The Marshall republican., 1908-07-17
.cliApTEp TEN

STEMS visit to his brother, and the
grand duchess was beginning 10 o
der uneasily what kept her daughter
when ringed fingers tapped on the panel
of the door.
Come inr' she answered. and vir-
ginls appeared, still In the white ten.
mis- dress she had worn that afternoon.
She stood for an instant without speak
ing. her face so radiantly beautiful
that her mother thought II seemed H.
lumlned from a light within.
IL had been on the lips OF the grand
duchess to scold the girl for her tardi.
ness. since {, o he late was an unpardon-
able offense with an imperial majesty
In the house. But In that radiance the
words died.
virginia. what IL III You look-1
scarcely know how you look. But you
make me feel that something has hap
pcaed."
The princess came slowly across the
room. smiling softly. with m mir OF
one who walks In sleep. Hardly con.
iclous Of what she did, she sank down
IN n big chair and sat resting her 81.
bows on her knees, her chin Nesting
betw cen her two palms. like a pink
white rose I'm Its calyx.
"You may go. Ernestine." said the
grand duchess to her maid. "Tll ring
when | want you again"
The elaborate process OF waving and
dressing her still abundant hair had
fortunately come to a successful end.
and ErnaSfip. hod mat ,aus.d n Ain.
mond star 10 rise above her forehead.
She was In n robe de chambre. and the
rest Of her toilet could walt tWl curios.
ity was satisfied.
But virginia still sat dreaming. her
happy eyes fur away. The grand Ouch.
Gus had to speak twice before the girl
heard and s.arted a little. "My daugh-
lsr. have you anything to tell meT"
The princess reused herself. Moth.
Eng. mother. really. except that I'm the
lappiest gIrl on earth"
"v'hy. what has he saidr"
"Not one word that any one mightn't
lave listened to. But ] know. He does
are. And ! think he will say some.
:alng before we part"
There's only one more day Of his
visit here after '"night."
zone whole log, beautiful day to-
getler."
"But. after all. dearest" argued her
mother. what DO you expecti II In
truth you were only Miss Mowbray,
marriage between you and the emperor
Nrould lie out OF the question. You've
never gone Into the subject of your
feelings about this quite thoroughly
with me, and ! do wish ! knew pre-
cifcly what you hope for from him,
what you will consider the-the key
stone OF the situation"
'Only for him to say that he loves
me- Virginia confessed. III I'm right,
N I've brought something new into bis
life. something which has shown him
that his hearts as important as his
head. then there will come a moment
when he can keep silence nc longer
when he'll be forced to say. I love you
dear. and because W. can't belong "a
each other day Is turned into night fol
me- Then when that moment comes
the tide OF my fortune viii be at III
flood. l shall tell him that ! love him
too, and ! shall tell him all the truth
you'll tell him who we really areT
Yes. and why I've becn masqucr
ading-that II was because. ever since
] was a little girl. he'd been the one
man IN the world for me: because
when ear marriage was suggested
through oficial channels, ! made NJ
my mind that I must win him nrs'
through love or live single all my
days"
what II he should be vexed at thu
deception and refuse to forgive you
You know. darling. we shall be In 4
rather curious position when every
thing comes out. Al we have made al
xour friends here under the name o.
HAiowbray. or course the excuse To-
IQtwhat we did Is that our real position
a hundred times higher than thu
ne we assumed, and all those t
HON we've been introduced woult
delighted to know us In our owl
~aracters at the end. But Leopold l
man, not a romantic girl. as yo'
He has always had a reputation
fl56r pride and austerity. Tor being ius
before he would let himself he gener
GUS, and 1t may be that to one Of hi
MIXTURE n wild wlIi,n Ike yours
"You think OF him as he WIS befor'
we met, not AZ he IL now, II YOU fame,
he could be hard with q woman b
really loved" said virgins eagerly
l.sHe'n forgive me. dear, I've no fen
OF him any more. Tonight I've u
X fenr Of anythinY. lie loves m0--and-