Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

THE Princess Virginia By C. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON, Authors "I '"BAt Litfhtnlntf Conductor," "Ro?e mnrv In Search of a Father," Etc. J? -?? ....... . .. COPYRIGHT. 1907. BY McCLURE. PHILLIP? CO. CHAPTER. FOURTEEN I K> >N 1 IK A HT v* as dress oil In the long double breasted gray overcoat and the soft Kray hut in which all snapshot photographs (no others had over been taken) showed the chan cellor <>f Uboetla. At sight of the emperor off came the famous hat, baring the bald dome of the Quo old head, fringed with hair of curiously mingled black and white. '?'Good day, your majesty," he said, with no sign of surprise in his voice or face. Tho train rocked going around a curve, and it was with difficulty that the chancellor kept his fooling. Hut he stood rigidly erect, supporting him self In the doorway until the emperor, with more politeness than enthusiasm, Invited htm to eider and be seated. "I'm Riad you're well enough to trav el, chancellor," said Leopold. "We had none too encouraging an account of you from Captain von Breitstelu." "I travel because you travel, your majesty," replied the old man. "It Is kind of you to tolerate me here, and I appreciate it." Now they sat facing each other, and the young man, lighting down a sense of guilt, familiar to him in boyish days when about to be taken to task by the chancellor, gazed flxodly at the hard, clever lace on which the after noon sun scored tho detail of ench wrinkle. "Indeed!" was the emperor's only answer. "Your majesty, I have served you and your father before you well, I hope -faithfully, I know. I think you trust me." "No man more. But this sounds a portentous preface. Is It possible you "Good dan, your inajestu," ho sold. Imngino it necessary to 'lead up' to a I subject If I can please myself by doing you a favor?" "If I have seemed to lead up U What 1 wish to say, your majesty, it Is only for tho sake of explanation. You are wondering, no doubt, bow I Knew you would travel today and in lids train; also why 1 have ventured to follow. I Your Intention I learned i,y accident." Tho chancellor did nor explain by what diplomacy that "accldeut" had been brought about. "Wishing much to tali; over with you a pressing mat ter that should not bo dolnycd, I took ihis liberty and seized this opportu nity. "Some men would in my place pre tend thai business of their own had brought them ami (hat the train had been chosen by chance. But your maj esty knows mo as a blunt man when I serve him not as diplomat, but as Irlend. I'm not one to work In the dark with Close who trusl me, and ' want your majesty to know the trull (Which perhaps he did, but not the whole truth.) "Yojir raise my curiosity," said I,co pold. "Then have I your indulgence to speak frankly not entirely as a humble subject to Ills emperor, but as an old man to a young man." "I'd have you speak as a friend," said Leopold, p.iil n slight constraint hardened his voice jis ho prepared him self for something disagreeable. 'I've had a letter from (lie crown prince of 11llllgarla. It has come to his ?ars that there! Is a certain reason for jour majesty's delay In following Up tie- firs! overtures for on nlllnnce with his family. Malicious tongues have whispered that your majesty's atten tions are otherwise engaged, and tho young Ada I bort has addressed me in a friendly way, bogging that the rumor may be contradicted <>r confirmed." "I'm not sure that negotiations had gone far enough to give him the right to he Inquisitive," returned Leopold, flush! ig. The chancellor spread out bis old veined hands in a gesture of appeal. ''I fear," he Bald, "that In my anxiety for your majesty's welfare and the rood of Ithaetla I may havo exceeded my Instructions. My one excuse Is that I believed your mind to bo defi nitely mado up. I still believe If to lie so. I would listen to no ono who t hoiild try to persuade mo of the eon i trary, and I will write Adalbert"? "You inn .