New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-01-10
CHAPTER xii-Continued.

III
But long after Milky had gone he sal
In the darkness. He felt old and tired
and a hypocrlte. The boy would not
forget, as he himself had not forgot
ten.
Peter Nlburg was shot at dawn the
next morning. He went, a coward, tC
his death. held between two guards
and crying piteOusly. But he died q
brave man. Not once In the long hours
OF his Interrogation had be betrayed
the name Of the Countess Loschek.
The Grown Prince Ferdinand Will
Liam Otto OF Livonia was having a
birthday. Now, Il birthday for n crown
prince Of Livonla is not a matter of a
cake with candles on 1t, and having
an extra one to grow on. Nor of n
holiday from lessons, and a picnic In
spring woods. Nor a party, with chill
dren f%rOlicking and scratching the best
furniture.
In the first place. he was Weakened
at dawn and taken to early service In
the chapel, II solemn function. with the
court assembled and slightly sleepy.
The crown prince, who was trying to
look his additional dignity Of years,
sat and stood as erect as possible, and
yawned only M
At eleven o'clock came word that the
king was too ill to have him to
luncheon, but that he would see him
Tor a few moments that afternoon.
Prince Ferdinand William Otto, who
was diagramming the sentence, "Abra-
ham Lincoln freed the slaves in Amer
fca," and doing 1t wrong, looked up in
dlsmay.
I'D like to know what's the use of
having a birthday" he declared re-
belliously.
The king did not approve of birth
day gifts. SO there We're no gifts.
None. that is. until the riding hour
came, and Milky, subverter of all dis
cipline. He had brought a fig lady,
wrapped in paper.
IT'S quite fresh" he said, as they
walked together across the place.
"Irl give 1t to you when we get to the
riding school. l saw the woman my
self take 1t out of her basket. So it
has no germs on It,"
That afternoon, attired in his uni
form of the guards, the crown prince
received the delegation of citizens In
the great audience chamber Of the pal
ace, q solitary little figure. standing
on the red carpet before the dals ut
the end. The chancellor stood near
the boy, Respondent In his dress uni
form, a blue ribbon across his shirt
front, over which Mathilde had taken
hours. He was the Mettllch Of the
public eye now. hard of features, i'm
passive. %inlexible.
He had staged the affair well. The
crown prince, standing alone, so small,
SO appealing. against his magnificent
background, was n picture to touch the
hardest. Not for nothing had Mettlich
studied the people, read their essential
simplicity, their answer to any appeal
10 the heart. These men were men of
family. Surely no father Of n son
could see that lonely child and not
offer him loyalty.
with the same wisdom, he had given
4he boy small instruction, and no
speech Of thanks. Let him say what
comes into his head" Mettlich had
reasoned. 1T will at least be
spontaneous and boyish."
The first formalities over, and the
crown prince having shaken hands
nine times, the spokesman stepped for
ward. He had brought Il long, written
speech, which had already been given
10 the newspapers. But after a mo-
ment's hesitation he folded 1t up.
Your royal highness." he said, look
Ing down, 81 have here a long speech,
but all that 1t contains | can say brief
~. 1t is your birthday, highness. We
come, representing many others, to pre-
sent to you our congratulations, and
the love Of your people. 1t Is our
liope'-he paused. Emotion and ex-
element were getting the better OF
iiirn-"Our hope, highness, that you
will have many happy years. To fur
lher that hope, we are here today to
say that we, representing all classes.
are your most loyal subjects. We have
fought for his majesty the king, and
,f necessary we will fight for YOU"
He glanced beyond the child at the
council, and his ton was strong and
impassioned. 'But today we are here,
not to speak Of war, but to present
70 you our congratulations, our de-
votios, and our loyalty"
Also a casket. He had forgotten
that. He stepped back, was nudged.
and recOllected.
ALSO a gift" he said. and ruined a
fine speech among smiles. But the
presentation tool place in due order,
and Otto cleared his throat
Thank you all very much" he said.
'It is a very beautiful gift. I admire
1t very much. I should like to keep
It on my desk, but I suppose II is too
valuable. Thank you very much"
The spokesman hoped that 1t might
be arranged that he keep 1t on his
desk, an ever-present reminder of the
love Of his city. To this the chancellor
-~~A sh.s - O~-iS n. .->.~seA