The Marshall republican., 1908-06-26

you saved me I looked up and-of
course I'd seen your picture. and n
reads In the papers that you're fond Of
channels hunting. I couldn't help guess
ing. oh. I'm sorry you asked me thisf'
"whyf'
because n might have to be sfraiA
Of an emperor n he were angry"
"Do I look angryr
Their eyes met again, laughing AZ
arst. then each finding unexpected
depths in those Of the other which
drove away laughter. Something Ia
Leopold's breast seemed alive and
struggling to be free from restraint,
like q fierce wild bird. He shut his
lips tightly. breathing hard. Both for
got that a question had been asked.
but II was Virginia who spoke first,
| since II ls easier for a woman than Q
man to hide feeling.
II wonder why you kept the ring
after my-impertinence."
~ had a good reason for keeping It."
won't you tell mef'
you're quick ut forming conclu-
pions. Miss Mowbray. Can't you
guessf"
ITO remind you to beware OF strange
| Young omen on mountains"
mo-
"pecnuse your owl picture Is In.
slider"
1T waa u better reason than that"
Am I not 10 usk ~"
ION that day you asked what you
chose. Al the more should you do so
now. since there's nothing ! could re-
fuse you"
Not the half Of your kingdom. like
the royal men In fairy storicsf"
Az soon as the words were out Viz
glnIn would have given much 10 have
them back. She had not thodght VI n
meaning they might convey. but she
tried not I blush lest he should thlnk
Of Il now. Nevertheless he did think
OF Il, and the light words, striking a
chord they had not aimed 10 touch.
went echoing on and on I'll they
renched" that part Of himself which the
emperor knew least nbout-his heart.
"Half his kingdomT" Yes. he would
give II 10 this girl II he could. Itcnv'
ems. what II would be to shnie u
with her!
ASK anything you wil," he said as
a man speaks In a dream.
Then tell newly you kept the
ring"
"Bccausc the only woman ] ever
unred-to make my friend took II fron
her finger and ave II TO me-"
snow the emperor Is pleased 10 pay
compliments"
"You know ! am sincere"
"But you'd seen me only for an hour
Instead OF deserving your friendship
I'm afraid r.
"For one hour3 That's true. And
how long g Is that onc hour3 A
week or 40. ! suppose, as time counts
But then came yesterday and the
thing you did for me-. Now I've
known you always"
III you had. perhaps you wouldn'
] want me for your friend"
81 do want you"
The words would come. II was tru'
already. He did want her. but not a
friend. His world-a world withou'
: women. without passion iery enough
Ito devour principles or traditions-wa'
upside down.
. II was well that the ten minutes
grace between dances was over ant
the music for the next about to begin
. A young officer. Count o Breitstein'
! half brother. who was TO be Mis-
Mowbray's partner. appeared In thu
distance looking for her. but stopped
seeing that she was stu with the en-
peror.
"Goodby," said virginia while he
: words could still be only for the ear
Of Leopold.
mot goodby. We're friends"
|, Eyes. But we shan't meet often"
= "why7 Are you leaving Kronburg1
"Perhaps-soon. don't know"
II must see you again. viii se
you once more. whatever comes"
"Once more. perhaps. hope o
but
after that
"Who knowsY
"Once re-on more!' The word
echoed In virginia's ears. She hear
them through everything. a. one hear
the undertone Of a mountain torren'
though q brass band may bray I
drown its deep music.
Once more he would see her. wha
ever might come. She could guei
why It might be only once, though b
would fsin have that once again an
again repeated, for this game Of her
begun with such . light heart, w
more dificult to play than she be
dreamed.
II she could but be sure he cared,
be would tell her 20 In words and N
with eyes alons. the rest might I
easy. although ct best she could ~
see the end. Yet how In honor coul
4. t>ilt Mia. ual>~ nsnvhrsv thar