The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-05-16


very spot where you and l stand now
heart to heart for the first time, my
darling myself whether there
were any way out of labyrinth. II
was not until | brought you here and
saw you by my side, with the moon
rays for a crown, that 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"
"Still you haven't answered my ques-
tion," said Virginia In low, strained
voice.
"pm coming to that now. 1t was
best that you should know first all
that's been troubling my heart and
brain during these few bittersweet
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 well as loved You
must have heard even in England Of
what is called morganatic marriage.
1t is that | offer you"
With cry Of pain-the cruel pain Of
wounded, disappointed love-the prin-
cess tore her hand from his.
"Neverw she exclaimed TITS an In
suit"
IAN insult? No, thousand times ND.
see that even now you don't under
stand"
Il think that l 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 Its triumphant COM
pletion.
II tell you that you cannot under
stand or you wouldn't say--you
wouldn't dare to say. my love-that I'd
tnsulted you. Don't you see, don't you
know, that you would be my wife IN
the sight of all men as well as in the
sight Of God"
Your wife, you call itr' The prin-
cess gave 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 q mere pretense, hypocrisy.
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 well that In
country which tolerates such 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 IL ]
Aad no existence.
Great heaven, that you should speak
sov' he broke out. what II 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 a lot so miserable, 80 |
to woman you profess |
to love. How could you do 1t? II only |
you had never spoken the hateful
words--if only you had left me the
ideal, had of you-noble, glorious,
above the whole world of men! But,
after all, you are selfish, cruel. If you
had said, J love you, yet we must
part, for duty stands between u.s. !
could But, no; | can never tell you
now what | could have answered II
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 II he held his breast open
Tor the knife.
by heaven, 1t Is you who are cruelv'
be said at last. How can / make you
,ee your injusticeT ..-----...