Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-01

1 The travellers broke the long journey
 at Melinabad, and Virginia's study oi
 trains had timed their arrival in Kron
 burg for the morning of the birthday
 eve, early enough for the first cere
 mony of the festivities, the unveiline
 by the emperor of statue of Rhaeta
 in the Leopoldplatz, directly in front
 of the Hohenlangeuwald hotel.
 Virginia looked forward to seeing the emperor from her own windows, as
 according to her calculation, there was
 an hour to spare but at the station they were told by the driver of the carriage sent to meet them that, the crowd in the streets being already very
 great. he feared it would be a tedious undertaking to get through. Some of the thoroughfares were closed for traf- fic. He would have to go by round about way and in any case could not reach the ain entrance of the hotel. At best he would have to deposit his passengers md their luggage at a side entrance in narrow street.
 As the carriage started. from far away came burst of martial music a military band playing the national air which the chamois hunter had heard girl sing behind closed door at Alleheiligen.
 The shops were all shut, would be shut until the day after tomorrow, but their windows were unshuttered and l gayly decorated to add to the bright ness of the scene. Strange old shops displayed the marvellous chased silver, the jeweled weapons and gorgeous en- broiderieS from the far. eastern prov i inces of Rhaetia. Splendid new shops rivaled the best of the Rue de la Paix in Paris. Gray medieval buildings made wonderful backgrounds for dra- l pery of crimson and blue and garlands of blazing flowers. Modern buildings of purple red porphyry and the famous honey yellow marble of Rhaeta flut- tered with flags, and above all. in the heart of the town. between old and new. rose the Castle Rock. Virginias pulses beat as she saw the home of Leopold for the first time, and she was proud of its picturesqueness, its riches and grandeur, as if she had some right in 1t too.
 Ancient narrow streets and wide new streets were alike arbors of evergreen and brilliant blossoms. Prosperous citizens in their best, inhabitants of the poorer quarters and stalwart peasants from the country elbowed and pushed each other good naturedly as they streamed toward the Leopoldplatz Handsome people they were, the gil thought, her heart warming to them, and to her it seemed that the very air tingled with expectation. She be- lieved that she could feel the mag netic thrill in it even if she were blind and deaf and could hear or see nothing of the excitement.
 We must be in time. We shall be in tiine,' she said to herself. 'I shall lean out from my windows and see him.
 But at the hote'. which they did finally reach. the girl had to bear keen disappointment. With many apol, ogies the landlord explained that he had done his very best for Lady Mow. bray's party when he received their letter a fortnight before and that he had allotted them good suit, with balconies overlooking the river at the back of the house-quite Venetian ef hnr Tod p,,t as to rooms at the front-impossible All had been engaged fully six weeks in advance. One American millionaire was paying thousand gulden solely for an hours use of small balcony today for the unveiling and again to morrow for the street procession. Vir glnia was pale with disappointment. Then I'll go down into the crowd and take my chance of seeing something.' she said to her mother when they had been shown into handsome rooms sat isfactory in everything but situation 'I must hurry or there'll be no hope"
 My dear child. impossible for you to do such a thing exclaimed the II ing it. Fancy what crush there will be-all sorts of creatures tramplinc on each other for places. Besides. you could see nothing"
 ''Oh. mother" pleaded the princess in her softest. sweetest voice. the voice she kept for extreme emergencies of cajOling. "I couldn't bear to stay shut up here while that music plays and the crowds shout themselves hoarse for my emperor. Besides. it's the most curious thing-I feel as if a voice kept calling to me that I must he there. Miss Portman and I'll take care of each other. You will let me go. won't you:'
 Of course the grand duchess yielded. her one stipulation being that the two should keep close 10 the hotel. and the princess urged her reluctant companion away without waiting to hear her mothers last counsels.
 Their rooms were on the first floor, md the girl turned eagerly down the broad flight of marble stairs. Miss Portmsn following dutifuIly upon her heels.
 They could not get out by way of the front door. for people had paid for room there and would not yield an inch. even for an instant, while the two or three steps below and the broad pavement in front were as closely blocked. Matters began to look hopeless. but would not be daunted. They