The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-28

1
! whom oS,e my life"
.It's natural you should be crate
full, your majesty. but
Its natural l should be in love-"
Natural that a young man mex
nerienced in affairs Of the heart should
tnistake warm gratitude for love-, i'm
possible that the mistake should be al
lowed to continue"
Leopold's eyes grew dark. "In suct
a connection" he said, "it would De
better not to mention the word mis-
take.' I'm gladiyou are here. for noE
you can learn from me my intentions
toward that lady"
'Intentions, did you say, your majes
"? fear l grow hard of hearing"
SAT least you will ne-er grow SLOW
Of understanding. diu speak Of my
intentions toward Miss Mowbray."
.sYou would give the lady some mag
nificent estate, some splendid acknowl
edgment"-
"Whether splendid or not would be s
matter Of opinion" laughed the EN-
peror. 81 shall offer her present Of
myself"
The old man had been sitting witt
his chin sunk into his short neck, peer
ing out from under his brows in a way
he had. but he lifted his head sudden
ly, with look in his eyes like that Of
an animal VINO scents danger from al
unexpected quarter.
Your majesty" he exclaimed, "yor
are your fathers son, you are Rhae
tian, and your standard Of honor
81 hope to marry Miss Mowbray,'
Leopold cut him short
The chancellor's jaw dropped, and he
grew pale. II had dreamed Of nothing
as bad as this" he blurted out. with
70 thought of wish to sugar the truth
81 feared young mans rashness.
dreaded scandal. But. forgive me, your
majesty. For you morganatic mar
riage woud.be madness
"A morganatic marriage l did think
Of at first, but on second thoughts
saw it would be ungrateful."
"Ah, yes. to the country which ex'
poets so much of YOU
"No, to the woman who has the
right to all or nothing. will make he1
empress of Rhaetia."
With a cry the chancellor sprang up
His eyes glared like the eyes Of a bull
who receives the death stroke. His
working lips and the hollow sound in
his throat alarmed ,he emperor.
mo, your majesty. nor he painted
"But say yes" Leopold answered
land let no man give me nay. I've
thought it all out. I will make her a
countess first Then she shall be made
my empress"
Your majesty, it is not possible"
'"Take care, chancellor
.."She has been decelving you. She
has neither the birth, the position nor
the name she claims to have, and l
can prove it."
"You are mad. Won Breitstein," the
emperor flung at him. "That can be
your only excuse for such words"
81 am not mad. but l am old and
wise, your majesty. Today you have
made me feel that am very old.
Punish me as you will for my frank
ness. My work for you and yours is
nearly done. Cheerfully will I SUBJ
NIT to my dismissal if only this last
effort in your service may save the
ship Of state from wreck. I would
not make an accusation which could
not prove. And can prove that the
two English ladies who have been
staying at Schloss Lyndalberg are not
the persons they pretend to be-"
"Who has been lying to you?' cried
Leopold, who held between clinched
hands the temper he vowed not to lose
with this old man.
ITO me. no one. To your majesty, to
society in Kronburg, two adventures
is have lied"
The emperor caught his breath. "1f
you were young man l would Kill
you for that" he said.
"I know you would. AS It Is, my
life is yours But before you take it
for Gods sake. for your fathers sake,
hear ms out!'
Leopold did not speak for a moment,
but stared at the vanishing landscape.
which he saw through q red haze.
Every WE'LL" he said at last; Il will
hear you, because l fear nothing you
can say"
when | heard of your majesty's ad-
miration for certain lady" the chan
cellor began quickly lest the emperor
should change his mind, II looked for
her name and her mothers in Burke
Peerage. There found Lady Now
bray, widow of dead baron of that
ilk. mother Of a son still child and
of one daughter, a young woman with
many names and twenty-eight years.
"This surprised NE, as the Miss
Mowbray | had seen at the birthday
ball looked no more than eighteen
and, was told, confessed to twenty
The Mowbrays, l learned by a little
further research in Burke, were dis,
tantly connected by marriage with the
family of Baumenburg-Drippe. This
seemed an odd coincidence In the cir.
cumstances. But. acting as duty bade
me act. | wired to two persons-Baron
Won Sark, your majesty's ambassador
to Great Britain, and the crown prince
Of Hungaria. the brother of Princess
Virginia"
"What did you telegraph?' asked the
emperor icily.