The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-02-13

- ssas
years. had come again from Etzel. and
It was he who had administered the
sacrament. The king had reused for
II. and had smiled at the father.
$50" he said. almost In q whisper.
you would send me cleani 1t Is hard
10 scour an old kettle"
Doctor weiderman bent over the
bed. Majesty he implored. III there
Is anything we can do to make you
comfortable"
give me Hubert's picture said the
king. When his fingers refused to hold
II, Annunciata came forward swiftly
and held II before him. But his heavy
eyes closed. With more intuition than
might have been expected of her, the
archduchess laid II on the white cover.
let. aud placed her fathers hand on
II.
The two sisters Of mercy stood be-
side the bed, and looked down at the
quiet figure.
II should wish to die So" whispered
the elder. "a long life. filled with
many deeds. and hen to sleep away ~
"A long life, full Of many sorrows |"
observed the younger one. her eyes
full Of tears. "He has outlived all
that he loved"
Except the little Otto"
Their glances met, for even here
there was a question.
As II their thought had penetrated
the haze which Is, perhaps, the mist
that hides from us the gates Of heaven,
the old king opened his eyes.
"Ottol !" he said. "I-wish-"
Annunciata bent over him. HE Is
coming, father" she told him. with
white lips.
She slipped to her knees beside the
bed, and looked up 70 Doctor Weider-
man with appealing eyes.
II am afraid" she whispered. Gan
YOU not-T
He shook his head. She had asked
a question In her glance. and he had
answered. The crown prince was
gone. Perhaps the search would be
successful. Could he not be held, then,
until the boy was foundi And Doctor
Weiderman had answered mo"
In the a~ntechamber the council
waited, standing and without speech.
But 10 IN armchair beside the door
to the kings o the chancellor sat.
his face buried In his hands. In spite
Of precautions, In spite Of everything.
the blow had fallen. The crown prince,
to him at once son and sovereign, the
little crown prince. was gone. And
his old friend, his comrade Of many
years, lay at his last hour.
Now he waited for the kings death.
Waited numbly. For. with the tolling
Of St. Stefan's bell would rise the cry
for the new king.
And there was no king.
In the little room where the sisters
kept their medicines, so useless now,
Hedwig knelt at the prie-dieu and
prayed.
The king reused again. "Mettlichi"
be asked.
The elder sister tiptoed to the door
and opened II. The council turned,
dread on their faces. She placed q
hand on the chancellor's shoulder.
His majesty Aas asked for .ou."
When he looked up. dazed. she bent
down and took his hand.
Courage! !" she said quietly.
The chancellor stood q second In.
side the door. Then he went to the
side Of the bed, and knelt, his lips
to the cold, white hand on the counter
pane.
"Slrel" he choked. at 10 Met.
Itch"
The king looked at him, and placed
his hand on the bowed gray hend.
Then his eyes turned TO Annunciata
and rested there. 1t was as II he saw
her. not as the embittered woman OF
late years, bat as the child Of the
I'M he had loved.
"a good friend, and a good daugh.
ter" he said clearly. Few men die
so fortunate, and fewer soverelgns.'
His hand moved from Mettlich's head,
and rested on the photograph.
The elder sister leaned forward and
touched his wrist. Doctor !" she said
sharply.
Doctor weiderman came FIRST, the
others following. They grouped
around the bed. Then the oldest OF
them. who had brought Annunciatr
into the world, touched her on the
shoulder.
Madame" he said. Madame, l.
his majesty has passed away"
Mettlich staggered to his feet. and
took . long look at the face OF his old
sovereign and king.
In the meantime. things had beer
happening In the where tn,
council waited. The council free oil
the restraint Of the c~hancellor's pres
ence. had fallen into low-voiced con
sultatioR. What was to be done
They knew slveady the rumors Of tn,
streets. and were helpless before them
They had done what they could. Bu
the boy was gone. and the city rising
Already the arrison Of the fortress
had bees ordered to the palace. bu
J Il could not arrive before midnight
Fress had questioned the wisdom Of Il
> a. that and vas far disht a. snon ~