The Marshall republican., 1908-04-10

w.
England, which helped Rhaetia passive
~ In the time Of her trouble eight
years ago. The fact that you have
lived In England and had an English
education would be favorably regard.
ed both by Leopold and his chancellor.
And. though I've never allowed you to
have n photograph taken since you
were q child Il hate seeing young girls
faces In the newspapers aud magazines;
even though they are royal their fea-
lures need not I've public property ana
you have lived here In such seclusion
hat you've been little seen. stlli the
INT has reached Rhaetla that yoo
sre-good to look at. Leopold has been
heard TO say that, whatever else the
future empress Of Rbaetia may be, no
won't give his people m ugly woman
to reign over them. And no alto
gcther"-
being satisfactory. ut a pinch I might
do for the place." cut In Virginia. with
the hot. impatient rebellion OF hee
youth. "oh. mother, you think me
mad or a fool. ! know. aud perhaps I
I'm mad. yet not mad enough moi "a ses
that II would be n great thing. n Won
derful thing. 20 bc asked In marriage
that great 'if'-hc had only seen and
fallen In love with me. II might have
happened. you know. As you say. In
not ugly. and ] can he rather pleasant
if ! choose-so ! believe. II he had
only come TO this land to see what
was like, as royal men did IN the dear
old fairy stories. and then had asked
been conceited enough 10 think II was
because he loved me even more than
because Of other things. Then I should
have been happy-yes, dear. I'll COZ
TESS II TO you now-almost happy
enough TO die OF the great Joy and tri.
umph OF II. But now I'm not happy.
I will marry Leopold or I'll marry 10
man. but ! swear to you ! won't 10
married 10 Leopold IN Count Won Brett
stems hateful old. cold. cut and dried
way"
ITS the emperor's way as well 10
Won Breitstein's."
"Then for once In his big. grand. OBJ
stinate life he'll have TO learn that
there's one Insignificant girl who won't
play Griselda ven for the sake OF be.
Ing his empress"
The girl proclaimed this resolve. ris.
Ing to her feet. with her head high
and a look In her gray eyes which
told the grand duchess that II would be
hopeless for her TO argue down the
resolution. At FIRST Il was a proud look
and a sad look. but suddenly n beam
Of light flashed into II and began 10
sparkle and twinkle. Virginia smiled
and showed her dimples. Her color
came and went. In a moment she was
a different girl. and her mother. be-
wildered. fearful still. dared to hope
something from the change.
"How odd you look!" she exclaimed.
you've thought Of something. You
are happy. You have the air of-of
having found some plan"
ut found me. ] think" the girl an
swered. laughing. 'all suddenly. Just
In a fash. That's the way II must be
with inspirations. This Ii one-I know
II. It's all In the air. floating round
me. But I shall grasp II soon"
She came close to her mother. still
smiling. and knclt down In the grass at
her feet, looking up with radiance In
her eyes.
Luckily there was no one save the
Dresden china lady and the birds and
lowers to w how a young princess
threw her mantle OF dignity away. for
the two did not keep royal state and .
royal retinue In the quaint old house
nj Hampton Court, and the big elm
which Virginia loved kindly hid the
mother and daughter from Intrusive
eyes.
"You do love me. don't you. dear.
estr' cooed the princess softly "a Q
dove.
"You know I do. my child. though I
don't pretend to understand you,"
sighed the grand duchess. well aware
that she was about to be coaxed into
some scheme, feeling that she wouId
yield and praying Providence that the
yielding might not lead her into tribu-
lation.
People grow dull II we understand
them too WELL" said Virginia. "It,D
like solving a puzxle-thers's 10 mors
fun In It when It's finished. But yea
wish me to be happy, darlinsr
"More than ! wish for anything elaA.
excepting, Of course, dear DaI's"-
"Dai il a man and can take care q
himself. must do the best ] an
moor me! And there's something !
want so much. SO much It would b
heaven on earth, all my own. II I could
win it-~-Leopold's love. quite for my.
elf, as a girl. not Al q suitable Prot.
,stant princess For a few horriA
minutes thought II was too late 70
hope for that and I must give him M
because I Y could be surs II ! a.
cepted him without his love and ~
said II had come afterward; that n
wal really, really true. Anyway. II
could be the same. and was