The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, July 08, 1908, Page PAGE TWO, Image 2
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Princess Virginia
By C. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON,
A111 hors of "tV* Litflil nintf Conductor." "Uose
niiiry In Search of it I'atlicr." Ltc. ->?
COPYRIGHT. 1007. DY McCLUUE. PHILLIPS t+ CO.
CHAPTE? EIGHT W
i_L LsM
' OT a window oi' i four
Icoiith century w
marble palace on tin
with Us famous gard< ??
of tho nhio fountains,
Hint was not ablasse with
light, glittering against a faraway hack
ground of violet mountains crowned i>y
snow.
Outsldo the toll bronze gutes wboro
marble lions crouched tho crowd that
might not pass beyond Btnred, dial
tcrod, pointed ami exclaimed without
jealousy of their belters, fuse:- Leo
was glviug a hall, ami it was enough
for their happiness t<> watch tho slow
moving line of splendid state conches,
gorgeous automobiles and neat brough
ams With well Known crests upon their
doors; to strive good naluredly for a
peep at Iho faces and dresses, tin
jewels and picturesque uniforms; to
comment upon all freely, but never
Impudently, asking one another what
would be for supper and with whom
(tie emperor would .' nice.
"There she Is?there's the beautiful
young foreign lady who saved him!"
cried a girl in the throng. "I was
there and saw her, 1 tell you. Isn't
ehe an angelV"
Instantly a hearty cheer went up,
growing In volume, and the green coat
ed policemen hud to keep back the
crowd that would have stopped the
horses and pressed close for a long
look Into a plain dark blue brougham.
Virginia shrank out of sight against
the cushions, blushing and breathing
quickly as Sho caught her mother's
band.
"Dear people dear, kind people!" sho
thought. "1 lovo them lor loving him.
1 wonder, oh, 1 wonder. If they will
ever see me and cheer me driving by
his side!"
She bad chosen to wear tho white
dress with the pearls, though up to the
last moment the grand duchess had
suffered tortures of indecision between
that and (tie blue, to say nothing of a
pink chiffon trimmed with crushed
roses. Bol'oro tho carriage brought
them to Hie palace doors the girl's
blush bad faded, and her lace was as
white as her gown when at her moth
er's side she passed between bowing
lackeys through (lie marble Hall of
LlOUS, on through the frescoed Hitter
saal to the throne room, whore the
emperor's guests awaited his coining.
it was otiquctto not to arrive a mo
mont later than 10 o'clock, and a few
minutes after (he hour Unron von Lyn
da) in tils ofllclal capacity as grand
master of ceremonies struck the pol
billed lloor twice with his gold knob
bed wand of ivory. This signaled the
approach of the court from the im
perial dinner parly, and Leopold en
tered, with a stout, middle aged royal
highness from Russia on Iiis arm.
Until his arrival the beautiful Miss
Mowbray had held all eyes, and even
when be appeared sho was not forgot
ten. Rvory one was on tenterhooks
to see how she would be greeted by
the grateful emperor.
The Instant that his dark head tow
ered nbovo other heads in the throno
room it was observed even by thoso
Hot usually observant that never had
I/cnpold been so handsome.
Ills was a face remarkable for intel
lect and firmness rather than for clas
sical beauty of feature, though bis fea
tures were strong and clearly cut. But
tonight the Sternness that sometimes
marred ttiom in the eyes of women
was smoothed away, lie looked young
find ardent, almost boyish, like a man
who has suddenly found an absorbing
now Interest In life.
The first dance lie went through with
tho Russian royalty, who was the
guest of the evening, nnd, still rigidly
conforming to the line of duty, which
obtains in court ballrooms as on bat
tlefields, the second, third and fourth
dances were for tho emperor penances
instead of pleasures, /hit for the fifth,
a waltz, he bowed before Virginia.
During this long hour there bad boon
hardly a movement, smile or glance of
ben w hich In; had not contrived to see
since bis entrance. He knew just how
well Baron von Lyndnl carried out Ids
instructions concerning Miss Mowbray.
lie saw each partner presented to her
for a dance the emperor might not
claim, and to save his life or a national
crisis ho could not have forced tho
samo expression In speaking with her
royal highness from Russia as that
which Spontaneously brightened bis
fnco when at last ho approached Vir
ginia.
