Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-08-11

Kings coronation would not be out OF
place-in fact, there's chair In the
corner against that Gobelin that would
serve the situation. The old gentle
man by that cabinet is the Baron von
Marhof, the ambassador from Austria
Hungary. He's a brother-in-law OF
Count Won Stroebel, who was murdered
so horribly in railway carriage few
weeks ago."
"Ah, to be sure! haven't seen the
baron in years. He has changed lit
tle."
"Then you knew HMM the old
country|
Eyes; I used to see him-when !
was boy" remarked Armitage.
Mrs. Sanderson glanced at Armitage
sharply. She had dined at his ranch
house in Montana and knew that ne
lived like O gentleman; that his house,
its appointments and service were un-
usual for a western ranchman. And
she recalled, too, that she and her hus-
band had often specialized as to Armi-
tape's antecedents and history without
arriving at any conclusion in regard to
| him.
The room had slowly filed, and they
| strolled about, dividing attention be-
tween distinguished personages and
the not less celebrated works OF art
"Oh, by the way. Mr.. Armitage.
| there's the girl have chosen Tor you
to marry. l suppose it would be just
| as we'll for you to meet her now,
| though that dark little foreigner seems
i to be monopolizing her"
81 am wholly agreeable" laughed
! Armitage. 1.-The sooner the better and
| be done with it"
| Don't be so frivolous. There, you
can look safely now. She's stopped to
speak to that bald and pink justice OF
the supreme court-the girl with the
brown eyes and hair. Have care!
| Shirley and Chauvenet left the ven
cradle justice, and Mrs. Sanderson In
tercepted them at once.
"Yo think of all these beautiful
things in our own American exclaimed
Shirley. "And you, Mr.. Armitage"-
Among the other curios. Miss Clai-
borne" laughed John. taking her hand.
| But haven't introduced you yet"
began Mrs. Sanderson, puzzled.
"No; the King Edward did that. We
! crossed together. Oh, NJ. Chauvenet,
let me present Mr.. Armitage," said
Shirley, seeing that the men had not
spoken.
The situation amused Armitage. and
he smiled rather more broadly than
was necessary in expressing his pleas
ure at meeting Nj. Chauvenet. They
regarded each other with the swift In
| tentness Of men who are used to the
sharp exercise of their eyes, and when
Armitage turned toward Shirley and
| Mrs. Sanders0n he was aware that
1 Chauvenet continued to regard him
with fixed gaze.
| Miss Claiborne is wonderful sail
/ or. The Atlantic is little tumultuous
at,times in the spring. but she reported
! to the captain every day"
Miss Claiborne is nothing If not ex-
traordinary," reclared Mrs. Sanderson
4 with frank admiration.
THE word seems to have been coin
ed for her." said Chauvenet, his white
teeth showing under his thin black
mustache.
"And still leaves the language dis
tinguished chiefly for its poverty"
added Armitage. and the men bowed
to Shirley and then to Mrs. Sanderson
and again to each other. It was like
q rehearsal of some trifle in q comedy.
GLOW charmingy' laughed Mrs. San
derson. "And this lovely room is just
! the place for it."
They were still talking together as
Framed, with whom Armitage had
spoken below, entered hurriedly. He
held crumpled note, whose contents
1 it seemed had shaken him out of his
habitua melancholy cQmposure.
els Baron Won Marh6f in the room =
he asked Of Armitage. fumbling nerv-
ously at his monocle.
The Austrian ambassador, with sew
eral ladies and led by Senator Sander
son, was approaching
The attache hurried to his chief and
addressed him in a low tone. The am
bassador stopped. grew very white
and stared at the messenger for mo-
ment in blank unbelief.
The young man now repeated IN
English, in a tone that could be heard
in all parts of the hushed room:
Ellis majesty the Emperor Johann
Wilhelm died suddenly tonight In Vi
I enna," he said and gave his arm to his
chief.
| 1t was a strange place for the deliv-
cry Of such message, and the strange
ness of it was intensified to Shirley by
the curious glance that passed between
John Armitage and Jules Chauvenet-
Shirley remembered afterward that as
the attaches words rang out in the
room Armitage started, clinched his
hands and caught his breath in man
ner very uncommon in men unless they
ARE greatly moved. The ambassador
walked directly from the room with
bowed head, and every one waited In
silent sympathy until he had gone.
The word passed swiftly through the
great house, and through the open win
dows the servants were heard crying
loudly for Baron Won Marhofs car
| =, ref