The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-05-20
u :
CHAPTER ELEVEN

fever heat
For this girls sake he had in few
days changed the habits Of lifetime.
Pride, reserve. self control, the wish
not only to appear but to be man
above the frailties of common men, the
ambition to be placed and worthily
placed on a pedestal by his subjects
all these he had thrown away for
Helen Mowbray.
He was too just man not to admit
that If one of his royal cousins of
younger branches had contemplated
such folly as this he would have done
his best to nip that folly while 1t was
in bud. HE jests at scars who never
felt wound" and until Leopold had
learned by his own unlocked for ex-
men will do for love while the sweet
madness is ON them, he would have
been utterly unable to understand the
state of mind
A cousin inclined to act as he was
now bent on acting would but month
ago have found all the emperor's infu-
ence, even force perhaps, brought to
bear In restraining him. Leopold saw
the change in himself, was startled
and shamed by 1t. Nevertheless he
would have perseyered trampiing
down every obstacle that rose In his
way, II only the girl had seen things
with his eyes.
She had accused him Of insulting
her, not stopping to consider that even
to make her morganatically his wife
he must give great cause for com
plant not only to his ministers, but to
his people, for he was expected to
marry girl of royal blood that the
country might have an heir. If Helen
Mowbray had accepted the position he
offered her, he could never have bro
ken her heart by making another mar
rage.
Not only would 1t be difficult In these
days to find princess willing to toler-
ate such rival, but It would have
been impossible for him to desecrate
the bond between himself and the one
vdored woman.
This being the case, with Helen
Mowbray as his morganatic wife,
there could be no direct heir to the
throne. At his death the son of his
uncle, the Archduke Joseph, would
succeed, and during his life the popu.
larity which was dear to him would
be hopelessly forfeited Rhaetia would
never forgive him for selfishly prefer
ring his own private happiness to the
good Of the nation.
He could fancy how old Iron Heart
Won Breitstein would present this point
of view to him with fierce eloquence,
temples throbbing like the ticking Of a
watch, eyes netted with bloodshot
veins. But, on the other hand, he could
picture himself standing calmly to
face the storm, steadfast In his own
indomitable will, happy with love to
uphold him.
But now the will which had borne
him through life In a triumphal march
had been powerless against that Of
this young girl. She would have none
of him. A woman whose face was her
fortune, whose place in life was hard
ly as high as the first step of throne,
had refused-aD emperor!
Hardly could Leopold believe the
thing that had happened to him. He
had spoken of doubling that he had
won her love, and he had doubted.
But he had allowed himself to hope,
because he had confidence In his star
and because perhaps 1t had scarcely
been known In the annals of history
that an emperor's suit should be re-
pulsed.
Besides, he had loved the girl so pas
sionately that 1t seemed she could not
remain cold. And he hoped still that
when she had passed long night In
reflection, In thinking over the situa-
ton, perhaps taking counsel with that
comparatively commonplace yet prac-
teal little lady, her mother, she might
be ready to change her mind.
For the first few moments after the
singing rebuff he had endured Leo
pold felt that II she did 1t would be her
turn to suffer, for he could never hum
BILE himself to implore for the second
time. But as he stood In the soft still
ness of the night, gazing toward the
lights Of the house, thoughts of Vir-
ginia-her youth, her sweetness, her
beauty dimmed with grief-overwhelm-
cd him. Could he have reached her he
would have fallen on his knees and
kissed her gown.
BY and by vast tenderness breath
ed Its calm over the thwarted passion
In his breast, and plans to win her
back came whispering In his ear. He
would write letter and send 1t to her