"Who Is that girl?" asked Count von
Hreltstein In Ills usual abrupt mnnner
as the arm of Leopold girdled the slim
waist of Hie princess nnd the eyes of
Leopold drank light from another pair
of eyes lifted to Ids In laughter.
It was to BaronefS von Lyndnl that
the old chancellor put bis qtlOStlOU,
and she Muttered a tiny diamond
?panglcd fan of hire to hide lips that
would smile as she answered, "What,
chancellor, are you jesting, or don't
you really know who that girl is?"
Count von Hreltstein turned eyes
cold and gray as glass away from tin
two figures moving rhythmically with
tho music to the face of the onv.o eele
' ?itcd beauty. Hong ago" lio Mail ufl
.. *od Uaronoss von Lyndal as passion
atoly ns it was In liim to adtulro any
woman, but lliat day was so far dis
tant as to bo remembered with scorn,
and now such power as kIio had over
him was merely to excite a feeling of
Irritation.
' I seldom trouble myself to jest,"
answered.
"All, one knows that truly great men
are bom Without a sense of luimor.
Those who hove it are never as suc
cessful In life as those without,"
smiled tho bai'OllCSB, who was by birth
a Hungarian and loved laughter bet
tor than anything else except complt- !
mcnts upon her vanishing beauty.
"How stupid of me to liavo tried your
patience! 'That girl,1 as you so un
compromisingly call tier, lias two
claims to attention at court. She is
tho English Miss Holen Mowbrny
whoso mother has come to Kronburg
armed with sheaves of Introductions
to us all. She Is also the young wom
an of whom the papers are full today,
for It Is she who saved the emperor's
life."
"Indeed!" said the chancellor, a gray
gleam in his eye as ho watched the
white figure floating on tho tide of
music In the arms of Leopold. "In
deed!"
"1 thought you would have known,
for you know most things before I
other people hear of them," went ou
the baroness. "Lady Mowbray and her
daughter are staying at the Hohen-]
Inugonwald hotel. That's tho mother i
sitting on tho left of I'rincess Neu- ;
fried?the pretty Dresden china per
son. Hut the t.it*l is a great beauty."
"It's generous of you to say so, bar
ouess," replied the chancellor, "I
didn't see the young lady's face at all
clearly yesterday. I was stationed too
far away. And dress makes a great
" Who t? that girl t"
difference. As for what she did," went
on the old man, whoso coldness to wo
men and merciless Justice to both sexes
alike bad earned him the lllcknnmo of
"Iron Heart"?"as for what she did, If
It had not been she who Intervened be
tween the emperor and death it would
have been the fate of another to do
BO. It was a fortunate thing for tho
girl, wo may say, that It happened to
bo her arm which struck up the
weapon."
"Or she wouldn't lie here tonight,
you mean," laughed the baroness.
' Don't you think, then, that his majes
ty is right to single her out for so
much honor?" Her eyes were on tho
dancers, yet that mysterious skill
Which most women of the world have
learned taught her how not to miss the
slightest change of expression, If there
were any, on tho chancellor's square,
lined face.
"Ills majesty ts always right," ho re- ;
(died diplomatically. "An Invitation to
a ball, a dance or two, a fow compli
ments, a call to pay his respects? a
gontlomnn could not 1k> loss gracious.
And his majesty Is one of the tlrst gen
tlemen In KuropO."
"He has had good training what to
do and what not to do." Tho baroness
flung her little sop of flattery to Cer
berns with a dainty ^host of a bow for
the man who bad boon as a second
father to Leopold since tho late em
peror's death. "Hut -we're old friends,
chancellor"-she was not to blame that
they hud not been more In tho days
before she became Haroncss von Lyn
dal?"so, tell me, can you look at the
girl's face and the emperor's and still
say that everything will end with an
Invitation, n dance, some compliments
and a call to pay respects?"
