The Marshall republican., 1908-06-12
CHAPTER SEVEN !

.A ward tell least about II,
W aud to the princess those
~ i've minutes moments
the most tremendous,
the most vital OF her life-were after.
ward In memory like a dream.
b had seen that q man was ghast.
/ly pale: she had caught q CLEAN of
fear In his eye: she had felt a tigerish
CULVER run through his frame AZ the
crowd pressed him against her. In.
s~tinct-apd love-had told her the rest
and taught her how to act.
vaguely she recalled later That she
hnd thrown herself forward and struck
NJ the knife. An impression OF that
Knife MS the light cleaned on II nlone
wns clenr. S%lckening, she had thought
OF the dull sound II would make In
falling. OF the blood TINT would spout
from a rent IN the white coat among
the jewe!ed orders. She had thought.
ns one thinks In dying. Of existence Il
a world empty Of Leopold. and SHE h.
known that unless he could be saved
her n wish was to 60 out OF IN,
world with him.
More than this she had not thought
or ln"vn. What she did was done
scnrcc,.' by her W volition. and she
seemed to wake with n start at last.
to hear herself sobbing aud to feel the
throb. throb. OF u hot pain In her nrm.
A hundred bnnds-not quick enough
TO save, yet quick enough to follow the
lead given by bcr-had fought 10 seize
the man In gray and SOP n secon
blow. They had borne him away.
while. as for Virginia. her work done.
she forgot everything and every OF,
but Leopold.
Rcviving. she had heard him speak
TO the crowd and told herself dreamily
that were she dying his voice could
bring her back II he called. She even
listened to each word that rang out
like n cathedral bell above the babel.
Still he held her. and when the cheers
am she scarcely understood that
they were for her as well as for Leo
pold. the emperor. Afterward. the no
ccssity for public action over. he bent
his head close enough TO whisper,
"rhank you" and then for Virginia
every syllable was clear.
you are the bravest woman alive"
he said. IL had 10 keep them from
killing the %rufian. but now I caa
speak to you alone. I thank you for
what you did with my whole heart.
aud ! pray heaven you're not seriously
hurt"
"No. not hurt and very happy" the
princess answered. hardly knowing
what she said. She felt like a soul n.
lonsed from Its body. floating In blue
ether. What could II matter II that
body ached or bled7 Leopold was
safe. aud she had saved him.
He pointed to her sleeve. THE knife
struck you. Your arms bleeding, aud
the wound must be seen Immediately
by my own surgeon. Would that ] coul1
90 with you myself. but duty kesps
me here. You understand that. Baruo
o Lyndal and his wife will at oacs
tnke you home. wherever you may -
staying. They
But I would rather stop and -
the rest" said Virginia. I'm QuleD
well now. not even weak, and I Co
60 down to my friend
III you're able TO stop, It must -
here with me-" answered LeupolA.
"After the service you have done f0
me and for the country II = yoas
place"
The ladies Of the court, who. Win
their husbands. had been waiting -
l N~ngratulate Leopold. crowded roun1
N girl as the emperor turned 10 ths0
NTH a look and gesture Of invitattso.
A seat was given her. and the arm -
Its blood stained sleeve was hastily
bound up. She was the heroine of ths
day. dividing honors with its hero.
There was scarcely a grande dame
among the brilliant assemblage on ths
emperor's platform to whom Lady
Mowbray and her daughter had not 9
letter Of introduction from their inval.
liable friend. But 10 n knew 81
tkk moment Of any title to their recoe-
milton possessed by the girl other thar
the right she had earned by her splsn-
did deed. All smiled on her through
grateful tears, though there were some
who would have given their ten nD.
Gers to have stepped Into her place.
Thus Virginia sat through the csso-
1 Ihonies, careless that thousand Of sya
(. ykere on her face. thinking only Of 60
bair Of eyes. which spared . glance IT.
her now and then. hardly seeing IL
Statue Of Rhaetia. whose glorious maN'
Bile womanhood unveiled reused .
storm Of enthusiasm from the crowd.
hearing only the short, stirring speech
made by Leopold.
When everything was over and ~
people had no excuse to finger saye 10
see the emperor ride away and the
great personages disperse. Leopold
turned again 70 Virginia.
All the world was listening. OF
course; al the world was watching.
too. and no matter what his inclina.
tion might have bssn. his words could
be but few.
Once more be thanked and praised