The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-21
* BcHApTEp ELEVEN
!sHE ran from him along
the moonlit path. One
step he took as if to
follow and keep her,
hut checked himself

and let her go. Only
dis eyes went with her, and in them
there was more Of pain than anger,
though never before in all his life per-
haps had he been. thwarted in any
strong desire. Passion urged him for
ward. but pride held him back, for
Leopold was proud man, and to have
his love thrown in his face was to re
ceive an icy douche with the blood at
fever heat
For this girls sake he had in few
DAYS changed the habits Of lifetime
Pride, reserve, self control, the wish
not only to appear but to be man
above the frailties Of common men. the
ambition to be placed and worthily
placed on pedestal by his subjects
all these he had thrown away for
Helen Mowbray.
He was too just man not to admit
that If one of his royal cousins of
Younger branches had contemplated
such folly as this he would have done
his best to nip that folly while it was
In bud. "He jests at scars who never
felt a wound" and until Leopold had
learned by his own unlocked for ex-
perience what love can mean, what
men will do for love while the sweet
madness is on them, he would have
been utterly unable to understand the
state of mind.
A cousin inclined to act as he was
now bent on acting would but month
ago have found all the emperor's 1nfiu-
ence, even force perhaps, brought to
bear in restraining him. Leopold saw
the change in himself, was startled
and shamed by it. Nevertheless he
would have persevered, trampling
down every obstacle that rose in his
way, If only the girl had seen things
with his eyes.
She had accused him Of Insulting
her. not stopping to consider that even
to make her morganatically his wife
be must give great cause for COM
plant not only to ais ministers, but to
his people, for he was expected to
marry girl Of royal blood that the
country might have an heir. If Helen
Mowbray had accepted the position he
offered her. he could never have bro
ken her heart by making another mar
riage.
Not only would 1t be difficult in these
days to find princess willing to toler-
ate such a rival, but it would have
been impossible for him to desecrate
the bond between himself and the one
adored woman.
This being the case, with Helen
Mowbray as his morganatic wife,
there could be no direct heir to the
throne. At his death the son Of his
uncle, the Archduke Joseph, would
succeed, and during his life the popu-
laIity which was dear to-. him would
be hopelessly forfeited. Rhaetia would
never forgive him for selfshly prefer
ring his own private happiness to the
good of the nation.
He could fancy how old Iron Heart
Won Breitstein would present this point
of view to him with fierce eloquence.
temples throbbing like the ticking Of a
watch, eyes netted with bloodshot
veins. But. on the other hand. he could
picture himself standing calmly 20
face the. storm, steadfast in his own
indomitable will, happy with love to
uphold him.
But now the wiz which had borne
him through life in triumphal march
had been powerless against that Of
this young girl She would have none
Of him. A woman whose face was her
fortune. whose place in life was hard
~ as high aS the first step of throne.
had refused-an emperor!
Hardly could Leopold believe the
thing: that. had. happened to him. He
had spoken Of doubling that he had
won her love, and he had doubted.
But he had allowed himself to hope,
because he had confidence in his star
and because perhaps it had scarcely
been known in the annals Of history
that an emperor's suit should be re-
pulsed.
Besides, he had loved the girl 80 pas;
slonately that it seemed she could not
remain cold. And he hoped still that
when she had passed long night in
reflection, in thinking over the situa:.,
ton, perhaps taking counsel with that
comparai lively commonplace yet prac-
teal little lady, her mother, she might
be ready to change her mind.
For the first few moments after the
stinging rebuff he had endured Leo
pold felt that If she did it would be her
turn to suffer, for he could never hum
BILE himself to implore for the second
time But as he stood in the soft still
ness Of the night, gazing toward the
lights of. the house, thoughts of Vir-
ginia-her youth, her sweetness, her
beauty dimmed with grlef-overwhelm-
ed him. Could he have reached her he
would have fallen on his knees and
kissed her gown.
BY and by vast tenderness breath
ed its calm over the thwarted passion
in his breast. aud plans to win her
back came whispering in his ear. de
would write letter and send 1t to her
room. But, no; perhaps it would be
wise to give her a longer interval for
reflection and, 1t might be, regret. To-
morrow he would see her and show
NIL the depths of that great love which
she had thought to throw away. She
could not go Oh wlthstandins him for
n,.ar ond now +h0t 7 had hurnp6 his