The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-06-06

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sd cellor would be as anx-
ious to wriggle out of
his proposal to visit the princes hunt
ing lodge as he had been to have II
accepted few hours before.
HE shan't escape his humiliation,
though" the emperor told himself.
"He shall CO. and he shall beg forgive
ness for his suspicious in sackcloth
and ashes. Nothing else can satisfy
me now"
Thinking thus, Leopold looked sharp
| ly from the window as his special
| slowed into the central station at
| Kronburg along the track which had
| been kept clear for its arrival. No
| other train was due at the moment;
therefore few persons were on the
platform, and figure In long gray
coat, with its face Swallowed by
SLOUGH hat, was conspicuous.
The emperor had expected to see that
figure, but vaguely he wished there
were not 50 much briskness and self
confidence In the set Of the massive
head and shoulders. The young man
believed absolutely in his love, but he
would have been gratifed to detect a
something of depression In the enc
my's air which he might translate as
a foreknowledge Of failure.
| 81 hope your majesty will forgive
the liberty have taken In coming to
| the station without distinct invita-
| ton to do So" were the chancellor's
first words as he met the emperor.
KNOWING that you would almost GER
tainly arrive by special train, came
| down from my house some time ago
| that might be on hand without fall
when you arrived to place my electric
! carriage at your service. | thought 1t
probable that you would not have sent
to the palace and therefore it might
save you some slight Inconvenience II
were on the spot. If you will honor
my poor conveyance
Don't let us delay our business for
explanations or compliments, If you
please chancellor" The emperor cut
him short brusquely. II counted on
your being here with your carriage.
Now for the hunting lodge in the
woods"
AS he spoke his eyes were on the old
mans face, which he hoped to see fall
or change, but there was no visible
sign of discontinue, and Won Brett
stein made no attempt to excuse him,
self from making the proposed visit
Evidently nothing had happened dur
ing the hours since the message by tele-
phone to change the chancellor's mind
Eyes, your majesty" came the
prompt response Now for the hunt
ing lodge in the woods. I am ready tC
20 with you there, as | always have
been and always shall be ready tc
serve you when l am needed"
1t was on Leopold's tongue to say
that 1t would be well If his chancellor's
readiness could be confined to those
occasions when 1t was needed, but he
shut his lips upon the words and walk
ed by the old mans side In frozen ST.
lence.
The carriage was waiting just out
side the station, and the moment the
two men were seated the chauffeur
started noiselessly and swiftly.
Both windows were closed to keep
out the chill of the night air, but soon
Leopold impatiently lowered one for
getting the chancellor's old fashioned
hatred of drafts, and stared into the
night Already they were approach
ing the outskirts of the great town
and, flying past the dark warehouses
and factories of the neighborhood, they
sped toward the open country.
The weather, still warm the evening
before-that evening Of moonlight moi
to be forgotten-had turned cold witt
morning, and tonight there was
pungent scent Of dying leaves In the
air. 1t smote Leopold In the face witt
the wind of motion, and 1t seemed tt
him the essential perfume of sadness
Never again would he inhale that fra
GRANGE of the falling year without re
calling this hour,
He was half mad with Impotence t.
reach the end Of the journey and con
found the chancellor once for all, We
as the swift electric carriage spur
smoothly along the. white road ant
landmark after landmark vanished be
hind tree branches laced with STAR
something within him would at las
have stayed the flying moments hat
that been possible. He burned to asl
questions Of Won Breitstein, yet would
have died rather than utter them.
II was a relief to the emperor whel
after long silence his companion
spoke. though relief which carried
with 1t a prick Of resentment. Evel
the chancellor had no right to speal
first without permission from his soy
ereign.
"Forgive me, your majesty" the oil
man said. "Your anger is hard to beal
yet I bear 1t uncomplainingly becaus
Of my confidence that the reward
not far off. look for It no further Il
. the future than tonight"
81, too, believe that you won't mis-
your reward" returned the empero
, sharply.
, 81 shall have 1t, am sure, not onl
in your majesty's forgiveness, but 4
your thanks"
l