The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-05-27

sighed the baroness.
The emperor glanced quickly from
the mass of crimson flowers to his
hostess face. "Gone?" he repeated.
"Yes," the baroness answered "They
must have reached Kronburg before
this. You know, they left their COM
panion there. Perhaps your majesty
did not realize that they were leaving
here quite SO earlyT'
He turned 80 white under the brown
tan the mountains had given that the
baroness was alarmed. She had taken
Virginia's words as Virginia had
meant her to take them and therefore
supposed that formal farewell or
some sort had been spoken. This i'm
preston did not prevent her from
guessing that there must have been
misunderstanding, and she was tin
Cling with lively curiosity which she
was obliged carefully to hide.
The romance which had been enact
ed under her eyes she believed to be
largely of her own making and, not
being a bad hearted woman, she had
grown fond of Virginia. She had even
had pangs of conscience, and, though
she did not see the way for happy
ending to the pretty drama, it dis
tressed her that the curtain should go
down on sadness.
II did not know they were going at
ALL" Leopold answered frankly, will
ing to sacrifice his pride for the sake
of coming quickly at the truth.
"Oh," exclaimed the baroness, II am
distressed! Miss Mowbray distinctly
said when | begged that they would
wait, The emperor will understand. "
81 do understand-now / know they
have gone" he admitted But Miss
Of complaint against me, and she's
mistaken. l can't let such a mistake
60 uncorrected. You say they must be
at Kronburg before this. Are they
staying on there?"
I'm afraid not, your majesty. They
leave Kronburg for England today by
the Orient express"
do you happen to remember at
what hour the train starts"
II believe at r."
Leopold pulled out his watch. 1t was
twenty minutes past IL. Forty times
sixty seconds and the girl would be
gone!
The blood rushed to his face. Bar
ring accidents, he could catch her if
he ordered his motor car and left at
once. But to cut short his visit at
Schloss Lyndalberg would be virtually
to take the world into his secret Let
him allege important state business at
the capital If he chose gossip would
still say that the girl had fed; that he
had pursued her. The baroness knew
already. Others would chatter as If
they knew. That was inevita ble-f he
went.
A month ago, when yielding to In
clination meant humbling his pride as
emperor and man, such question
would have answered itself. Now ii
answered itself also, the only differ
ence being that the answer was exact
ly opposite to what it would have been
q month earlier.
Baroness, forgive me-" he said
quickly. 81 must go. | can't explain"
you need not try" she answered
softly.
THANK you hundred times. Make
everything as straight for me as you
can. Say what you will. l give you
carte blanche, for we're old friends
and trust YOU"
ITS for me to thank your majesty
You want your motor carp
"Yes."
"I'll telephone. Your chauffeur will
have it here In six minutes. And youi
aid-de-camp. VIII you
II don't want him, thanks. I'd rather
go alone"
Seven minutes later the big white
motor car was at the door which was
the private entrance to the emperor's
suit, and the emperor was waiting fol
1t, having forgotten all about the sable
lined coat which had been present
from the car. If 1t had been midwin
ter he would have forgotten, just the
same, nor would he have known thai
1t was cold.
There was plenty of time now to car
ry out his plan, which was to catcf
the Orient express at the kronburs
station and present himself to the
Mowbrays in the train later. AS t.
what would happen afterward, 1t was
beyond planning, but Leopold knew
that the girl had loved him, and hi
, hoped that he would have Lady Now
bray on his side.
The only way Of reaching Kronburl
from Schloss Lyndalberg was by road
There was no railway connection be
tween the two places. But the town
and the castle were separated by 9
short eight miles, and until checked by
traffic In the suburbs the sixty horse
power car could cover mile In les:
than two minutes.
Unfortunately however, police regu
lations were strict, and Of this Leo
pold could not complain. as he had ap
proved them himself Once he wa:
stopped and would certainly not have
been allowed to proceed had he not re