The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-07


above all. provided many pleasing
spectacle for tie people, but to Viz
ginia he was far more-an ideal Sir
Galahad or a st. George strong and
brave to slay all dragon wrongs which
might threaten his wide land.
What If he should never love me!'
was the one sharp thought which pierre
ed her pride Of him.
The people were proud, too, as he sat
there controlling the white war horse.
with it's gold and silver trappings. the
crusted jewels of many orders spar
king on his breast. while he saluted
his subjects in his soldiers way.
For a moment there was pause,
save for shouting, which rose and
rose again. Then lie alighted, where.
upon important looking men with rib
! bons and decorations came forward.
bowling, to receive the emperor The
ceremony Of unveiliug the statue of
RLaetia was about to begin.
To reach the great crimson draped
platform OH which he was to stand
the emperor must pass within few
yards CT Virginia. His gaze flashed
| over TIE gay crowd. What if it should
rest upon her? The girls heart was
in her tl.roat. She could feel it beat
Jug there. anI for 4 moment the tall
white figure was lost in Il mist which
dimnled her eyes.
She hal forgotten how she came to
this place of vantage. forgotten the
pale man in gray and red to whom she
owed her ,od fortune, but suddenly,
while he: heart was at its loudest and
the mist before her eyes at its thick
es.. she grew conscious again Of his
existence. poignantly conscious Of his
close pre- sence. SO near her he stood
that q QIick start, gathering of his
muscles for a spring. shot like an cleo
trio message through her own body.
The mist was burnt upin the flame
of strange enlightenment. clarity of
vision which showed not only the
hero Of the day, the thronS and the
wax white man beside her. but some
thing which was in the soul Of that
man as we'll.
''He is going to kill the emperor!"
1t was as if voice spoke the words
in her ear. She knew now why she
had struggled to win this place, why
she had succeeded, what she had to do
or die in falling to do.
ho1f n 1n1nn v0r6G
away and was coming nearer. No one
but Virginia suspected evil. She alone
had felt the thrill Of murderer's
nerves. the tense spring Of his mus
ces. She alone guessed what the roll
of parchment hid.
"Now-nowr the voice seemed to
whisper again, and she had no fear.
While the crowd shouted wildly for
"Unser Leo" man in gray and red
leaped, catIike. at the white figure that
advanced Something sharp and bright
flashed out from a roll Of parchment,
catching the sun in streak Of steely
light.
Leopold saw, but not in time to
swerve. The crowd shrieked, rushed
forward too late, and the blade would
have drunk his life had not the girl
who had felt all, seen all, struck up
the arm before it fell.
The rest was darkness for her. She
knew only that she was sobbing and
that the great square, with its crowded
balconies, its ropes of green, its way
ing flags, seemed to collapse upon her
and blot her out
It was Leopold who caught her as
she swayed. and while the people surg
ed around the thwarted murderer the
emperor sprang up the steps OF the
great crimson platform with the girl
against his heart.
1t was her blood that stained the
pure white Of his uniform, the blood
from her arm, wounded in his defense.
And, holding her up, he stood dominat-
ing the crowd.
Down there Mt the foot Of the steps
the man In gray and red was like a
spent fox among the hounds, and Leo
pold's people in the fury Of their rage
would have torn him in pieces as the
hounds tear the fox despite the cor
don Of police that gathered round him,
but the voice Of the emperor bade his
subjects fall back.
"My people shall not be assassins"
he cried to them. Let the law deal
with the mailman. It is nv will. Look
at me alive and unhurt. Now give
your cheers for the lady who has
saved my life. and the ceremonies shall
go on"
Three cheers had he said? They
gave three times three and bade fair
to split the skies with shouts for the
emperor. While women laughed and
5sEEaMlEI