The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-06-17

biOii't anu ohiy hlSS lOIllDuu WAS
pushed ruthlessly into the background
The poor lady raised feeble protest
In English which nobody needed unless
1t were the man who had inadvertently
acted as pioneer. At her shrill out
burst he turned quickly, as If startled
by the sudden cry, and Virginia was
SO close to him that her chin almost
touched his shoulder. For the first
time she had n glimpse Of his face
which matched the yellow wax of his
neck in pallor.
The girl shrank away from him in
voluntarily. "What Il deaths head
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 q roll of parchment
tied with narrow ribbon and sealed
with large red seal. AS he drew it
out and rcarranged his coat his hand
trembled 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 ana
crimson, had just time TO feel Il stir
ring Of dislike and perhaps curiosity
when great cheer arose from thou
sands Of throats. The square rang
with roar Of loyal acclamation. Men
waved tall hats, soft hats and green
peasant hats with feathers. Beautiful
ly dressed women grouped on the high
decorated balconies waved handlcr-
chiefs or scattered roses from gildcd
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 It's gold eagle, the dark face was
clear cut as n cameo, and the eyes
were bright with proud light. To
the crowd he was the emperor, a fine,
ruled his country better than it had
been ruled yet by one of his house and,
above all, provided many pleasing
spectacle for the people, but to Vir-
glnia he was far more-an ideal Sir
Galahad or n st. George strong and
brave to slay all dragon wrongs which
might threaten his wide land.
What If he should never love me?"
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 It's gold and silver trappings. the
crusted jewels of many orders spar.
king on his breast, while he salutcd
his subjects in his soldiers way
For moment there was pause,
save for shouting, which rose ANA
rose again. Then he alighted, whcrc-
upon important looking men with rib.
bons and decorations came forward
bowling, to receive the emperor. The
ceremony OF unveiling 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 few
yards Of Virginia. His gaze flashed
over the gay crowd. What if 1t should
rest upon her? 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
dimmed 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 It's loudcst 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, a gathering of his
muscles for spring, shot like an cleo.
trio message through her own body.
The mist was burnt up in the flame
Of strange enlightenment 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 he soul OF that
man rs we'll
"IIc is going to kill the emperor
1t was as If voice spoke the words
In her ear. She knew now why she
had struggled to win this place, why
She had succeeded, what she had to do
or die in failing to do.
Leopold was not half a dozen yards
away and was coming nearer No one
but Virginia suspected evil. She alone
had felt the thrill OF murdercrs
nerves, the tense spring of his mus.