Iron Heart frowned and sneered,
wondering what he could have seen
twenty two years ago to admire In this
flighty woman. He would have es
Caped from her now If escape bad been
feasible, but ho Could not 1)0 Openly
rude to the wife of the grand master
of ceremonies at tho emperor's bull,
and, besides, bo was not unwilling per
haps to show the lady that her senti
mental and unsuitable Immendos were
as the buzzing of a fly about his oars.
"I'm close lipon seventy and no long
or a fair Judge of a .voimm's attrac
tions," he returned carelessly. "A look
at her face convoys nothing to nie, bill
wore she Helen of Troy Instead of
Helen Mowbray the invitation, the
dance, tho compliments and the call,
with tho present of somo Jeweled son
venlr, aro all that aro permlfsllile 1.;
thj-j^rfiurostancee..'
"What circumstances?" and the bnr
oncss looked as innocent as on Inqulr
lie: ctilld.
"Tlie lady Is not of roynl blood, and
his majesty, I thank heaven, is not n
roue."
"lie lias a heart, though you (rained
Ulna, chancellor, and ho has eyes. He
may never have used them to niucli
purpose before, yet there must bo a
first (line, and, the higher and more
strongly built the tower, once it begins
to (opple the greater is the fall thereof."
"Is il the sense of humor, which you
Bay I lack, that gives you pleasure In'
discussing ihe wildest Improbabilities
as if they were events to ho consider
ed seriously? If it is I'm not sorry to
lack It. in any case, it's well that
neither of us Is the emperor's keeper."
"We're at least his very good friends,
you as well as I in my humbler way.
chancellor, ami you and I have known
each other for twenty two years. If it
amuses me to discuss Improbabilities,
why not? Since you call them im
probabilities it can do no barm to dwell
upon Ihcm as ingredients for romance.
.Not for worlds would I suggest that
his majesty isn't an example for all
men to follow nor that poor, pretty
Miss Mowbray could be tempted to In
discretion, but yet I'd be ready to make
a wager, the emperor being human and
the girl a beauty, that an acquaintance
so romantically begun won't end with
a ball and a call."
"What COUhl there possibly be more,
or v> hat you hint at ns more, in honor?"
Tho chancellor's voice was angry at
last as veil as stern, for ho could not'
boar per Istonco In other people unless
il were to further some cause of bis
own. To tho delight of the woman
who had once tried in vain to melt his
iron heart, Count von Brcltslcln began'
to look somewhat like a baited bull, i
lleillly, said the baroness to herself,
there was an actual resemblance in ;
feature, ami joyously she searched for
a few more little ribbon tipped ban
dciillos.
What fun it was to ruffle tho tem
per of the surly old brute who bad hu
miliated her woman's vanity In days
long past, but not forgotten! She
knew tbo chancellor's desire for the
emperor's marriage as soon ns a suit
able match could be found and, though
she was not in the secret of his plans,
w ould have felt little surprise at learn-j
lug that some eligible royal girl bad
already boon selected. Now how amus
ing it would be actually to make
the old man tremble for tbo success
of his hopes, even if it should turn out
In the end to be Impossible or undo
Blrablotto upset them!
"What could there lie more in hon
or?" she echoed lightly after an In
stant given to reflection. "Why. the;
emperor and the girl will see a great
deal of each other unless you banish :
or Imprison the Mowbrays. There'll !
be many dances together, many calls?
in fad, a serial romance instead of a
short story. Why shouldn't his majes
ty know I he pleasure of a?platonie
friendship with a beautiful nnd charm
ing young woman?"
"Localise Plato's out of fashion, If
ever he was in, among human beings
with red blood in their veins and be
cause, as I said, the emperor Is above ]
all else a man of honor. Resides, I
doubt that any woman, no matter how
pretty or young, could wield a really
powerful influence over ids life."
"You doubt that? Then you don't
know the emperor and you've forgot
ten some of the traditions of his
house."
"Are you trying to warn me of dis
aster, baroness?" *
She laughed. "Oh, dear, no?of noth
ing disagreeable! Hut I should be sor
ry to C.iink, as you seem to do, that our !
emperor has no youth In bis veins."
