The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-01-09

met G0S CUu0CAA III 96o3sOAs 100 210
had. because Of their growing alarm.
rather his own way with them.
But although he had pointed to the
kings condition and theirs-as an
argument for immediate marriage-he
failed. The thing would be done. but
properly and in good time. Karl left
them In a bad temper. well concealed.
and had the pleasure Of being Kissed
through the streets.
But he eomforted himself with the
thought Of Hedwig. He had taken her
in his arms before he left, and she had
made no resistance. She had even. in
view OF all that was at stake. made
desperate effort to return his kiss. and
found herself trembling afterward.
In two weeks he was to return to
her. and he whispered that to her.
On the day after the dinner party
Otto went to q hospital with Miss
Braithwaite., It was the ct.stom Of the
palace to send the flowers from its
spectacular functions to the hospitals.
and the crown prince delighted in
these errands.
So they went, escorted by the func-
tonaries of the hospital. past the MILL
tary wards, where soldiers in shabby
uniforms sat ON benches In the spring
sunshine. to the general wards beyond.
Tho crown prince was almost hidden
behind the armful he carried. Miss
Braithwaite had all she could hold
A convalescent patient, In slippers
many sizes too large for hin, wheeled
tho remainder in q barrow. and almost
upset the barrow in his excitemsnt
Through long corridors into wards
fresh scrubbed against his arrival.
with white counteFpanes exactly
square, and patients forbidden to move
and disturb the seometrical sxactness
Of the beds. went Prince Ferdinand
william Otto. At each bed he stopped.
selected q flower. and held It out.
Some there were who reached out, and
took It with a smile. Others lay still,
and saw neither boy nor blossom.
..They sleep. hIshness." the nurse
would say.
'But their eyes arc open"
They are very weary, and resting
In such cases he placed the flower
on the pillow. and went On.
One such, however, lying with va
can't eyes nxed on the ceiling. turned
and danced at the boy, and into his
empty gaze crept . fAint intelligence.
II Was not much. He seemed to Ques-
tion with his eyes. That WAS all. A.
the little procession moved on. how
syer. he raised himself o. his elbow.
~Who was thatr
Ths ward, which might have been
interested, was busy keeplng itS Gov
ere straisht and In following the pro-
grsss Of the party. For the man had
not spoken before.
The crown prince"
Ths sick man lay baek and closed
his eyes. Soon he Slept His comrads
In The next bed beckooed to Q sister.
He has spoken" ~ aid. EITHER
he recoverS, or-hs dieR"
But Hasckel did not 1ls. He lived
to do His part in tAe coming crisiA
to prove that even ths great hands Of
Black Humbert on his throat were
not 20 strong ~ his own young spirit;
lived. indeed. to confroak the terrorist
a. one risen from the dead. But that
day he ny and dept. by curious irony
the flower from Kari's banquet In .
cup Of water besids hin.
On the day before tie carnival He'd
Wig had q visitor, no0e other than tn
Countess Loschek. Hedwis. all her
color gone now. her AlsA spirit crushed.
her heart torn into fragments and
neatly distributed hstvsen Milky. who
had most Of Il, the crown prince. and
the old king. Hsdwis. having Oven
her permission to COM, greeted As1
politely but without safhusiam.
sHIshnessf~ said H. countess sun.
veying her. may I spsak to you frank
lyr
.Pieass do Hsdwis REPLIED.
~Dvsfybody does. anyhow. Especially
whsn It 10 somsthlns aisagrseable."
Olga Leschsk watehsd her warilv.
ahs knew the family - caly the out
sidsr could know IT. knew that He'd
Wig, who would havo dtselaimed tie
tact, was like hss mother in some
thineA notably in . disposition to b
mild unttl Q certain moment, submis-
sivo, even aequioDeaat, and then sud.
denly 10 become, - II wero. royalty
and grow cold, haugAty. But Il He'd
Wig was driven n those days, - was
the countess, desps9Ate and driven to
desperate methods.
Il Al presuming. highness. on your
mothers Kindness TO me. and your
own.s
wen. 20 on aid Hedwig resign
ed1y. But the nsEt words brought her
up in her chair.
.Ars you going to allow your hfs
10 b. ruinedr' WAS what tho countess
eaid.
Carsfull Hedwis had thrown up her
head and licked at hsr with hostile
syss. But the n1xf moment she hao
forgotten she was princess. and the
gran6danshter 10 H. hing. and rssnsm-