The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1918-05-25

J ,hc countess could easily hnve shaken.
| 80 ne lNtl Wnkcnod The next morning
! calhor chrrlrul than otherwise, ana
Ner breakfast ot hroiled ham had
refused TO look nhcnd further thnu the
iay.
l'hat uftrrnonn, IN the study, Milky
hcslinicd when he saw lIcdwlg.
Then he cume aud bent law over her
hnnd, Aud llcdNig, because every IN.
Stinct yeaiucd to touch his shining
bent head spoke to him very calmly,
was rather distant little cold.
'You huve been away I thlnk?' she
suld
"For n dny or two. hlghness.
I "And today" he added, reproach
fully. to-day YOU did not ride"
81 did not feel like riding" IIedwia
responded lisllessly. 81 nm tired. !
think ! nm always tired"
Lemon aud two lumps," muttered
The crown prince. "Thnt's Nikky's
iiedwlg. Give II Ia him, please"
Milky went triflc pale ns their
fingers touched. But he tasted his
tea, unh pronounced Il excellent.
Prince Fcr,linanI Willlam otto chat
tered cxcllcdly lie told of the deg
dllnting on lt, clcycrness. bat passing
politely over lho manner Of rs return.
Now AMI then llpdwig elanccd NJ
Nkky. wllG he WAS not louklng, nnG
always. whcn they dared, The young
soldiers eyes were on her
"She viii take some ten without
sugur," announced the crown prince,
While he poured It lledwg wns
thinking. Was II possible that Milky
of every one, should have been chosen
to carry to Karl the marriage arrange.
ments? What nn Irony! What Jest !
II was true there was II change In
him. He looked subdued, almost snd
"ro Karnni" she asked. when
Prince Ferdinand William Otto had
left the room. "O1icially7"
"Not--cxnctly."
"Where, In Karnln?"
II ended" Milky confessed. Eat
Wedcling"
liedwlg gnzed nj him. her elbows
propped on the ten table. Then"
she said IL think you know
~ know, highncss.'
"And you have nothing to say?"
"lIighncss." Milky began husklly
"you know what would say. And
that cannot. 10 take advantage of
Otto's fancy for me, Il chlld's Hiking. to
violate the confidence Of those who
placed me hore-l am doing that, every
moment"
"NYlnt about mcs" Hcdwig asked
"Do count for nothIng7 Does II not
matter M all how | feel, whether I am
happy or wrctchcd? Isn't that MS I'm
portant as honorT
Milky flung out his hunds. "You
know" he snld rapidly. "Whnt can
tell you that you do not know Il thou
sand times? love you. Not MS n
subject may adore his princess. but
ms man loves woman
she drew herself up. Lovel" she
said. "I do not call that love"
"Gt Is greater love than you know,
said poor Milky But all his courage
died moment later, aud his resolution
with Il, for without warning iicdwig
dropped her head on her hands ana
crouchlng forlorny, fell to sobblng.
# counted on YOU" She said wildly.
"And you nrc Ike the others. No one
rurt's how wretchcd | am. | wish /
might die"
Then indeed Milky was lost. In nm
instant he was on his knees beside
her, his arms close about her, his head
bowed against her breast. And He'd.
wig relaxed TO his embrace. When at
last he turned and looked up M her.
It was Hedwig who bent and kissed
him.
AT least" she whispered, 1--WE have
had this. We can always remember,
whatever comes. that we have had
this"
But Milky was Of very human stun.
and not the sort that may live by
memories. He was very haggnrd
when he rose to his feet haggnrd, and
his mouth was doggedly set. III viii
never give you up, now" he said.
Brave words, of course. But ns he
snid them he realized their futility.
The eyes he turned on her were, ns
he claimed her, without hope. For
there wns no escape.
IIedwlg, with shining eyes, was III
ready planning.
''We will q" away. N'kiv" she said.
lana u must be soon, because other
wise"
Milky dared not touch her again,
knowing what he hud to say. Dear.
est" he said bending toward her
that Is what we cannot do"
"Nof She looked up, puzzled, hut
'liil confident. "And why, cowardly
0nc?"
"Bccause | have given my word TO
remain with the crown prince" Then,
seeing that she still did not compre-
hcnd, he explained, swiftly. He stood,
as many n man has stood before, be-
tween love and loyalty to his king,
and he was soldier. He had no
choice.
II waQ farrlhIa IN him IN aQa the