The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-17

"
rays for q crown, that a fash of blind
ing light seemed to pierce the clouds
Suddenly saw all things clearly, and
though there will be difficulties,
count them as overcome"
"Stll you haven't answered my ques.
tion," said Virginia in low, strained
voice.
.."Tm coming to that now. 1t was
best that you should know first all
that's been troubling my heart and
brain during these few bitterswee'
days which have taught me so much.
You know men who have their place
at the head of great nations can't think
first of themselves or even of those
they love better than themselves. II
they hope to snatch at personal happi-
ness they must take the one way open
to them and be thankful.
"Don't do me the horrible injustice
to believe that wouldn't be proud to
show you to my subjects as their en-
press, but instead can offer only
what men of royal blood for hundreds
Of years have offered to women whom
they honored as we'll as loved. You
must have heard even in England OF
what is called morganatic marriage
It is that 1 offer you"
With a cry Of pain-the cruel pain OF
wounded. disappointed love--the prin-
cess tore her hand from his.
"Neverr' she exclaimed. "Its an in
suit"
"An insult? No, q thousand times no.
see that even now you don't Under
stand"
81 think that I understand very well,
too WELL" said Virginia brokenly. The
beautiful fairy palace Of happiness that
she had watched as it grew lay shat
tered destroyed, in the moment which
ought to have seen it's triumphant COM
pletion.
81 tell you that you cannot under
stand or you wouldn't say-you
wouldn't dare to say, my love-that I'd
insulted you. Don't you see. don't you
know, that you would be my wife In
the sight Of all men as we'll as in the
sight Of Cod"
Your wife, you call it!'' The prin-
cess gave a harsh little laugh which
hurt as tears could not hurt. You
seem to have strange ideas of that
word, which has always been sacred
to me. A morganatic marriage! That
is mere pretense, hypocrisy. l
would be your wife you say. would
give you all my love, all my life. You
in return would give me-your left
hand. And you know we'll that in
country which tolerates such a one
sided travesty of marriage the laws
would hold you free to marry another
woman-a royal woman, whom you
could make an empress-as free as If !
had no existence"
Great heaven, that you should speak
sou he broke out. what if the law
did hold me free? Can you dream-do
you put me so low as to dream-that
my heart would hold me free? My
soul would be bound to you forever"
$50 you may believe now. But the
that you could change
would be death TO me-a death to die
daily. Yes, / tell you again, 1t was an
insult to offer lot so miserable, so
contemplate, to q woman you profess
to love. How could you do it? If only
you had never spoken the hateful
words-if only you he'd left me the
ideal l had of you-noble. glorious,
above the whole world Of men! But,
after all, you are selfish, cruel. If you
had said. 4 love you, yet we must
part, for duty stands between u.s. l
could But no; l can never tell you
now what l could have answered If
you had said that instead Of breaking
my heart"
Under the fire Of her reproach he
stood still, his lips tight, his shoulders
braced, as If he held his breast open
for the knife.
"By heaven, it is you who are cruel"
he said at last. How can make you
see your injustice?
"In no way. There's nothing more
to be said between US TWO after this
except goodby.'
at shall not be goodby."
at must l wish it,"
He had caught her dress as she turn
ed to go, but now he released her.
"You wish it? It's not true that you
love me- then?"
at was true. Everything-every-
thing in my whole life-is changed
from this hour. 1t would be better
if I'd never seen you. Goodby."