"1 (hink nothing of the sort. What
I do think Is that my teachings have
not been in vain and that be has grown
up to put' his duty to his country nnd
his own self respect above everything,
lies a strong man-too strong to be
(rapped In the meshes of any pink and
white Vivien. And If be admired a
young woman not of roynl blood bo
would keep his distance for bor sake.
You say tills English miss Is with her
mother at the principal hotel of Kron
hurg. If Leopold constantly visited
(hem (hOVO we should have a scandal.
<>n (ho other band, to suggest mooting
(he girl outside or Incognito would bo
an Insult. Either way be would bo
but poorly rewarding a woman who
saved his life."
Baroness von Lyndnl's color rallied
lo the support of her rouge, nnd her
smile dwindled to Inanity, for she bad
Insisted upon the argument, nnd It was
going against her.
I In her baste to vex tho chancellor
she had not stopped to study from ev
ery side the question she bad raised.
So far she had merely succeeded in Ir
ritating him, and sho owed him much
more than a pin prick. Such Infinitesi
mal wounds she had contrived to glvo
the man In abundance during bor twen
ty two years at the Ithactlan court,
but now, If she burl him at nil, sho
would like tho stab to bo deep nnd
memorable.
To bo sure. In beginning the conver
sation she had thought of nothing more
than a inomontary gratification, but
the very beat of the argument Into
which she had thrown herself had
warmed her mnliCO and sharpened the
weapon of her wit. She could Justify
j her expressed opinion only by events,
j ami It occurred to her that she might
be able to shape events In such a way
(hat she could B0J with eyes If not In
! words, "I told you so."
Her fading Stilllo brightened. "Hear
Chancellor, you do well to.bnvo faith
In your Imperial pupil." said she.
' Vou'VO helped to make him what he
; Is, and you're ready to keep him what
he should be. I suppose even that If.
, being but a young man and having tho
hot blood of Ids rnCO, be .?bould Mvny
int ? a primrose path you would take
ndvantngo of old friendship to-er?
put up signposts nnd barriers?"
"Were- f hero tho slightest chance of J
i such necessity arising," grumbled tho
chancellor, shrugging bis shoulders.
"It's llko your Integrity ami courage.
What a comfort, then, that the noeo*.
slty is so unlikely to arise!"
Tho old man looked at her with level
faze, tho ruthless look that brushes
*way a woman's paint and powder and
roldly counts tho wrinkles underneath.
"I must have misunderstood you, then,
a moment ago," he said. ,-I thought
your argument was all the Other way
round, madam."
"I told you I was amusing myself
What can one do at a ball when ono
has reached the ago when it would he
foolish to dance? Why, 1 believe that
Lady Mowbray and her daughter are
not remaining long In Kronburg."
At last she was able to judgo that
she had given the chancellor a lew un
easy moments, for bis eyes brightened
visibly wlth-relief. "Ah." he returned,
"then they are going out of Uhaetia?"
"Not exactly that." said the baroness
slowly, pleasantly and distinctly. "I
hoar that they've been asked to the
country to visit one of his majesty's
oldest friends."
Leopold was not supposed to care for
dancing, though ho danced as U was
his pride to do all things?well. Cer
tainly there was often a porfunctori
ness about his manner In a ballroom,
a suggestion of the sohller on duty In
his unsmiling face and his readiness
to load a partner to bei- seat when a
dance was over.
Hut tonight a new Leopold moved to
the music. A girl's white arm on his
? that slender arm which had been
quick and firm as a man's in his do
fense?tho perfume of a girl's hair
and the gold flints upon it. the shadow
of a girl's dark lashes and the light ill
a pair of gray eyes when they were
lifted, tho beating of n girl's heart near
htm, the springtime grace of a girl's
sweet youth in Its contrast with the
voluptuous summer of Uhnctian types
of beauty, the warm rose that spread
upward from a girl's childlike dimples
to the womanly arch of her brows -all
these charms and more which rendered
one Kh"l a hundred times adorable took
bold of him and made him not an em
peror, but n man, unnrmorcd.
