The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-06-17

caJollng, Il couldn't bear to stay shut
up here while that music plays and the
crowds shout themselves hoarse for
my emperor. Besides, It's the most
curious thing-I feel as IL voice kept
calling to me that / must be there.
Miss Portman and I'll take care Of
each other. You will let me go, won't
your"
or course the grand duchess yielded,
her one stipulation being that the two
should keep close to the hotel, and the
princess urged her reluctant companion
away without waiting to hear her
mothers last counsels.
Their rooms were on the first floor
and the girl turned eagerly down the
broad flight of marble stairs, Miss
Portman following dutifully upon her
heels.
They could not get out by way of the
front door, for people had paid for
standing room there and would not
| yield an inch, even for an instant,
while the two or three steps below
and the broad pavement in front were
as closely blocked.
Matters began TO look hopeless, but
Virginia would not be daunted. They
tried the side entrance and found 1t
free, the street into which 1t led being
comparatively empty, but just beyond,
where 1t ran into the great open
square Of tho Leopoldplatz, there was
solid wall of sightseers.
1--WE might as well go back" said
Miss Portman, who had none OF the
princess kcenncSs for the undertak-
Inc
and for herself would rather have had
cup of tea than see fifty emperors
unveil as many statues by celebrated
| sculptors.
"Oh, no." cried Virginia. "Well get
to the front somehow sooner or later,
even If were taken Off our feet. Look
at that man just ahead of us. lie
doesn't mean to turn back. He's not
nice man, but he's terribly deter.
mined. Let's keep close to him and
see what he means to do; then maybe
we shall be able to do 1t as we'll"
Miss Portmnn glanced at the person
Indicated by nod OF the princess
head. Undismaycd by the mass of hui
man beings that blocked the Leopold
platz few yards ahead, he walked
rapidly along without the least hesita-
tion. He had the air of knowing ex-
actly what he wanted to do and how
to do 1t. Even Miss Portman, who
had no imagination, saw this by his
| back. The set Of the head on the
shoulders was singularly determined,
| and the walk revealed consciousness
of Importance accounted for perhaps
by the gray and crimson uniform which
| might be that of some official order.
On the sleek black head was n large
cooked hat, adorned with an eagles
feather, fastened in place by n gaudy
| jewel, and this hat was pulled down
| very far over the face
Perhaps he knows that they'll let
him through" said Miss Portman. "He
seems to be dignitary OF some sort.
we can't do better, If you're deter.
mined to go on, than keep near him"
"lIc has the air of being ready to
dlc,' whispered Virginia, for they were
| close TO the man now.
How can YOU tell? We haven't seen
his face replied the other I'm the same
cautious tone.
mo. But look at tho back Of his
| neck and his ears"
Miss POrtman looked and gave n lit.
tie shlvcr. She would never have
thought of observing It If her attcn.
ton had not been called by the prin-
cess. But 1t was true. The back of
the mans neck and his ears were of
ghasty yellow white.
"IIorrid" she calculated. "IIe's
probably dying of some contagious dis
ease. Do let's get away from him"
"No, no." said Virginia. Hes our
only hope They're going to let him
pass through. Listen"
Miss POrtman listened, but as she
understood only such words Of Rhae-
tian as she had picked up in the last
few weeks she could merely surmIse
that he was ordering the crowd out Of
his way because he had n special mes
sage from the lord chancellor to the
Durgomaster.
The human wall opened. The man
dartcd through, and Miss Portman was
dragged after him by the princess. SO
close to him had they kept that they
might easily be supposed to be under
his escort, and in any case, they pass
cd before there was time to dispute
their right OF way.
ut must be the secretary Of Herr
HOFFMAN, the new burgomaster," Vir-
gnia heard one man say to another,
"and those ladies are with him."
On and on through the crowd passed
the man in gray and crimson. obllvIous
to the two women who were using him.
There was something about that dis.
agreeable back Of his which proclaim
ed him man of but one idea at
time. Close to the front line Of spec