Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-16

mere, Sald Rnhuhcldta, you LOOK
Less Like Baby"
ers who resented Karl's presence in
Livonia, and all that it implied. And
perhaps there were, too, among the
guests, one or more who had but re-
Gently sat in less august and more aW-
full company.
Beneath all the brilliance and chat
ter, the sparkle and gayety, there was.
then, uneasinesS, wretChCdneSs, and
even trCaChery. And outside the pal
ace, held back by the guards there
still stood a part Of the suIlen crowd
which had watched the arrival of the
carriages and automobiles, had craned
forward to catch a glimpse of uniform
or brilliantly shrouded figure entering
the palace. and muttcred rs it looked.
Dinner was over at last. The party
moved back to the salon, a vast and
empty place, hung with tapestries and
g0yly lighted. Here the semblanCe of
gGyety persisted. and Karl, affability
iteolf. spoke a few words to each Of
+ guests. Then it was over. The
& Is left, the members of the c0un-
ell, each with a wife on his arm,
frOwsy, overdresscd women most Of
them. The council was chosen FOR
ability and not for birth. At last only
the suite remained, and constraint
vanished.
The family withdrew shortly after to
small salon off the large one. And
there, at last, Karl cornered Hedwig
and demanded speech.
"Where?" she asked, Glancing around
the crowded room.
4 shall have TO leave that to you"
he said. "Unless-there is a bal
cony"
"But do you think it is necessarily"
"Why not?"
Because what have to say does
rot matter"
at matters very much to mo-" he
replied grQvely.
Hedwig went first, slipping away
quietly and unnoticed. Karl asked the
archduchess' permission to follow her
! and found her waiting there alone,
rather desperately calm now, and with
tinge of excited color in her checks.
Because ne cared a great deal, and be-
/ cause, as kings go, he was neither
hOpelessly bad nor hard, his first words
were kind and genuine and almost
brought her to tears,
! Hpnpr, )i+t1, r,;,l j.
He had dropped the curtain behind
him, ard they stood alone.
Don't" said Hedwlg; q want to be
very calm, and I am sorry for myself
already"
"Then you think it is all very ter.
| ribleT'
She did not reply, and he drew Q
chair for her to the rail. When she
was seated, he took up his position
beside her, one arm against 4 pillar
81 wonder. Hedwig," he said, IF II
is not terrible because it is new to you
and because you do not know me very
well. Not" he added hastily. "that
l think your knowing me well w0ult
be an advantage! l am not so idiotic
But you do not know me at all an(
for a good many years ! must have
stood in the light Of an enemy. It Il
not easy to rcadiuSt such things
witness the reception l had today!"
"Why must We talk about it?" He'd
wiz demanded, looking up at him sud
denly with Il flash of her old spirit
ut will not change anything"
perhaps not. perhaps-yes. yo1
see, l am not quite satisfied. | do no
want You, unless you are willing. l
would be a poor bargain for me, an
not quite fair"
A new turn, this, with a vengeance
Hedwig stared up with startled eyes
Ii was not enough to be sacrificed
And Is she realized all that hung O
the situation, the very life of the lIing
dom, perhaps the safety Of her family
everything, she closed her eyes 70
fear he might see the fright in then
Karl bent over and took one of he
cola hands between his two warm one
Little uedwig,' be said, 81 want 70