The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-14

In the Imperial presence. particular.
! in the connection he suggested. lie
me hear exactly what has been goin!
J on from days end to days end" b
commanded.
'Egon grew thoughtful once more
Clearly here was the explanation o
| tie summons. He was to be let OF
easily. it appeared. But. suspense te
} lieved. he was not readyto be salts
fed with negative blessings.
"Are You sure it isn't bit like tell
ing tales out of SCHOOL," he objected.
"Schoolboys with empty pocket
have been known to do that" said th
chancellor. "But perhaps your pocket
J. aren't empty-eh?'
.They're in chronic state OF empti
ness" groaned Egon.
4 "On the 18th day of October you
quarterly allowance will be paid" re
marked his brother. 81 would increas
the instaIlment by the amount o
5000 gulden if that would make
worth your while to falkland forge;
nothing but your scruples.'
"Oh, you know I'm always delighted
to please you" exclaimed Egon. Its
only natural, living the monotonons
life you dc when you're not busy with
the affairs of state. that you should
like to hear what goes on in the world
outside. Of course III gladly do my
| hoet os rocontnur"
"My dear young man. don't lie" said
the chancellor THE habit is growing
on you. You lie even to yourself. BY
and by you'll believe yourself. and
then all hope for your soul will be over.
What want to know is how far the
emperor has gone in his inf;ttuation for
this English girl. I'm not afraid to
tspeak plainly to you so you may safe
ly-and proitably-do the same with
me. In the first place, I'll put you at
your ease by making a humiliating
confession The other night the WON
an Won Lyndal tried to draw me. as
she would express it. on this subject.
and Pm bitterly mortified to say she
partly succeeded. She suggested an
entanglement between Leopold and
1.-the girl I replied that Leopold wasn't
the man to pull down hornets nest
of gossip around the ears of young
woman who had saved his life. No
matter what his inclinations might be,
l insisted that he would pay her no
repeated visits.
'.This thrust the fair Mechtilde par
ried as if repeating a mere rumor by
saying that she believed the girl was
| to stay at the country house Of some
old friend Of the emperor. At the time
attached little Importance to her
| chatter, believing that she merely
wished to give me spiteful slap or
two, as is her habit when she has the
| chance. For once, though, she has
succeeded in stealing march upon
me, and she kept the secret Of her plan
until too late for me to have any hope
Of preventing Leopold from fulfilling
his engagement at her house. After
that was safely arranged l don't doubt
she was overjoyed that should guess
her plot"
"Do you think that even if you'd
known sooner you could have stopped
the emperor from visiting at Lyndal-
berg" asked Egon. 81 know that you
are iron. but he is Steel"
81 would have stopped him." return
ed the chancellor. 81 should have
made no bones about the reason. for
I've found that the best way with
Leopold is to blurt out the whole
truth and fight him-my experience
against his will. If advice and warn
ing hadn't sufIiced to restrain him
from INSULTING the girl who is to be
his wife and injuring the reputation
of the girl who never can be. would
have devised some eXpedient to thwart
him for his own good. I'm not a nlan
to give up when l feel that l am
right"
Neither is he." Egon added, "but
since you seem so determined to nip
this dainty blossom Of love in the bud
we'll hope it's not yet too late for
sharp frost to blight it."
az sent for YOU said the chancellor.
brushing away metaphor with an i'm
patient gesture. ito show me the pre-
else spot OH whicb'to lay my finger"
'I'll do my best to deserve your con-
fdence." responded Egon gracefully.
LET me see-where shall | begin?
Well, as you know, it's simpler for the
emperor to see good deal Of the wo-
man he admires at friends house
than almost anywhere else in his own
country. This particular woman risked
her life to save his. and it's so natural
for him to be gracious in return that
people would be surprised if he were
not. There's so much in their favor at
the commencement.
Miss Mowbray and her mother ar
rived at Lyndalberg before the en-
peror, had made friends there and
were ready for the campaign. The
girl is undoubtedly beautiful-the pret-
test creature, think. ever saw-and
she has winning way which takes
with women as well as men, Not one
of her fellow guests seems to put q
wrong construction on her filtration
with the emperor or his with her. The
other men would think him blind If he
didn't admire her as much rs they do,
and none Of the women there are Of
the sort to be jealous. So, are you
sure, Lorenz. that you're not taking
too serious q view of the AFFAIR.""
ut can't be taken too seriously, con-
siderinc the circumstances. I've told