The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-04-22

SHSSz
I'VE can't do better.
People were vexed at the audacity OF
the girl aud the elderly woman and
would have pushed them back, but at
the critical second the blue and silver
uniformed band Of Rhaetia's crack
regiment, the Imperial Life guards,
struck up an air which told that the
emperor was coming. Promptly the
small group concerned forgot its griev-
ance In excitement, crowding together
so that Virginia was pressed to the
front, and only Miss Portman was
pushed rutLlessly into the background.
The poor lady raised a feeble protesr
in English which nobody needed unless
It were the nan who had inadvertently
acted as pioneer At her shrill OUT
burst he turned quickly, as If startled
by the sudden cry, and Virginia was
90 close to him that her chin almost
touched his shoulder For the first
time she Ind glimpse of MS face,
which matched the yellow war Of his
neck in pallcr.
The girl shrank away from Linn In
voluntarily. what a deaths head,
she thought-"a sly. wicked face and
awful eyes. He looked frightened. |
wonder why"
Assured that the sharp cry did not
concern him. the man turned to the
front again. and. having obtained his
| object-a place in the foremost rank OF
| the crowd. with one incidentally for
the princess-he proceeded to take
from his breast roll of parchment
tied with narrow ribbon and sealed
with a large red seal. AS he drew it
out and rearranged his coat his hand
trembed. 1t, too, was yellow white
The fellow seemed to have no blood In
him.
Virginia, standing now shoulder to
shoulder with the man In gray and
crimson, had Just time to feel stir
ring of dislike and perhaps curiosity
when a great cheer arose from thou
sands of throats. The square rang
with a roar Of loyal reclamation. Men
waved tall hats, soft hats and green
peasant hats with feathers. Beautiful,
ly dressed women grouped on the high
decorated balconies waved handker-
chiefs or scattered roses from gilded
baskets Women in gorgeous costumes
from faroff provinces held up half
frightened, half laughing children, and
then white figure on white charger
came riding into the square under the
triumphal arch wreathed with flags
and flowers.
Other figures followed-men in uni
forms of green and gold and red on
coal black horses-yet Virginia saw
only the white figure, shining, wonder
full.
Under the glittering helmet of steel.
with Its gold eagle, the dark face was
clear cut as cameo. and the eyes
were bright with proud light To
the crowd he was the emperor, fine,
popular, brilliant young man, who
ruled his country better than 1t had
been ruled yet by one of his house and,
above all, provided many pleasing
spectacle for the people, but to Vir
ginia he was far more-an ideal Sir
Galahad or a st. George strong aud
brave to Stay all dragon wrongs which
might threaten his wide land.
hot hn oh
was the one sharp thought which pierre
ed her pride of him.
The people were proud. too, as he sat
there controlling the white war horse,
with its gold and silver trappings, the
crusted jewels of many orders spar
king on his breast, while he saluted
his subjects in his soldiers way.
For moment there was pause,
save for shouting, which rose and
rose again. Then he alighted, where
upon important looking men with rib
bons and decorations came forward.
bowling, to receive the emperor. The
ceremony Of unwilling the statue of
Rhaetia was about to begin.
To reach the great crimson draped
platform on which he was to stand
the emperor must pass within a few
yards Of Virginia. His gaze flashed
over the gay crowd. What If 1t should
rest upon. herr The girls heart was
in her throat. She could feel it beat
Ing there, and for moment the tall
white figure was lost in mist which
her eyes.
She had forgotten how she came to
this place of vantage forgotten the
pale man In gray and red to whom she
owed her good fortune, but suddenly
while her heart was at its oudest and |
the mist before her eyes at its thick
est, she grew conscious again of his /,
existence, poignantly conscious Of his
close presence. SO near her he stood |
that quick start, gathering OF his
for a spring. shot like an cleo
trio message through her own body.
The mist was burnt up In the fame !
Of strange enlightenment, a clarity Of
vision which showed not only the
hero of the day, the throng and the
wax white man beside her, but some
thing which was In the soul of that
man as well.
HE Is going to kill the emperor!"
1t was as II voice spoke the words
IN her ear She knew now why she
had struggled to win this place. why
- - = n |