( ?et yourself and me out of the scrape RS best you can. since you admit you got us Into It," broke In tho emperor, with an uneasy laugh. "If Princess Virginia of Bnumenberg Drlppo Is ns ehnrintng as she Is mihi to Me, her difficulty will be In choosing a husband, not In getting one. For once, my dear chancellor, gossip has told tho truth, and I wouldn't pny tho princess so poor n compliment as to ask for her hand when I've no heart left to give hor In exchange for It. There's some oue else"? "It ts of that somo one else I would venture to speak, your majesty. Gos sip hns mimed her. May I?" "I'll save you tho trouble, for I'm not ashamed that the common fate has overtaken me?common Itecnirse every man loves once before he dies, and yet uncommon because no man ever loved a woman so worthy. Chun j cetlor, there's no woman In the world j like Miss Helen Mowbray, the lady to whom I owe my life." "It's natural you should lie grate ful, your majesty, but"? "It's natural I should be In love." "Natural that a young man inex perienced In affairs of tho heart should j mistake warm gratitude for love, Im possible that the mistake should be al lowed to continue." Leopold's eyes grew dark. "In such a connection," he said, "It would be belter not to mention the word 'nils take.' I'm glad you are here, for now you can learn from me my intentions toward that lady." "Intentions, did you say, your majes ty? I fear I grow hard of hearing." "At least you will never grow slow of understanding. I did speak ot my intentions toward Miss Mowbray." "You would give tho lady some mag nificent estate, some splendid acknowl edgment"? "Whether splendid or not would be a matter of opinion," laughed tho em j peror. "I shall offer her a present of myself." The old man had been sitting with I his chin sunk Into bisifltwf .vwk, peer ing out from under his brows in a way he had. but he lifted his head sudden ly, with a look In his eyes like that of an animal who scents danger from an unexpected quarter. "Your majesty," he exclaimed, "you are your father's son, you are lthae tin 11. and your standard of honor"? "I hope to marry Miss Mowbray," Leopold cut him short. The chancellor's Jaw dropped, and he grew pale. "I had dreamed of nothing as bad as this," ho blurted out, with no thought or wish to sugar the truth. "I feared n young man's rashness. I dreaded scandal. But, forgive me, your majesty. For you a morganatic mar riage WOllKl be mildness"? "A morganatic mnrrlnge. I did think of at first, but ou second thoughts I saw it would t>o ungrateful." "Ah, yes, to the country which ex pects so much of you." "No, to the woman who has the right to all or noihlng. I will make her empress of Rhnetla." With .'i cry the chancellor sprang up. Ills eyes glared like Jhe eyes of a bull who receives tho death stroke. His working lips and the hollow sound In his throat alarmed the emperor. "No, your majesty, no!" he panted. "But I sny-yen," .Leopold answered, "and lot no man give mo nay. I'vo thought it nil out. I will make her a countess first. Then she shall be made my empress." "Your majesty, it Is not possible." "Take care, chancellor." "She has been deceiving you. Bhe hns neither the birth, the position nor the name she claims to have, and I can prove It." "You are mad, Von Breltateln," the emperor nung at him. "That oai "e your only excuse for such words." "I am not mad, but I am old and wise, your majesty. Today you hare inado me feel that I am very old. Punish me ns you will for my frank ness. My work for you and yours is nearly done. Cheerfully will I BUb inlt to my dismissal If only this last effort in your service may savo the ship of state from wreck. I would not make an neeusntlon which I could not prove. And I can prove that the two English Indies who have been staying at ttchloss Lyndalberg are not the persons they protend to be." "Who has been lying to you?" cried Leopold, who held between clinched hands the temper he vowed not to loee with this old man. "To mo, no one. To your m ivsty, to locloty in Kronburg, two adventuress es have lied."