When the music censed ho fancied
for an instant that some accident bad
befallen the musicians. Then \vh lie
realized that the end of tho dam e
come in its due time he reinen 1
witli pleasure a rule of Iiis court estab
lished In the days of those who had
boon before him. After each dance an
interval of ton minutes was allowed
before the beginning of another. Ten
minutes are not much to a man who
has things to say which could hardly
bo said In ten hours. Still, they are
something, and to waste- even one
would be like spilling a drop of pro
clous elixir from a tiny bottle contain
ing but nine other drops.
They -had scarcely spoken yet, ex
cept for commonplaces which any one
might have overheard, since tho day
on tho mountain, and in this first mo
ment of the ton each was wondering
whether or no that day should be Ig
nored between them. Leopold did not
feel that it should bo spoken of, for It
was possible that tho >*lrl did not recog
nize tho chamois hunter in the ompor
or, and Virginia did not fool that she
could speak of lt. Hut, Iben, few
things turn out as people feel they
should.
Next to the throne room was tho
ballroom, and beyond was another
known as the wnldsanl, which Leo
pold had fitted up for the gratification
of a fancy. It was named the wnld
sanl because It represented a wood.
Walls and celling were masked with
thick growing creepers trained over in
visible wires, through which peeped
stars of electric light, like the check
ei'lngs of sunshine between netted
branches. Trees grew up, with their
roots In boxes hidden beneath tho
moss covered floor. There wore mot
toes of Ivy draped rock in the corners,
and here and there, out from leafy
shadows, glittered the glass eyes of
birds and animals- eagles, BtngS, cham
ois, wolves and bears?which tho em
peror had shot.
This strange room, so vast as to seem
empty when dozens of people wan
dered beneath Its trees and among its
rock grottoes, was thrown open to
guests whenever a ball was given at
the palace, but tho conservatories and
palm houses wore more popular, and
when Leopold brought Miss Mowbray
to the waldsaal after their dance it
was In tho hopo that they might not
be disturbed.
She was lovelier than ever in her
white dress under tho trees, looking
up at him with a wonderful look In
her eyes, and tho young man's calm
ness was mastered by the boating of
his blood.
"This Is a kind of madness," ho said
to himself. "It will pass. It must
pass." And aloud, meaning all the
while to say something different and
commonplace, tho real words in bis
mind broke through the crust of con
ventionality, "W hy did you do It?"
Virginia's eyes widened. "I don't
understand." Then, In an instant, sho
found that she did understand. Sho
know, too, that tin; question had asked
itself In spite of him, but that once it
bad been uttered be would stand to his
guns.
"I moan the thing I shall have to
thank you for always."
If Virginia had had time to think
sho might have prepared some pretty
answer; but, there being no time, hor
response came, as bis question had,
from the heart, "I couldn't help doing
It."
"You couldn't help risking your life
to"? Ho dared not finish.
"It was to save"? Nor was there
any end for her sentence.
Then perhaps It was not strange that
ho forgot certain restrictions which a
royal man in conversing with a com
mOUCf Is not supposed to forget. In
fact, he forgot that ho was royal or
that sue was nor, and his voice grew
unsteady, his tone eager, as If he had
been some poor subaltern with tho gtrl
of Iiis llrst love.
"There's something I must show
you," he said. Opening a button of th?
military coat blazing with Jewols and
orders, he drew out a loop of thin gold
chain. At the end dangled a small
bright thing that Hashed under n star
of electric light
".My ring!" breathed Virginia.
Thus died the emperor's Intention to
ignore the day that had been theirs to
gether.
?Vonr ring! You gave it to I^co.
II,- kept it. Tie will always keep It.
Have i surprised you?"
Virginia felt it would bo best to say
"Yes," but instead site answered "No,"
for pretty white fibs cannot ho told
cider such a look in a man's eyes by
a girl who loves him.
"1 have not? When did you guess tho
truth -yesterday or"?
"At Alleheiligen."
Silence fell for a minute, whllo Leo
pold digested the answer and its full
meaning, lie remembered the bread
and ham. the cow ho could not milk,
the rucksacks ho had carried. He ro
incmbered everything nnd laughed.
