'It will not change anything"
"Pefhaps not. Perhaps-yes. You
see, am not quite satisfied. I do not
want you, unless you are willing. II
would be poor bargain for me, and
not quite fair"
A new turn, this, with q Vengeance I
Hedwig stared up with startled eyes.
1t was not enough to be sacrificed.
And as she realized all that hung on
the situation, the very life Of the king
dom, perhaps the safety Of her family,
everything, she closed her eyes for
fear he might see the fright in them.
& bent over and took one Of her
cold ands between his two warm ones
Il. lie Hedwig," he said. IT want you
to come willingly beoAuse-I care a
great deal. I would Ike you to care.
too. Don't you think you would, after
q timer
after a timel" said Hedwig drsar1
fly. 'ThatB what they all say. After
a time it doesn't matter. Marriage Is
always the same after a time.''
."sWhy should marriage be always
the same, after Z timer he inquired.
'.This sort Of marriage, without
love !
1T is hardly that Il it7 I love you.
II wonder how much you love me-
Kari smiled. He was on his own
ground here. The girlish question put
him at ease. Enough for US both, al
arst" no said. "After that" |;
But" said Hedwig desperately,
suppose / know I shall never cars
for you. the way you will want me toj
You talk Of being fair. I want to be:
fair to You. You have right" She
checked herself abruptly. After all, he
might have a right to know about
Milky Larisch. But there were others
who had rights, too Otto to his
throne, her mother and Hilda and all;
the others, to safety, her grandfather
to die In peace. tho only gift Aae could
dive him.
"What,I think you want to tell me-,
Is something I already know" Karl
said sravely. Suppose I am willing
TO take tnat cnanGes Suppose &c CT:
vain enough, or fool enough, to think
that can make you forget certain
@ings, certain people. What them"
II do not forget easily
But you would try7"
q ~ would try" said Hedwig. almost
h . whisper.
Karl bent over and taking her hands,
raised her to her feet. s
Darii9g," he said, and suddenly
drew her to him. He covered her with
hot kisses her neck. her face, the soft
anode below her ear. Then he held her