* Tho emperor caught his breath. "If you were a young man 1 would kill you for that," he antd. "I know you would. As It la, my life Is yours. But lief ore you take it. for God's sake, for your father's sake, hear me out!" Leopold did not speak for a moment, but stared at the vanishing landscape, which he saw through a red hazo. "Very well," lie said at last; "I will hear you, (?ecauso I fear nothing you can say." "When I heard of your majesty's ad miration for a certain lady," the chan cellor began quickly lest the eni|>eror should change bis mind, "I looked for her naino and her mother's In llurke's Peerage. There I found I.ady Mow bray, widow of n dead baron of that ilk, mother of a son still a child and of^one daughter, a"y??rig woman with many names and twenty-eight years. "This surprised me, as the Miss Mowbray I had seen at the birthday ball looked no tnoro than eighteen and, I Wtts told, confessed to twenty. The Mowbrays, I loomed by a little further research In Burke, were dis tantly connected by marriage with the family of Houinonburg-Drlppe. This seemed on odd coincidence In tlie cir cumstances. But, acting as duty bode me act, I wired to two persons? Huron von Rark, your majesty's ambassador to Great Britain, and the crown prince of Huugarla, tho brottier of Princess Virginia." "What did you telegraph?" asked tho emperor Icily. "Nothing compromising to your maj esty, you may well believe. I Inquired of Adalbert If bo had Kngllsh rela tions, a Lady Mowbray and daughter, Helen, traveling In Bhaetla, and I beg ged that if so he would describe their appearance by telegram. To Von Sark I sold that particulars by wire concern ing tho widow of Lord Mowbray and daughter, Helen, would put me under personal obligation. Both these mes sages I sent off night beforo last. Yes terday I received Adalbert's answer, this morning Von Rark's. They are here." And the chancellor tapped the breast of his gray coot. "Will your majesty read them?" "If you wish," replied Leopold at ids haughtiest and coldest. The old man unbuttoned his coat and produced a coroneted pockelbook, a souvenir of friendship on his last birth day from the emperor. Leopold sow It and remembered, as the chancellor lipped he would. "Here are the telegrams, your maj esty," be said. "The tlrst one Is from the crown piinoo of Hungaria." "Have no idea where Lady Mowbray and daughter ore traveling; may be H ha et hi or north pole," Adalbert had written, with characteristic flippancy. "Have seen neither for eight years and scarcely know them. But Lady M. tall, brown old party, with noso like hobbyhorse; Helen dark, noso llko mother's, wears glasses." With no betrayal of feeling, Leopold laid tho telegram on the red plush Neat and unfolded the other. "Portion delay," tho Tthactlon am bassador's message l>egan. "Have j l>eon making Inquiries, Lady Mow bray has been widow for ten years. Not rich. During son's minority has let her town and country houses. Lives much obrond. Very high church, Intellectual, at present in Calcutta, where daughter l'olpj? ?vcw.V-oi'sni', ?\)t pretty, is lately engaged to marry middle oged Judge of some distinction." > "So"?and the emperor threw osidc the second bit of paper?"it is on such slight grounds as these that a man of tho world con 1oIk>1 two ladles 'ad venturesses.' " The chancellor was bitterly disap pointed. He hod couuted on the lm ' presslon which these telegrams must make, and unless Leopold were uct lug it was now certain that love hod driven him out of Ids senses. But if ttio emperor were mod he must Ik; treated accordingly, ond the old stotesmon condescended to "bluff." "There Is still more to tell," he said, "if your majesty hos not heard enough, but I think when you hove reflected you will not wish for more. It is clear that ttie women calling themselves Mowbroys have bad the audacity to present themselves here under false colors. They have either deceived Lady Laudiert, who introduced them to It ho et Ian society, or, stilt more like ly, they have cleverly forged their let tors of Introduction." "Why didn't you telegraph to Lady Lambert while your hand was in?" sneered I>copold. "1 did, your majesty, or, rather, not knowing her present address, I wired o friend of mine, nn acquaintance of hers, begging him to moke Inquiries without using my name, but I have not yet received on answer to that tele gram." "Until you do I should think that even a cynic like yourself might give two defenseless, Inoffensive ladies the l>enetlt of the doubt." "Inoffensive," echoed Von Brolt stelu? "Inoffenslvo when they enmo to this country to ensnare your majesty through tho girl's beauty! But, great heaven, It Is true that I am growing old! I hove forgotten