The Marshall republican., 1908-07-31
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reflection md. II might he. regret. To
morrow he would see her and show
oil the depths OF that great love which
she had thought to throw away. She
could not 60 on w~itbstandlng him for.
ever. and. now that he had burned his
boats behind him. he would never
think Of turning back. He would per
severe TIL she should Weld.
Meanwhile Virginia had hurried
blindiy toward the house. aud II was
instinct rather than intention that led
her to the open window Of the music
room. by which she had come ont.
Tears burned her eyelids. but they
did not fall until she stood once more
In the room where she aud Leopold
Ind been happy together. There she
hnd vat nj the piano. and he had bent
over her. love In his eyes honest love.
she had thought. her hcnrt full Of
thanksgiving. How little she had
guessed then the humiliation IN store
for her and the end OF all her hopes
How could she hear her pain. and how
could she IN on living out her life?
She paused In the window niche.
looking Into the room through n mIrt
OF tears. and n sob choked her. Cruel
cruell' she whispered. "whnt agon..
what M INSULT
, Then. dnsbing nway her tears. she
puzzled bnck the dark curtains and
would have passed on into the room
had not the quick gesture brought her
arm into contact with the buttons ami
gold braid on n mans brcnst.
4 Instantly she realized that some one
was hiding there. some one dressed IN
n military cont. and her nrst impulse
vas for digit. anything TO escape up
ccognIzed. But on second thoughts
he changed her mind.
Whoever II was had In all probabiii
y hidden himself for the purposc Of
wing and was already aware tina,
.iiss Mowbray had rushed into the
rouse weeping after a t~ete-s-tete with
hc emperor In the pnrden. Perhaps he
md even caught q word or two Of her
'obbing ejaculation. No: she must not
IN away and leave the outcome Of
his AFFAIR to chance. She must see
With whom she had to deal TINT she
light know what was hest to do.
She had taken n step Into the room.
~ quick NJ light she turned, pulled
way the screen of curtains and faced
'nptnIp ron Breitstein.
" wnr n trying moment for him. and
10 girls look stripped him Of all his
'fbt nndacity. She Ind come a. the
IN low 10y a different path from the
me he had watched: therefore she had
ken him unn wares before he had
ime 10 escape, M he Ind planned. He
ns caught fairly and must save him
~ NJ hest he could without prepara.
m
" her reproach forestnlled his eI
ise he war lost He must step Into
- breach az whatever risk. there
~ 10 time 10 weigh words. He musi
7 loose the first that sprang to hi,
Us,
II seq what you think " me- he
nd. II zee you think ! was wntcbine
~. swear wasn't. though I kneP
~ were In the garden with the EN-
u Wnlt-yon must listen, yoh
Just hear my justification. wa,
mt to this room to fetch you. For
our sake. how could ! 20 back and
~ you had disappeared together?
cked out Into the garden and saw
ou.- with him. saw from your man.
or that-he had made you suffer.
M half mad with rage. guessing,
messing something which one word
~ let drop M you came IN told mt
nh happened. He In my sovereign.
, hut-he has Insulted you. Let me bc
Your kn,"ht. rs In days Of old. Let
~ defend you. for love you.
nlted here to tell you this as you
'me so TINT n you would we might
'lorn"e M engagement
N virglnla's eyes had been dagger
. won,a have fallen nj her feet pierc
! to the heart. For one long second
IL looked ut him without speaking
~ face eloquent. Then she went b.
~ with the proud bearing OF a queen
Ecu was stricken dumb. Duly hs
. atched her move across the room I,
;, door which led Into a corridor. II.
ard the wbirper Of her satin drcsi
saw the changing lights aud shad
,ws on lts creamy folds under tn,
: y! stal chandeliers; he saw the whit
objection. like q spirit. mirrored dee
nder the polished surface Of the door
sever had she been more beautiful
vt she was beautiful In his eyes n
iuger. lie had hurt her pride. but sh
+. had stabbed his vanity. and to woun
lyon o Breitstein's vanity was I
: strike at his life. He hnted the sir
huted her 80 sharply that hts nerve
uched with the Intensity Of his hatred
and the DULY relief he could hav
: would be through reprisal.
: He had not been able to deceive hel
: She knew that be had ieen spyinr
> and II WINS fortunate for hlA future. b
: realized already. that she had brokeI
with the emperor. He must do ail b
could. and do II quickly. to prevent
reconciliation lest shs should work blu
I lnturv F.ga. a.NlIt lHu. .