Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-06-26

~
"IThO Is that girl?"
difference. AS for what she did," went
on the old man, whose GOODNESS to wO-
men and merciless justice to both sexes
alike had earned him the nickname Of
"Iron Heart'-"as for what she did, il
1t had not been she who interviewed be-
tween the emperor and death it would
have been the fate Of another to do
so. 1t was a fortunate thing for the
girl, we may say, that it happened to
be her arm which struck up the
weapon"
'Or she wouldn't be here tonight,
you mean," laughed the baroness
Don't you think, then, that his males
ty is right to single her out for so
much hOnor:" Her eyes were on the
dancers, yet that mysterious skill
which most women of the world have
learned taught her how not to miss the
slightest change Of expression, il there
were any, on the chancellor's square,
lined face.
Ills majesty is always right" he re-
piled automatically. AN invitation to
a ball, d or two, a few cOmpli-
ments. a ca,i to pay his respects-a
gentleman could not be less gracious.
And his majesty Is one Of the first gen.
temen in Europe"
"IIe has had good training what to
do and what not to do" The baroness
flung her little sop Of flattery to Ger
bcrus with dainty ghost of bow for
the man who had been as a second
father to Leopold since the late en-
perOr's death. "But-we're old friends,
Characteristic was not to blame that
they had not been more in the days
before she became Baroness Won Lyn-
dal-"sO. tell me. can you look at the
girls face and the emperor's and still
cay that everything will end with an
invitation, a dance. some compliments
and call to pay respects?
Iron Heart frowned and sneered,
wondering what he could have seen
twenty-five years ago to admire in this
fighty woman. He would have es.
capped from her now IL escape had been
|
rude to the wife Of the grand master
OF ceremonies ut the emperor's ball.
and. besides. he was not unwilling per-
haps TO show the lady that her sentl-
mental and unsuitable innuendOs were
as the buzzing Of a fly about his ears.
I'm close upon seventy and no long
er fair judge Of wOmap's attrac-
tions." he returned carelessly. "a look
ut her face conveys nothing to me, but
We're she Helen Of Troy instead Of
Helen MOwbray the invitation, the
dance. the compliments and the call,
with the present Of some jewcled SOU
venir. are I'll that arc permissible in
the circumstances"
Wat circumstances" and the bar
oness looked as innocent as an inuuir-
Ing child.
1.-The lady is not of royal blood, and
his majesty. l thank heaven. Is not q
roue."
lie mas heart, though you traineI
him. chancellor. and he las eyes. He
may never have used them to much
80 POS~ ONAOASs SSt thuol Ue a
FIRST time. and. the higher and more
strongly built the tower. once it begins
to topic the greater is the fall thereof. -
us 1t the sense of humor. which you
say l lack. that gives you pleasure III
discussing the widest improbabiitie>s
as If they were events to be consider
ed seriously? II 1t Is I'm :.ot sorry to
lack it. In any case, lis well that
neither Of Us is the empcrOr's keeper ."
Were at least his very good friends.
you rs well as l in my humber WAY.
chancellor. and You AMI have known
each other for twenty-five years. II it
amuseS me to discuss improbabilities.
why not? Since you call them i'm
probabilities it can do no harm to dwell
upon them rs ingredients for romance.
Not for worlds would l suggest that
his majesty isn't an example for all
men to follow nor that poor pretty
Miss MOwbray could be tempted to in
discretion. but yet Id be ready to make
a wager. the emperor being human and
the girl Il beauty. that an acquaintance
so Economically begun won't end with
a ball and Il call"
"What could there possibly be more
or what you hint at as more, In honor:"
The chancellOr's voice was angry at
last as well as stern. for he could not
bear persistence in other people unless
1t were to further some cause Of his
own. To the delight of the woman
who had once tried in vain to melt his
iron heart. Count Won Breitstein began
to look somewhat like Il baited bull.
Really. said the baroness to herself,
there was an actual resemblance in
feature. and joyously she searched for
few more little ribbon tipped BAN
derIllos
What fun it was to ruffle the tenn.
per of the surly old brute who had hu.
INFLATED her wOman's vanity in days
long past. but not forgotten. She
knew the chancellor's desire for the
emperors marriage as soon as a suit
able match could lie found arl. though
SIZE waS not in the secret of his mans
would have felt little surprise at learn.
ing that some eligible royal girl had