Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-07-17

Isn't it hideous:" asked the grand
duchess. ''To think that you and l
should have deliberately placed our
selves In such position, We are to
run away, like detected adventuresses,
unless unless you are now ready to
tel! the emperor ALL"
NO" said Virginia hopelessly.
What, Not yet? Oh, my dear, then
you must bring matters to q crisis
instantly-tonisht even. It's evident
that some enemy. perhaps some jeal-
ous person. has been at work behind
oar backs. 1t is for you TO turn the
tables upon him, and there isn't an
hour TO waste. From the first you
meant TO make some dramatic revela-
tion Now the time has come"
"Ah, l meant-I meant!" echoed Vir-
ginia, with a sob breaking the ice In
her voice. Nothing has turned out
as l meant You were right, dear; /
was wrong. We ought never to have
come to Rhaetia."
The grand duchess grew paler than
before. She had been vaguely dis
tressed. Now she was sharply alarm
ed. If Virginia admitted that this
great adventure should never have
been undertaken, then indeed the earth
must he quaking under their feet.
Ought MOTTO have come" she re-
peated piteously. What dreadful
thing has happened"
The princess stood with bent head.
ITS hard to tell" She said, harder
almost than anything ever had to do.
But 1t must be done. Everything's at
an end, dear"
"What-you've told him, and he has
refused to forgive"
lie knows nothing"
For heavens sake, don't keep me
In suspense.'
Virginia's lips were dry "IIe ask
ri me to he his WIFE" she said ooh,
wait-wait. Don't look happy You
Cont understand. aud didn: at first
lie had to explain, and he put the
thing as little extensively as he could.
Oh, mother. he thinks me only good
enough to be his morganatic wifew
The storm had burst at last, and the
princess fell on her knees by the sofa.
where. burying her face In her moth
er's lap. she sobOed as II parting with
her youth.
There had always been mental and
temperamental barriers between the
Dresden china lady and her daughter.
! but they loved each other, and never
had the girl been SO dear to her moth
er as now. The grand duchess thought
of the summer day when Virginia had
knelt beside her. saying. I'VE are 60
! Ing to have an adventure. you and l."
Alas. the adventure was over, and
summer and hope were dead! Tears
trembied In the mothers eyes. Poor
little Virginia, SO young. SO inexperi-
enced and, In spite Of her self will and
recklessness. so sweet and loving with
al!
But. dear, you are making the
worst Of things" the grand duchess
said soothingiy. her hand on the girls
bright hair. why. instead Of crying
you ought to he smiling. think. Leo
pold must love you desperately or he
would never have proposed marriage.
even morganatic marriage. Just ut
first the idea must have shocked you,
knowing who you are. But, remember,
II you were Miss MOwbray 1t would
have been a triumph. Many women Of
high position have married royalty
morganat!cally. and every one has re-
spected them. You seem to forget that
the emperor knows you only as Helen
Mowbray."
He ought to have known that Helen
Mowbray was not the girl to consent
no. not more easily than Virginia Of
Baumenburg- Drippe. He should have
understood without telling that to a
girl with Anglo Saxon blood In her
veins such an offer would be like a
| blow over the heart"
How should he understand It? He
Is Rhaetian. His point Of view
His point Of view to me Is terrible.
Oh. mother. It's useless to argue! Ev-
erything Is spoiled. OF course IL he
knew ! was Princess Virginia he would
be sorry for what he had proposed,
even If he thought I'd brought 1t on
myself. But then 1t would be too late.
Don't you understand? l valued his
love because 1t was given to me, not
the princess. II he said, Now l know
you can offer my right hand instead
OF my left to you as my wife, that
would not he the same thing at all.
No; there's nothing left but to 80 home,
and the emperor Of Rhaetia must be
told that Virginia Of Baumenburg-
Drippe has decided not to marry. That
vii. be our one revenge, but q pitiful
one, since he'll never know that tho
princess who refuses his right hand
and the Helen Mowbray who wouldn't
take his left are one and the same.
Oh, mother, l did love him 80! Let
US get out Of this hateful house as soon
as we can"
The grand duchess knew her daueh.
ter and abandoned hope. Eyes, II you
Will not forgive him we must 20 at
once and save our dignity II we can"
she said. THE telegram will give us
our excuse. told the baroness had
received bad news. and she asked per-
mission to knock Mt my door before
going to bed and inquire how I was
feeling. She may come at any mo-
ment. We must say that the telegram
recalls us Immediately to England"
Listen" whispered Virginia. IL
think there's some one ut the door
now"
Baroness Won Lyndal stood aghast on
hearing that she was to be deserted
early In the morning by the bright
particular star Of her house party
after the emperor. She begged that
Lady Mowbray would reconsider: that
she would wire to England instead Of
going, or, ut all events. that she would
wait for one day more until Tnonold,a