' Vo\i knew at Allehelligcn? Not on
the mountain when"?
"Yes, I guessed even then, 1 confess.
Oh, 1 don't menu that I went there ex
"M'j ringt" breathed Virginia.
; ling to find you. I didn't. I think
1 iuldn'1 have gone had I known
. uno believed you were at Me
iii' had, but when I tumbled down nnd
saved me I looked up and?of
c u I'd seen your picture, and one
i:i the papers that you're fond of ;
eh is hunting. I couldn't help guess
In ? 'Ii. I'm sorry you asked mo this!"
"Vt by?"
e one might have to be afraid
of emperor if he were angry."
? i I look angry?"
'I heir eyes met again, laughing at
then each finding unexpected
in those of tho other which
<i >vo nwoy laughter. Something in
; Id's breast seemed alive and
rllng to he free from restraint,
like a tierce wild bird. He shut his
. rhtly, breathing bard. Both for
gol that 11 question bad been asked,
bill it was Virginia who spoke first,
alnci it is easier for a woman than a
man to hide feeling.
"1 wonder why you kept the ring
after my- impertinence."
"I ha 1 a good rcasop for keeping It."
"Won't you tell me?"
"You're quick at forming conclu
sion;. Mi. s Mowbray. Can't you
guess V"
"To remind you to beware of strange
young women 011 mountains."
"No."
"!'. cause your own picture is in
side?"
"II was a bolter 1 >nson than that."
"Am 1 not to ask it?"
"( 11 that day you asked what you
ch. All tho more should you do so
HOW, since there's nothing I could re
fuse you."
"Not the half of your kingdom, llko
the royal men In fairy stories?"
As soon as (ho words were out Vir
ginia would have given much to havo
them back. She bad not thought of a
meaning they might convey, but sho
tried not to blush lest he should think
of it. now. Nevertheless he did think
of it, and the light words, striking a
(hold they had not aimed to touch,
went echoing on and on till they
reached iiiat part of himself which tho
emperor knew least about?his heart.
"Half his kingdom?" Yes, ho would
give il to this Mill If ho could. Heav
en . what it would bo to share it
with herl
"Ask anything you will," ho said as
a man speaks In a dream.
"'I ben tell me?why you kept tho
ring,"
"BccaUSO the only woinun I over
cared-to make my friend took it from
her linger and gavo It to mo."
"Now the emperor Is pleased to pay
compliments."
"Vou know I am sincere."
"Cut you'd seen mo oidy for an hour.
Instead of deserving your friondshlp,
I'm afraid I"?
"For one hour? That's true. And
how long ago Is that ono hour? A
week or so, I suppose, ns time counts.
, Hut then came yesterday and tho
! thing you did for me. Now I've
known you always."
"if you bad, perhaps you wouldn't
want me for your friend."
"I do want you."
Tin- words would come. It was true
already. He did want her, but not as
a friend. II is world?a world without
women, without passion flery enough
to devour principles or traditions?was
upside down.
It was well that tho ten minutes'
grace between dances was over and
the music for the next about to begin.
A young officer, Count von Breitstoin'*
half brother, who was to be M1sj>
Mowbray's partner, appeared lu ttio
distance looking for her, but stopped,
seeing that sho was stlP with tho em
peror.
"Goodby," said Virginia while her
words could still bo only fur the ears
?f Leopold.
"Not goodby. We're friends."
"Yes. But wo shan't meet often."
"Why? Aro you leaving Kronburg?''
"Perhaps?soon. I don't know."
"I must see you again. 1 will seo
you once more, whatever comes."
"Onco more, perhaps. I hope so,
but"?
"After that"?
"Who knows?"
"'Onco more?once more!" Tho words
eclioed In Virginia's ears. She heard
them through everything, as one bears
tho undertone of a mountain torrent,
though a brass baud may bray to
drown its deep music.
Onco more he would seo her, what
ever might come. She COUld guess
why it might be only once, though he
would fain have (hat once again and
again repeated, for (bis game of hers,
begun with such a light heart, was
more difllcult to play than she had
dreamed.
