The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-01-30

tor wsiderman who stood b. the bed
and waited.
Father Gregory, his friend Of many
years. had come again from Etxel, and
It was hs who had administered the
sacrament. The king had reused for
Il. and had smiled at the fathsr.
"Sow he said, almost In whisper,
you would send me elsani It u hard
to scour an old ksttie."
Doctor Weiderman bent over the
bed Majesty" he implorsd, IL there
u anything we can do to make you
eomfortable@~
''Givs mo Hubsrt's picture" said the
king. When his fingers refused to hold
It, Annunciata came forward swiftly
and held It before him. But his heavy
eyes closed. With more intuition than
might have been expected Of her. the
archduchess laid It on the white cover
let, and placed her father's hand on
Il.
The two sisters Of mercy stood be-
ode the bed, and looked down ut the
quiet ngurs.
II should wish to die 90" whispered
l. the elder. "A long life. filled with
many deeds, and then to sleep awayi"
"A long life, full Of many sorrowsi"
observed the younger one, her eyes
full Of tears. ~Hs has outlived all
that hs loved"
Except the little Otto"
Their glances met, for even here
there was q question.
A. II their thought had penetrated
the hAss which 10, perhaps. the mist
that hides from us the gates Of heaven,
the old king opened his eyes.
'-OttoI" he said. TEwish-"
Annunciata bent over him. "He u
coming. father" shs told him. With
whits lips.
She slipped to hsf knees bssids the
bed. and looked up to Doctor Weider-
man with appealing eyea
Il am afraid" she whispered Can
you not-r
He shook his head. She had asked
question in her glance, and he had
answersd. The crown prince was
gone. Perhaps the search would be
successful. Could he not be held, then,
until the boy was foundf And Doctor
Weidsrman had answered mo"
=. In the antechamber the council
waited, Standing and without speech
But In IN armchair beside the door
to the kings room the chancellor sat,
his face buried In his hands. In spite
Of precautions, in spite bf everything.
the blow had fallen. The crown prince.
to him ut once son and sovereign. the
little crown prince. was gone. And
his old friend, his comrade Of many
ysars, lay at his last hour.
Now he waited for the kings death.
Waited numbly. For. with the toiling
Of 81. Stefan's bell would rise the cry
for the new king.
And there was no king.
In the little room whore the sisters
kept their medicines, so-useless now.
Hsdwig knelt at the pris-dieu and
prayed.
The king reused again. 'Nettlichr
hs asked.
The elder sister tiptoed 10 the door
and opened 1t. The council turned.
dread on their facss. She plaeed q
hand on the ehancellor's shoulder.
When he looked up. dassd. she bent
down and took his hand.
sCouragei" !" she said quietly.
The chancellor stood Q second In
side the door. Then he went to the
side Of the bed, and knslt. his lips
| to the cold, white hand on the counter
pane.
"sirsi" he choked. TT u I-Mstt-
lich."
The king looked at him. and placed
his hand on the bowed gray head.
Then his eyes turned to Annunciata
and rested there. II WAS ~ II he saw
her. not a. the smbittersd woman Of
late yeArs, but ~ the child Of the
woman he had loved.
"A good frisnd. and q good daugh-
ter" he said clearly. Few men die
70 fortunate, and fewer sovsreigns" !"
His hand moved from Nettlich's head,
and rested on the photograph.
The elder sister leaned forward and
touched his wrist Doctor I" she said
sharply.
Doctor weiderman came nrst, the
others following. They grouped
around the bed. Then the Oldest Of
them, who had brought Annunciata
into the world. touched her on the
shoulder.
sNadamei" he said. Madame. l.
his majesty has passed away"
Nsttlich staggered to 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 done1
1 - ~ - A.