The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-05-30

Leopold bent forward to launch this
thunde- bolt. his brown hands on BIZ
knees, his eyes eager. The memories
half bitter half sweet, called up by
his own words caused Virginia to ap
pear more beautiful. more desirable
ever than before.
He was delighted with the expires
! sion of the chanceior's face Now
what arguments have you leftY be
broke out in the brief silence.
"All ! had before and many new
ones. for what your majesty has said
shows the lady more ambitious, more
astute, therefore more dangerous. than
| had guessed. She staked everything
on the power of her charms, and she
might have won had you not an old
servant who wouldn't be fooled by the
witcheries of fair Helen"
"She has won" said Leopold, then
quickly: God forgive me for Ginning
In with your bitter humor. as If she'd
played a game. BY simply being her
self she has won me, such as | am.
She's proved that If she cares at all
it's for the man and not the emperor.
since she called the offer you think SO
magnificent an insult Yes, chancel-
Tor, that was the word she used. and
1t was almost the last she said to me,
which is the reason I'm travelling to-
day, And none Of your boosted proofs
can hold me back"
by heaven. your majesty must look
upon yourself from the point of view
you credit to the girl. You forget the
emperor in the man"
"The two need not be separated"
Love indeed makes men blind and
spares not the eyes Of emperors."
'Tve pledged myself to bear with
you, chancellor"
"And | know you'll keep your word.
| must speak for Rhaetia and your
better self You are following this
lady to give her your empire for
toy"
"She must first accept the emperor
as her husband
"a lady who has so poor name of
her own that she steals one which
doesn't belong to her-the nation won't
bear it."
"You speak for yourself, not for
Rhaetia," said Leopold Though I'm
not so old as you by half your years,
| believe can judge my people better
than you do. The law which bids an
emperor Of Rhaetia match with royal
ty is an unwritten law, a law solely of
customs handed down through the gen.
erations. I'll not spoil my life by sub
mitting to its yoke, since by breaking
1t the nation gains, as do. | could
go to the worlds end and not find a
woman as worthy to be my wife and
empress Of Rhaetia as Helen Now
bray"
"You have never seen Princess vir-
ginia"
1--WE no wish to see her There's but
one woman for me, and swear to you
II l lose her I'll go to my grave un-
Let the crown fall to my
uncle's SON I'll not perjure myself
even for Rhaetia."
The chancellor bowed his head and
held up his hands, for by that gesture
alone could he express his despair.
IF my people love me they'll love
my wife and rejoice in my happiness"
Leopold went on sharply. IF they
why. we shall see who's
naster-whether or not the emperor of
Rhaetia is mere fgurehead. In some
countries royalty is but an ornamental
survival of a picturesque past; a king
II queen is mere puppet which the
nation loads with luxury to do itself |
honor. That's not true of Rhaetia,
hough. as I'm ready to prove, if prove |
t | must. But ! believe shall be |
spared the trouble We Rhaetans love |
are perhaps the one ex- |
as for the story you've |
old me- | would not give that for it,"
md the emperor snapped his fingers.
"You still believe the ladies have a
light to the name of Mowbray"
II believe that they are of stainless
equation and that any seeming mys-
cry can be explained. Miss Mowbray
5 herself That's enough for me. Per-
laps, chancellor, there are two Lady
Iowbrays."
"Only one is mentioned in Burke"
Burke isn't gospel"
Pardon me. It's the gospel of the
British peerage. 1t can no more be
Utility of error than Euclid"
'"Nor can Miss Mowbray be guilty of
'rong. | should still stake my life on
hat even had your conclusions not
cen lame ones"
The old man accepted this rebuff In
Hence. But 1t was not the silence of
bsolute hopelessness; 1t was only such
pause as prize fighter makes be-
ween rounds.
"Your majesty will not be in too
reat haste, at all events, trust" he
aid at last-"at least a little rehec-
on, little patience. to cool the blood
have not laid down all my cards yet" .
Its often bad policy not to lead /,
jumps" replied Leopold. III
"Often, but not always. Time and
lie end of the play will show. Is your
ajesty's indulgence for the old man
1