If she could but bo sure bo cared, If
he would tell her so in words and not
Witb eyes alone, the rest might DO
easy, although at best sho could not
Bee tho end. Vet how in honor could
he tell Miss Helen Mowbray that ho
eared? And If the telling were not to
be In honor how could she bear to live
her life?
"Onco more!" What would happen
In that "onco more?" Perhaps noth
ing save a repetition of grateful thanks
and courteous words akin to a fare
well.
To bo sure. Lady Mowbray and her
daughter might run away and the ne
gotiations between the emperor's ad
visers and the Grand Duchess of Bau
menburg-Drlppe for the Princess Vir
ginia's hand might be allowed to go
on ns If no outside Influence had ruf
lied the peaceful current of events.
Then In the end a surprise would
como for Leopold. Willful Virginia
would have played her little comedy,
and all might be said to end well. But
Virginia's heart refused to he satisfied
with so tame a last chapter, (I finish
to her romance so conventional as to
be distastefully obvious, almost If not
cpdte a failure.
She had begun to drink a sweet and
Stimulating draft?she who bad been
brought Up on milk and water and
she was reluctant to put down the
cup, still half full of sparkling nectar.
"Once more!" If only that once could
bo magnified Into many limes. If sho
could have her chance, her "fling,"
like the lucky girls who were not
royal!
So she was thinking In the carriage
by her mother's side, and the grand
duchess had to speak twice before her
daughter knew their silence bad been
I broken.
"I forgot to tell you something, Vir
ginia."
"Ye es, mother?''
"Yo.ir great success has made mo
absent ilndod, child. You looked like a
shining white Illy among all those
handsome, overblown Rhnctlnn ?vo?
men."
"Thank you, dear. Was that what
you foi-Rot to sny?"
"Oh, no! It was this: The Baroness
von Lyndnl has been most kind. She
urges us to give up our rooms at tho
hotel on tho first of next week nnd
Join her house party at Sehloss Lyn
dnlberg. It's only a few miles out of
town. What do you think of tho
plan?"
"Leave?Kronburg?"
"She's asked a number of friends - to
meet the emperor."
"Oh! He didn't speak of it?when
we danced."
"Rut she has r ntloncd it to him
since, no doubt?bei giving me the
Invitation. Intimate i. id of his ns
she is, sho wouldn't daio ask people to
meet him if lie hadn't first sanctioned
the BUggOStlon, Still, she can afford to
be more or less Informal. The baron
ess was dnnclng with the emperor, I
remember now, Just before sho came
to mo. They wero talking together
quite earnestly. I can recall tho ex
pression of his face."
"WflS it plensed, or"?
"I wafl wondering whnt sho could
hnvo Bald to make blU) look so happy.
Perhaps"?
"What Answer did you give Baroness
von Lyndnl?"
"I told her I thought you wouldn't
mind. I told her we would go."
(Continued.)
Over Thirty-five Years.
In 1872 there was a great deal of di
arrhoea, dysentery and cholera infan
tum. It was at this lime that Cham
berlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoen
Remedy was first brought Into use. It
proved more successful than any other
remedy or treatment, and has for thir
ty-five years maintained that record.
From a small beginning its sale ami US0
has extended to every part of tin;
United States and to many foreign
countries. Nine druggists out of ten
will recommend it when their opinion is
asked, although they have othor medi
cines tuat pay them a greater profit.
It can always be depended upon, even
in the most severe and dangerous cases.
For sale by Laurons Drug Co.
The real pleasure to a girl in having
a beau is that she keeps another girl
from having him.
Columbus just landed; meeting a big
Indian chief with a package under his
arm, ho asked what h was. "Great
medicine, Hollistor's Rocky Mountain
Tea," said the Injun. 36 conts, Tea or
Tab ets. Palmetto Drug Co.
Tetter, Salt Rltpum ami Eczema
A r6 cured by Chninttci liiln*? s live. Ow nnnlli ..
lion rellevcfl thq Itching ami burning ? ? iisnuou,