Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-10-30


back came whispering In his ear. He
would write letter and send It to her
room. But, no; perhaps It would be
wise to give her longer interval for
reflection and, it might be. regret. To.
morrow he would see her and show
all the depths Of that great love which
she had thought to throw away. She
could not go on withdrawing him for.
ever. and. now that he had burned his
boats behind him. he would never
think of turning back. He would per.
severe till she should yield.
Meanwhile Virginia had hurried
bltndly toward the house, and It was
instinct rather than intention that led
her to the open window of the music
room. by which she had come out.
Tears burned her eyelids, but they
did not fall until she stood once more
In the room where she and Leopold
had been happy together. There she
had sat at the piano. and he had bent
over her. love in his eyes-honest love,
she had thought her heart full of
thanksgiving. How little she had
guessed then the humiliation in store
for her and the end Of all her hopes!
How could she bear her pain, and how
could she 60 on living out her life?
She paused in the window niche,
looking into the room through a mist
of tears. and sob choked her. 'Cruel.
cruel!" she whispered. .What agony.
what an insult!"
Then. dashing away her tears. she
pushed back the dark curtains and
would have passed on into the room
had not the quick gesture brought her
arm into contact with the buttons and
gold braid on a mans breast.
Instantly she realized that some ono
was hiding there, some one dressed in
military coat. and her first impulse
was for flight. anything to escape I'm.
recognized. But on second thoughts
she changed her mind.
Whoever 1t was had In all probabili-
ty hidden himself for the purpose of
spying and was already aware that
Miss Mowbray had rushed into the
house weeping after tete-a-tete with
the emperor in the garden. Perhaps he
had even caught word or two of her
sobbing ejaculation. No; she must not
run away and leave the outcome Of
this affair to chance. She must sec
with whom she had to deal that she
might know what was best to do.
She had taken step into the room,
but quick as light she turned, pulled
away the screen of curtains and faced
C2nfGfn vn,, pro@fS%af,,
1t was trying moment for him, and
the girls look stripped him Of all his
light audacity. She had come to the
window by different path from the
one he had watched; therefore she had
taken him unawares before he had
time to escape, as he had planned. He
was caught fairly and must save him.
self as best he could without prepara.
ton.
II her reproach forestalled his ex-
cuse he was lost. He must step into
the breach at whatever risk. There
was no time to weigh words. He must
let loose the first that sprang to his
lips.
II see what you think of me-" he
said. Il see you think I was watching
you. swear wasn't, though knew
you We're in the garden with-the EN-.
peror. Wait-you must listen. You
must hear my Justification. was
sent to this room to fetch you. For
your sake, how could go back and
say you had disappeared-together7 I
looked out into the garden and saw
you-with him. saw from your man
ner that-he had made you suffer.
was half mad with rage, guessing
guessing something which ono word
you let drop as you came In told me
had happened. He is my sovereign.
but-he has insulted you. Let me be
your knight, as in days Of old. Let
me defend you, for love you.
waited here to tell you this 40 you
came, SO that II you would We might
announce an engagement
If Virginia's eyes had been daggers
he would have fallen at her feet pierre
ed to the heart. For one long second
she looked at him without speaking.
her face eloquent. Then she went by
him with the proud bearing Of queen.
Egon was stricken dumb. Duly he
watched her move across the room to
door which led into corridor. He
heard the whisper Of her satin dress
and saw the changing lights and shad.
ows on Its creamy folds under the
crystal chandeliers; he saw the white
reflection, like spirit, mirrored deep
under the polished surface Of the door.
Never had she been more beautiful,
but she was beautiful in his eyes no
longer He had hurt her bride but sha