Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-12-28

CHAPTER lI-Returning to the palace
at night the crown prince finds everything
in an uproar as result of the search for
him. The chancellor impresses on the old
king, the boys grandfather, who Is very
Ill, the need for better protection of the
crown prince and suggests that the friend
ship OF the neighboring king of Karnia
be cemented by giving the Princess He'd
wig in marriage to him. The old king
finally agrees.
That is my plea, SIRE" Mettlich
| II WISH" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto, that l might have a
dog. Yesterday met boy who has
Ia dog. 1t sleeps on his bed at night"
Milky looked back. Although it had
been the boast of the royal family for
Ia century that 1t could go about I'M
ATTENDED, that It's only danger was
from the overzeal of the people in
showing their loyalty, not since the
death of Prince Hubert had this been
true in fact No guards or soldiers
accompanied them, but the secret po
lice were always near at hand. So
Milky looked, made sure that a man
In civilian clothing was close at theii
uSciS, hMu Acu Tic why dSEVSS LhS
square to the riding school.
A small crowd lined up and watched
the passing of the little prince. AS
he passed. men lifted their hats and
women bowed.
II have a great many friends" he
said with sigh of content, as they
neared the riding school. II suppose
/ don't really need dog"
Look here" said Milky, after q
pause. 'Look here, highness, you
didn't treat your friends very well
yesterday"
81 know" said Prince Ferdinand
William Otto meekly. But Prince
Ferdinand William Otto had thought
out a defense. 81 got back all right
didat ~ He considered. at was
worth It, A policeman shook mew
(Which policeman" demanded Mix
Ky In a terrible tone, and in his fury
quite forgot the Raging he had pre-
,pared for Otto,
! think I'll not tell you, If you don't
nj l."
fortune smiled on Milky that day,
Had, indeed, been smiling daily for
some three weeks. Singularly enough,
the Princess Hedwig, who had been
placed on a pony at the early age of
sta1 and who had been wont to boast
ftiiai she could ride any horse in her
Gre gtifather's stables, was taking rid
Ing lessons. From twelve to one
,Th-eh was, also singularly, the time
pgince Ferdinand William Otto and
Milky rode IN the ring-the Princess
Hodwig rode also. Rode divinely.
Rode saucily. Rode, when Milky was
ahead, tenderiy.
70 tell the truth, Prince Ferdinand
William Otto rather hoped, this morn
Ing that Hedwig would not be there.
There was a difference in Milky when
Hcdwlg was around. When she was
MOI there he would do all sorts of
things, like jumping on his horse while
II was going. and riding backward in
the saddle, and so on. He had once
even tried jumping on his horse as it
lgaHoped past him, and missed, and
had been awfully ashamed about it.
But when Hedwig was there. there
Was no skylarki2g. They rode around,
AMI the ridiJIg master put up jumps
and they. 46ok them. And finally He'd
wig .sould get tired, and ask Milky
pl.xIse to be amusing while she rested.
And he would not be amusing at all.
The crown prince felt that she never
really saw Milky at his best.
The riding school had been built for
officers of the army, but was now used
by the court only. Here the king had
ridden as a lad with young Mettlich,
his close friend even then. The favor
ite mare of his later years, now old
and almost blind. still had stall in
the adjacent royal stables. One of the
kings last excursions abroad had been
10 visit her.
Overhead, up a great runway, were
the state chariots, gilt coaches o. in
conceivable weight, travelling carriages
of the post-chaise periods, sleighs in
which four horses drove abreast, their
panels painted by the great artists of
the time; and one plain little vehicle,
very shabby, in which the royal chill
dren of long ago had fed from O Kar-
MAN invasion.
In one corner, black and gold and
forbidding, was the imposing hearse in
which the dead sovereigns of the coun-
try were taken to their long sleep in
the vaults under the cathedral. Good,
bad, and Indifferent, one after the
other. as their hour came, they had
taken their last journey in the old
catafalque. and had joined their for
bears. Many they had been: men OF
iron, men of blood. men Of flesh, men
Of water And now they lay In stone
crypts, and of all the line only two
remained.
One and all. the royal vehicles were
shrouded in sheets, except on one day
81 each month when the sheets were
removed ana the public admitted. But
On that morning the grey hearse was
uncovered. and two meS re working.
one at the uphoIstsk1viI ich he was
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