Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-12-29
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER 1.-The. crown prince of Ii
vonia. Ferdinand William Otto, ten years
old. taken by his aunt to the opera, tires
of the singing and slips away to the park
and there makes the acquaintance OF
Bobby Thorpe, little American boy. ~
CHAPTER II-Returning to the palace
at night the crown prince finds everything
in an uproar as a result OF the search for
him. The chancellor impresses on the old
king, the boys grandfai her, who is very
Ill, the need for better protection of the
crown prince and suggests that the friend
iahip Of the neighboring king Of Karnia
DE cemented by giving the Princess He'd
l9nally agrees
CHAPTER TII-Hedwig herself. who
loves Milky Larisch, Ott0's aid de camp
and Lartsch are upset by the kings de-
lcision.
CHAPTER Iv-&Countess Loschek, lady
In waiting to Annunciata, in love with
Karl OF Karnta, is jealous OF Hedwig. She
plots to start a revolt in Livonia by send
ing code letter to Kari telling him of
conditions In the country. Peter Niburg.
who was 10 deliver the message Is be-
trayed by fellow clerk, Herman Spier.
The archduchess hated tears, and
her softer moments were only mo-
ments. "Dry your eyes, and don't be
silly" she said coldly. "You have al
ways known that something of the
sort was inevitable
She moved toward the door. The
two Processes and her lady In wait
ing remained still until she had left
the table. Then they fell In behind
her, and the little procession moved to
the stuffy boudoir, for coffee. But
Hilda slipped her arm around her SIS
ter's waist, and the touch comforted
Hedwig.
''He may be very nice" Hilda volun-
teered cautiously. Perhaps 1t is Karl.
| am quite mad about Karl, myself"
Hedwig. however, was beyond listen
ing, She went slowly to a window,
and stood gazing out. Looming against
the skyline, in the very center of the
place, was the heroie figure Of her dead
grandmother. She fell to wondering
about these royal women who had pre-
coded. Her mother, frankly unhappy
in her marriage, permanently embit-
tered; her grandmother. Hedwig had
never seen the king young. She could
moi picture him as lover. To her
he was fine and lonely figure But
romantic? Had he ever been roman
TT?
She slipped out onto the balcony
and closed the curtains behind her
As her eyes grew accustomed to the
darkness she saw that there was some
one below, under the trees. Her heart
beat rapidly. In a moment she was
certain. 1t was Milky down there,
Milky, gazing up at her as a child may
look at star. With quick gesture
Hedwig drew the curtain back. A
thin ray of light fell on her. on her
sl..l bare arms, on her light draperies,
on her young face. He had wanted
to see her, and he should see her. Then
she dropped the curtain, and twisted
her hands together lest, In spite of
her, they reach out toward him.
Did she fancy 1t, or did the figure
salute her? Then came the quick ring
of heels on the old stone pavement.
She knew his footsteps, even as she
knew every vibrant, eager infection of
his voice. He went away, across the
square, like one who, having bent his
knee to saint, turns back to the bust
ness of the world
In the boudoir the archduchess had
picked up some knitting to soothe her
tangled nerves. 'You may play now,
Hilda." she said.
Annunciata doZed, and Hilda played
softly. The countess opportunity had
come. She put down the dreary en-
hraidery with which she filed the
dfsarier evenings, and moved to the
window. She walked quietly, like Il
cat.
Fer first words to Hedwig were
those of Peter Niburg as ne linked
arms with his enemy and started down
the street, "A fine night highness,' p
she said.
Hedwig raised her eyes to the stars.
at is very lovely"
"a night to spend out-of-doors, in.
stead of being shut up" She
finished her sentence with shrug of
the shoulders.
Hedwig was not fond of the count
ess. She did not know why. The
truth being, of course, nat between
them lay the barrier of her own In
nocence. When the countess arm
touched hers, she drew aside.
Tonight" said the lady in waiting
dreamIly, 81 should like to be in q
motor, speeding over mountain roads.
i come from the mountains, you know.
And | miss Them"
Hedwig moved, little impatiently,
but as the countess went on, she lis
tened. After all, Milky, too, came
from the mountains. And because she
was sorry for the countess, who was
homesick, and perhaps because just
then she had TO speak to some one.
she turned to her at last with the thing
that filed her mind.
This marriage" she said bitterly.
rs 1t talked about? Am I the only
one in the palace who has not known
about it?'
.sNo, highness, had heard nothing.
lOf course, there are always rumors. !"
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