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


written, with characteristic tlippancy.
"Haye seen neither for eight years
and scarcely know them. But Lady
NJ. tall. brown old party. with nose like
hobbyhorse; Helen dark. nose like
mothers, wears glasses"
With no betrayal of feeling, Leopold
laid the telegram on the red plush
seat and unfo!ded the other.
Pardon delay" the Rhaetian am
bassador's message began "Have
heen making inquiries Lady Now
bray has been widow for, ten years.
Not rich. During sons minority has
let her. town and country houses.
Lives much abroad. Very high church,
intellectual. at present in Calcutta,
where daughter Helen, twenty-eight,
not pretty, is lately engaged to marry
middle aged Judge Of some distinction. y
"So"-and the emperor threw aside
the second bit Of paper-"it is on such
slight grounds as these that man of
the world can label two ladies 'ad-
venturesses.'
The chancellor was bitterly disap-
pointed. He had counted on the i'm
preston which these kilograms must
make. and unless Leopold were act
ing it was nuw certain that love had
driven him out of his senses.
But If the emperor were mad he
must be treated accordingly. and the
old statesman condescended to bluff"
'aThere is still more to tell" he said,
IF your majesty has not heard enough,
but | think when you have reflected
you will not wish for more. 1t is clear
that the women calling themselves
Mowbrays have had the audacity to
present themselves here under false
colors. They have either deceived
Lady Lambert. who introduced them
to Rhaetian society, or, still more like
ly, they have cleverly forged their let
tiers Of introduction"
'Why didn't you telegraph to Lady
Lambert while your hand was in!"
sneered Leopold.
81 did. your majesty. or, rather. not
knowing her present address, | wired
a friend of mine. an acquaintance of
hers. begging him to make inquiries
without using my name, but l have
not yet received an answer to that tele-
gram"
Until you do I should think that
even q cynic like yourself might give
two defenseless. inoffensive ladies the
benefit of the doubt"
"Inoffensive," echoed Won Brett
ip-'inoffensive when they came to
this country to ensnare your majesty
through the girls beauty! But, great
heaven, it is true that I am growing
old. have forgotten to ask your maj
esty whether you have gone SO far as
to mention the word marriage to Miss
Mowbray?"
"Ill answer that question by another.
Do you really believe that Miss Now
bray came to Rhaetia to 'entrap' ule?'
81 do, though scarcely think that
even her ambition flew as high as you
are encouraging it to soar"
"In case you're right she would have
been overjoyed with an offer Of NOR
ganatic marriage"
"Overjoyed is a poor word. Over
whelmed might be nearer"
Yet tell you she refused me last
night and is leaving Rhaetia today
rather than listen to further entrea-
ties"
Leopold bent forward to launch this
.hunderbolt. his brown hands on his
srecs, his eyes eager. The memories
nalf bitter, half sweet. called up by
his own words caused Virginia to ap-
pear more beautiful, more desirable.
ever than before.
He was delighted with the express
sion of the chancellor's face. Now.
what arguments have you left? he
broke out in the brief silence.
Gall had before and many new
ones, for what your majesty has said
shows the lady more ambitious, more
astute, therefore more dangerous, than
/ had guessed. She staked everything
on the power of her charms, and she
might have won had you not an old
servant who wouldn't be. fooled by the
witcheries of a fair Helen"