to ask your maj esty whether you have gone so far as to mention the word marriage to Miss MoWbray?" "I'll answer that question by another. Do you really believe that Miss Mow bray came to Bhaetla to 'entrap' me?" "I do, though I scarcely think that even her ambition flew ns high ns you or? encouraging it to soar." "In case you're right she would hove been overjoyed with on offer of mor ganatic marriage." "Overjoyed is a poor word. ' Over whelmed might be nearer." ? "Yet I tell you sbo refused mo last night and Is leaving Uhaotla today rather than listen to further entrea ties." Leopold bent forward to launch this thunderbolt, Ids brown hands on Ills knees, his eyes eoger. The memories, half bitter, half sweet, called up by his own words caused Virginia to ap pear more beautiful, more desirable, ever than l>ofore. Ho was delighted with the expres sion of ttie chancellor's face. "Now, what arguments bavo you left?" ho broke out In the brief silence. "All I had beforo and many new ones, for what your majesty has said shows tho lady more ambitious, more astute, therefore moro dangerous, than I had guessed. She staked everything on tho power of her charms, and she might have won bad you not an old servant who wouldn't bo fooled by the witcheries of a fair Helen." "She has won," said Leopold, then quickly; "God forgive mo for chiming lu with your bitter humor, as If she'd played a game. By simply being "her self she has won me, such ns I nm. She's proved that If she cnrcs at all It's for the man and not tho emperor, sluco sho called the offer you think so mngnlllccnt nn insult. Yes, chancel lor, thnt was the word she used, and It was almost the last sho said to me, which Is the reason I'm traveling to day. And none of your boasted "proofs' can bold me bnck." MBy heaven, your majesty must look upon yourself from the point of view you credit to the girl! You forget the emperor In the man." "The two need not be separated." "Love Indeed mnkes men blind and spares t">t the eyes of emperors." "I've pledged myself to bear with you, chancellor." "And I know you'll keep your word. I must speak for Ithnetla and your better self. You are following this? lady to give her your empire for a toy." "She must first accept the emperor as tier husband." "A lady who has so poor a name of her own that she steals one which doesn't belong to her?the nation won't bear It." / "You speak for yourself, not for Rhnetla," said Leopold. "Though I'm 1 not so old as you by half your years, I believe I ean Judge my people better than you do. The law which bids an emperor of lthaetla match with royal ty is an unwritten law, a law solely of customs handed down through the gen erations. I'll not spoil my life by sub mitting to its yoke, since by breaking I It the nation gains, ns I do. I could go to the world's end and not And a woman as worthy to be my wife and I empress of lthaetla as Helen Mow j bray." "You have never seen Princess Vir ginia." "I've no wish to see her. There's but j one woman for me, and I swear to you If I lose her I'll go to my grovo un married. Ixit the crown fall to my I uncle's son. I'll not i>erjure myself even for Kbnella." j The chancellor bowed his head and held up his hands, for by thnt gesture alone could he express his despair. "If my people lovo me they'll love 1 my wife and rejoice In my liapplness," Leopold went on sharply. "If they I complain, why, wo shall see who's i master -whether or not the emperor of Ubaetln Is a mere llgurehend. In some countries royalty is but nn ornamental ' survival of a picturesque past; a king or queen Is a mere puppet which the .nrtVou loads \?ni"? luxuiy to do Used" honor. That's not true of Rhnetla, though, as I'm ready to prove, If prove It I must. Rut I believe I shall be spared the trouble. ^Ve lthactlans love romance?you are perhaps the one ex cept ion?while, as for the story you've told mo, I would not give that for it!" And tho emperor snapped his lingers. "You still believe tho ladles have a right to the name of Mowbray?" "I believe that they are of stainless reputation and that any seeming mys tery can be explained. Miss Mowbrny is herself. That's enough for inc. Per haps, chancellor, there are two I.ady Mowbrays." "Only one Is mentioned In Burke." "Burke Isn't