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

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have the best Of excuses. Lady Now
bray was in need of her daughter.
| Helifted the white curtains and peep
ed through small antechamber into
the music room beyond. 1t was empty.
but one of the long windows leading
into the rose garden was wide open.
The month of September was dying,
and away in the Rhaetian mountains
winter had begun. Yet in the lap of
the. low country summer fingered The
air was soft and sweet with the per-
fume of roses-roses living and roses
dead in a potpourri Of scattered petals
on the grass. 1t was garden for loy:
ers and night for lovers.
Egon went to the open window and
looked out, but dared not let bis feet
take the direction Of his eyes. though
he was sure that somewhere in the
garden Miss Mowbray and the emper-
or We're to be found.
'They will come in again this way
he said to himself. for they will want
people to think they have never left
the music room, and for that very rea.
son they won't stop too long. They
must have some regard-for the conven-
tons. If ! wait
He did not finish the sentence in his
mind. Nevertheless he examined the
resources Of the window niche with i
critical eye.
There was deep inclosure between
| the window frame and the long.
straight curtains of olive green satin
| which matched the decoration Of the
music room. By drawing the curtains
| q few inches farther forward one could
make screen which would hide one
from observation by any person in the
room, or outside in the garden. So
Egon did draw the curtain, and, framed
in his shelter like saint in niche. he
stood peering into the silver night.
The moon was rising over the lake,
and long, pale rays of level light were
stealing up the paths like the fingers
of a blind child that caress gropingly
the features Of beloved face.
Egon could not see the whole gar
den or all the paths among the roses.
But if the emperor and his companion
came back by the way they had gone
he would know presently whether they
walked in the attitude Of friends or
lovers. It was so necessary for his
plans to know this that he thought 1T
worth while to exercise little pa
tience in waiting. Or course, If they
We're lovers, goodby to his hopes. and
he would never have so good chance
as this to make sure.
All things in the garden that were
not white were gray as doves wings.
Even the shadows were not black,
and the sky was gray, with the soft
gray Of velvet under crust OF dia-
monds which flashed as the spangles
on woman's fan fash when it trem-
bles in her hand.
White moths, happily ignorant that
summer would come no more for them,
drifted out from the shadows like rose
petals blown by the soft wind. On
trellis a crowding sisterhood Of pale
roses dropped their heads downward
In memento mort. 1t was q silver
night, night Of enchantment.
Leopold had meant to take Virginia
out only to see the moon rise over the
water, turning the great smooth sheet
of jet into q silver shield, for there
had been clouds or spurts Of rain on
other nights, and he had said to him.
self that never again perhaps would
they two stand together under the
white spell Of the moon. He had
meant to keep her for five minutes. or
ten at the most, and then to bring her
back, but they had walked down to
the path which girdled the cliff above
the lake. The moon touched her gold
en- hair and her pure face like bene,
diction. He dared not look at her thus
for long, and when there came sud
den quick rustling in the grass at their
feet he bent down. glad of any change
IN the current of his thoughts.
Some tiny winged thing Of the night
sought lodging in bell shaped flow
er whose blue color the moon had
drunk, and as Leopold stopped the
same impulse made Virginia bend.
He stretched out his hand to gather
the low growing branch Of blossoms,
which he would give the girl as
souvenir of this hour, and their fingers
met. Lake and garden SWAN before
the eyes of the princess as the en-
peror's hand closed over hers.
Her great moment had come. yet
now that it was here, womanlike. she
wished it away, not gone forever-oh'
no-but waitin- just round the corner
Of the future.
"The flowers are yours-I give them
to you," she laughed, as if she fancleu
it was in eagerness to grasp the dis
puted spray that he had pressed her
fingers.
"You are the one flower 1 want
flower of all the world" he answered
in Q choked voice, speaking words lie
had not meant to speak. But the ice
barriers that held back the torrent OF
which he had told her had melted long
ago and now had been swept away.
Other barriers which he had built up
in their place-his convictions, his duty
as a man at the head of nation
were gone too. 81 love YOU" he stam-
mered. 81 love you far better than
my life which you saved. I've loved
you ever since our first hour together
~, tho mountain but every day my