Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-12
CHAPTER XIV.
The Crown Princes Pilgrimage.

The Crown Princes Pilgrimage.
The day when Olga Loschek should
have returned to the city found her
too Ill to travel. No feigned sickness
this, but real enough, matter of fever
and burning eyes, and of mutterings
in troubled sleep.
Miuua was alarmed. She was fond
Of her mistress, in spite Of her oc-
casional crueltles, and lately the
countess had been strangely gentle
She required little attention, wished
to be alone, and lay In her great bed
looking out steadily at the bleak noun
tain tops, to which spring never
climbed.
"She eats nothing" Minna said
despairingly to the carctalier. "And
her eyes frighten me. They are al
ways open, even in the night, but they
seem to see nothing"
On the day when she should have
returned, the countess reused herself
enough to send for Back Humbcrt,
fretting in the kitchen below. He had
believed that she was malingering TN
til he saw her, but her flushed and
hollow cheeks showed her condition.
you must return and explain" she
said. Il shall need more time, after
all"
When he hesitated, she added:
There are plenty to watch that l do
not escape. l could not, If l would
have not the strength"
"If madame wishes, l can take a let
ter"
She pondered over that, interlacing
her fingers nervOusly as she reflected.
Il will send no letter." she decided,
"but I will give you message, which
you can deliver"
Eyes, madame"
"Say to the committee that I have
reflected and that will do what they
ask. AS far" she added, "as lies in
my power. I can only try"
! THAT is all the committee expects"
he said civilly, and with relief that
was not lost on her. with madame's
intelligence to try is to succeed.
4NCN III lllClCSSy 1t 1GIJ uCl W. vi
guarded. Even Minna, slipping off for
an evening hour with q village sweet
heart, was stealthily Swallowed. Be
fore this, fine ladies had changed gar
ments with their maids and escaped
from divers unpleasantnesses.
! At the end Of two days the countess
was able to be up. She moved
,languidly about her room, still too
weak to plan.
! And on the fourth day came the
{ crown prince of Livonia on pill
grimage.
I The manner of his coming was this
; There are more ways than one Of
reaching the hearts Of an uneasy PEG.
pie. Remission of taxes is q bad one.
I 1t argues mistake in the past, in eX.
acting such tithes. Governments may
make errors, but must not acknOWl
, edge them. There is the freeing of
j political prisoners, but that too, is
dangerous, when such prisoners
breathe sedition to the very prison
walls.
And there is the appeal to sentiment,
The government, pinning all its hopes
to one small boy, would further endear
him to the people. Willy statesman
I that he was, the chancellor had hit
on this to offset the rumors of He'd
wigs marriage.
"a pilgrimagew said the king, when
the matter was preached to him. "FOr
what? My recovery? Cannot you let
your servant depart in peaceY
"pilgrimages, observed the chancel
lOr, have had marvellous results, sire.
l do not insist that they perform
miracles, as some belleve,'-he smiled
faintly-"but as matter of public
feeling and remedy for discord, they
are sometimes efficacious."
81 see," said the king. And lay still
looking at the ceiling.
"Can it be done safely?" ne asked
at last.
THE maddest traitor would not
threaten the crown prince on a pill
grimage. The people would tear him
limb from limb:
Nevertheless, I should take all pre-.
cautions" said the king. "a mailman
might not recognize the-er-religious
nature of the affair"
The same day the chancellor visited
Prince Ferdinand William Otto, and
found him returned from his drive and
busy over Hedwigs photograph frame
1T is almost DONE" he said. 81
slipped over in one or two places, but