Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-14
THE AMERIcUs TIMEs-REcoRDER.


should have sent this Milky OF
yours"
Annunciata stirred restlessly. She
considered this talk of Milky in
execrable taste.
He is not particularly good"
ION, so he is not particularly
goodT'
well, he thinks he isn't. He says
! ne doesn't find it easy to love his
country more than anything in the
world, for one thing. And he smokes
a great many cigarettes"
Another taste in commonw jeered
Karl, In his smooth, carefully irOnic
tones.
Annunciaia was in the last stages
of irritation. There was no mistaking
the sheer in Karps voice. His smile
was forced. She guessed that he had
heard Of Milky Larisch before, that
indeed, he knew probably more than
she did. Just what, she wondered
was there to know? A great deal, il
one could judge by Hedwig's face.
Il hope you arc working hard at
your lessons, Otto" she said, in the
severe tone which Otto had learned
that most people use when they refer
to lessons.
I'm afraid I'm not doing very we'll
Tante. But I've learned the 'Gettys
burg address. Shall / say it,"
Heavens, nor she protested. She
had not the faintest idea what the
Gettysburg address" was. She
suspected Mr.. Gladstone.
The countess had relapscd into sill
ence. A little back from the family
circle, she mad watched the whole
scene stonily, and knowing Karl az
only woman who loves sincerely and
long can know a man, she knew the
inner workings Of his mind. She saw
anger in the very turn of his head
and set Of his jaw. But she saw more
jealousy, and was herself half mad
with it.
She knew him well. She had her.
self, for years, held him by holding
herself dear, By the very difficulty OF
attaining her. And now this indiffer
ont, whitefaCed girl, who might bs
his, indeed, for the taking, but who
would offer or promise no love, was
r0using him to the instinct of posses,
sion by her very Indifference. He haC
told her the truth, that night in tht
mountain i'm. 1t was HedWig h
wanted, Hedlig herself, her heart, all
Of her. And, if she knew Karl, he
would move heaven and earth to gel
he thing he wanted.
She surveyed the group. How little
hey knew what was in store for them
She, Olga Loschek, by the lifting OF
finger, could turn their SNUG superb.
1rity into tears and despair, could ruin
lhcm and send them flying for shelter
70 the very ends Of the earth.
But when she looked at the little
crown prince, legs dangling, ca ing his
Thin bread and butter as only a hun.
cry small boy can eat, she shivered
BY what means must she do all this
By what unspeakaDle means!
Il d
Karl saw the king that evening, 9
short visit marked by extreme formal
jty, and, on the kings part, by the
keen and frank scrutiny of one Whc
Is near the end and fears nothing but
the final moment. Karl found the
meeting depressing and the kings eyes
discOncerting.
SIT will not be easy going for Otto,'
said the king, at the end of the shorr
interview. II should like to feel thar
his interests will be looked after, no
only here, but by you and yours. We
have o certain element here that is
troublesome"
And Karl, with Hedwig in his mind
had promised.
His interests shall be mine, sir
he had said.
He had bent over the bed then, anC
raised the thin hand to his lips. The
interview was over. In the anteroOn
the kings master Of the horse, thu
chamberlain, and a few other gentle
men stood waiting, talking together il
low tones. But the chancellor, whit
had gone in with Karl and then re
tired, stood by a window, with hi:
arms folded over his chest, and waited
He put resOlutely out of his mind tht
face of the dying man on his pillows
and thought only of this thing which
| hc--MettliCh-had brought about