gospel." "Pardon me. It's the gospel of the British peerage. It can no more tie guilty of error than Kuclld." "Nor can Miss Mowbray be guilty of wrong. I should still stake my life on that even had your conclusions not been lame ones." The old man accepted this rebuff in silence. But It was not the silence of absolute hopelessness; It wns only such a pan so as a prize fighter makes l>e tween rounds. "Your majesty will not bo in too great baste, at alt events, I trust," he said at last?"at least a llttlo reflec tion, a little patience, to cool the blood, j I have not laid down all my cards yet." "It's often bad policy not to lead frumps." replied Leopold. "Often, but not always. Time and -Hie end of the play will show. Is your majesty's Indulgence for tho old man quite exhausted?" "Not quite, though rather strained, I confess." I/eopold tempered his words with a faint smile. "Then I havo one more important question to ask, venturing to remind you first that I havo acted solely In your Interest. If such a step ns you contemplate should be my deathblow It Is because of my love for you and lthaetla. Tell me, your majesty, this one thing, if it wero proved to you that the lady you know ns Miss Mow bray was not only not tho person she pretends to be, but in all other respects unworthy of your love, what would you do?" "You speak of Impossibilities." "But if they wero not impossibili ties?" "In such a enso I should do as other men do?spend tho rest of my life in trying to forget a lost ideal." "I thank your majesty. That Is all I ask. 1 suppose you will continue your Journey?" "Yes, as far as Felgnrde, where I hope to find Lady Alowhray and her daughter." "Then, your majesty; when f've ex pressed my gratitude for your for benrance, even though I've failed to bo convincing, I'll trouble you no long er." Tho chancellor rose painfully, with a reminiscence of gout, and Leopold stared at him Id surprise. "What do you mean?" he asked. "Only that, ns I ean do no further good here, with your permission I will get out at the ntntion wo nro coming to and go back home ngnln." The emperor realized what he had not noticed until tills moment-that the train was slackening speed as It np preached tho suburbs of a town. His conversation with the chancellor had lasted for an hour, anil he was far from regretting the prospect of being left In peace. More than once he hud come perilously near to losing bis tem per, forgetting bis gratitude nnd the old man's years. How much longer be could have bold out under a continued strain of provocation be did not know. So he spoko no Word of dismission when Count von Hreltsteln picked up his ?oft hat and buttoned his gray coat for de parture. "I've passed pleasanter hours In your soctoty. I admit," said Ixwpold when the train stopped. "Hut I can thank you for your motives, if not your max ims, and here's my hand." "it would tie ost kind of your maj esty to telephone me from Pelgarde," the chancellor exclaimed, as If on n sudden thought, while they shook bands, "merely to say whether you re main there or whether you go farther or whether you return at once. I am too fatigued to travel bock Immediate ly to Schloss Breltsteln and shall rest for some hours nt least in my bouse at Kronburg, so a call will find mo there." "I will do os you ask," sold the em peror. Again be pressed ttie chancel lor's hand, and it was very cold. (Continued.) A Faithful Friend. "I have used Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedy since it was first introduced to the public in 1X72, and have never found one instance where a cure was not speedily effected by its use. I have been a commercial traveler for eighteen years, and never start out on a trip without this, my I faithful friend," says H. S. Nichols, of Oakland, Ind. Ter. When a man has used a remedy for .'15 years he knows its value and is competent to speak of it. For sale by Laurens Drug Co. Fairview block Show. Mr. J. Stewart Reden requests the Fairview Stock Show announced for September 18th. A full program will be printed later, or they may be secur ed by writing to J. Stewart Reden, secretary, Fountain Inn, R. F. D. No. 1. Chronic Diarrhoea Relieved. Mr. Edward 10. Henry, with the United States Express Co., Chicago, writes, "Our General Superintendent, Mr. Quick,handed me a bottle of Cham berlain's Colic, Cholera and Diarrhoea Remedv some time ago to check an at tack of the old chronic diarrhoea. I have used it since that time and cured many on our trains who have been sick. 1 am an old soldier who served with Rutherford R. Hayes and William Mc Kinley four years in the 2tfrd Ohio Reg imen?; arm' oast n?