New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-02-07

puih N. Inc lillcSS VI tuc hlub IuTulSlleI
sufficient excuse, but the truth was
that the royal family was practically
besieged, by 1t knew not what.
Milky, summoned to the chancellor's
house that morning. had been told the
facts, and had stood. rather still and
tense. while Mettlich recounted them
Our very precautions are our dan
ger" said the chancellor. And the
king" He stopped and sat, tapping
his fingers on the arm of his chair.
"And the king, sIrY"
almost at the end. A day or two.'
Karl, with Hedwig in his thoughts,
had returned to mobilize his army not
far from the border for the spring
maneuvers, and ut n meeting of the
kings council the matter Ct a mObiliZa-
ton In Livonia was seriously consid-
cred.
Fat Friese favored 1t, and made an
impassloned speech, with sweat thick
on his heavy face.
Il am not cowardly," he finished.
~ fear nothing for myself or for
those belonging to me. But the duty
Of this council Is to preserve the throne
for the crown prince, at any cost. And,
If we cannot trust the army, In what
can we trust?"
in Cod" said the chancellor grim
ly.
In the end nothing was done. Mobil-
i~zation might precipitate the crisis and
there was always the fear that the
army, in parts. was itself disloyal.
The king, meanwhile, lay dying, Doc
other physicians coming and going.
His apartments were silent. Rugs
covered the corridors, that no football
disturb his quiet hours. The nursing
sisters attended him. one by his bed
side, n always on her knees Mt the
priedicu In the small room beyond. He
wanted little-now and then a sip Of
water, the cooled juice of fruit. In
jections Of Stimulants, given by Doctor
Weiderman himself, had Scared his
old arms with purplish marks, and
were absorbed more and more slowly
as the hours went on.
He rarely slept, but lay inert and not
unhappy. Annunciata came, and was
ut last stricken by conscience to a
prayer ut his bedside. On one Of her
last visits that was. She got up to
find his eyes fixed on her.
Father, can you hear mel"
Yes"
II have been a bad daughter to
you. ! am sorry. 1t Is late now to
tell you, but l am sorry. Can l do
%anything?"
otto" he said, with difficulty.
you want to see him."
NO"
She knew what he meant by that.
lie would have the boy remember him
as he had seen him last.
you are anxious about him?"
"Very-anxious."
Listen, father" she said, STOPPING
over him. 81 have been hard and cold.
Perhaps you will grant that l have
had two reasons for 1t. But l am GO
Ing to do better. l will take care of
him and l will do all l can to make
him happy. l promise"
Perhaps it was relief. Perhaps even
then the thought of Annunciata's tar
dy and certain-to-be bungling efforts
to make Ferdinand William Otto happy
amused him. He smiled family.
Milky received Il note from Hedwig
late that afternoon. 1t vas very
brief:
Tonight at nine o'clock I shall go to the
roof beyond Hubert's old rooms. for air.
HEDWIG.
Milky, who in all his injurious young
life had never thought of the roof of
the palace, save as a necessary shelter
from the weather, a thing Of tiles and
cutters, vastly large, looked rather
.astOunded.
1.-THE roof" he said, surveying the
And fell to thinking, such a mix
ture Of rapture and despair as only
twenty-three, and hopeless, can know.
Somehow or other he got through
the intervening hours, and before nine
was on his way. He had the run
Df the palace, Of course. No n no.
ticed him as he made his way toward
the empty suite which so recently had
housed its royal visitor.
Hedwig, In a soft white wrap over
her dinner dress, was at the balus-
-rade. A very dignifed fairy, al
though her heart thumped disgrace
Whatever Milky had intended-of
his promise to the letter, of
his country before love, and
owe out of his life-failed him instant
y. The Milky, ardent-eyed and tender
who crossed the roof and took
Ter almost. fercely in his arms, was
Ill lover-and twenty-three.
Sweetheart! !" he said. Sweet
st heart"
When. having kissed her, he drew
Jack a tnfle for the sheer Joy Of again
Who held out her arms to him.
81 couldn't bear it." she said simply.
I love you. l had to e you again.
lust once"
If he had not entirely lost his head
'efore. he lost 1t then. He stopped
linking, was content for a time that
Ier arms were about his neck, and
IFS arms about her, holding her close.
"Never let me 60. Milky" she whis-
'ered. Hold me, always"
"Always!" said Milky. vallantly and
bsurdly. l.
Like this7" |,
Like this" said Milky, who was,
Ike most lovers. not particularly
riginal. He frightened his strong arms
bout her.
Then. because she dared not give {