> a indent except chronic diarrhoea, which this 'ToiYickrr stops at once. For sale by Laurens Drug Co. Case After Case. Plenty More Like This in Laurens. Scores of Laurens people can tell you about Doan's Kidney Rills. Many a happy citizen makes a public statement of his experience. Here isacase of it. What better proof of merit can be had than such endorsement? Mrs. Georgia Pitts, 139 Mill St., Lau rens, S. C, says: '"I cannot say too much in praise of Doan's Kidney Rills. I Buffered a great deal from dizzy bead aches and constant pains through my back and loins. The kidneys were very irregular in action. I was weak and nervous and at times felt so run down that I could not do my work. None of the many remedies I tried helped me and when 1 learned of Doan's Kidney Fills I procured a supply at the Palmetto Drug Co. I took them as directed and as a result I am now free from any of the above named annoyances." For sale by all dealers. Price f>0 cents. Poster-Milburn Co., Rulfalo, New York, sole agents for the United States. Remember the name Doan's- and take no other. I Nitrate 1 of Soda The finest Fertil izer for Top Dres sing, beats cotton seed meal. Highly recommended in the "Williamson" plan. We have Nitrate of Soda in stock and solicit your trade. Kennedy Bros. Dr.King's New Llf?Pills The best In the world. Ironing Made Easy. Manufactured by SMOOTHING IRON HEATER CO.. Sumter, S. C. Saves f uel, Time a n d the Ironer. Only $2 Sand orders to JNO. T. BRYANT. Level Lund, S. C. COUMTt AuENT. CHARLESTON AND WESTERN C AR? UNA RAILROAD Arrival and Departure of Trains, Laurens, South Carolina. EFFECTIVE .11 INK 1(5, 1908. WRST IIOUND. No. 1. Leavo Augusta.10:10 a in No. 1. Louvo Lauren i ...... 2:32 p in No. 1. Arrive Spaiinnliui g. ? '1:05 ji in No. r>. Leave Greenwood.... ''>:?>" ?? in No! 6. Leave Laurens.7:55 a in No. 5. Arrive Spartanburg.. 0.30 a m No. 53. Leave Greenville.12:20 |> in No. 53. Arrive Laurens. 1:45 p in No.?8ti. Leave Greenville ? -1:30 p in No.*86. Arrive Laurens. 6:25 p in SOUTH UOUNl). No. 2. Leave Spartanburg .. 12:20 p m No. 2. Leave Laurens. 2:32 |> III No. 2. Arrive Augusta. 6:15 p m No. 6. Leave Spartanburg . . 5:00 p in No. (5. Leave Laurens. 6:35 |> in No. 0 \rrive Greenwood .... 7:50 p in No.*..7. Leave Laurens. 8:10 a in No.?87. Arrive Greenville ? 10:20 a :;i No. 52. Leave Laurenr-. 2:35 p in No. 52. Arrive Greenville .... 4:00 p in Trains*86 and *S7 daily except Sunday. Tri-weekly through Pullman Parlor Car service between Augusta and Ashe ville on trains Nos. 1 ami 2; North bound,Tuesdays,Saturdays; Southbound Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. C. IL GASQUE, Agent, Lauren.-;, S. ('. G. T. BRYAN, Gen. Agt., Greenville, S. C. A.W. ANDKRSON. Cm. Supt. ERNEST WILLIAMS, G.T.A., Augusta, (In. The Laurens Trust Comp'y Insurance AND Real Estate. If you have Real Ins tate for sale, let us sell it for you. 1 l you want to buy see us. We have some nice property, city ami county to offer. The Laurens Trust Comp'y Final Settlement. Take notice that on the 12th day of Sept., loos, we will render a final ac count of our acts and doings us execu tors of the estate id' .lane A. Auld de ceased, in the office of the Judge of ! Probate of Laurens county at II o'clock la. m. and on the same day will applv for a final discharge from our trust ns executors. All persons indebted to said estate are notified and required to make pay ment on that date; and all persons hav ing claims against said estate will pre sent them on or boforc sftid date dulv proven, or be forever hai red ('. E. ROWLAND, C. It. ROWLAND, Executors. August. 12, 100S 2? J. L. M. IRBY CIVIL KNUI.N K K It Office over Laurens Drug Co. KILL the COUCH and CURE the LUNGS with Dr. Kings New Discovery FOR C8?SI1 ?PRICE Boo a- iii.no. Trial Untile Froc and all THROAT AND lung TROIJRI ES. GUARANTEE I> B ATI ft 1- a (J'lUR yI OR MONEY RKFUNDE?. f