The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-05-15

j. had ceased to exist
- so far as Leopold and
Virginia were concerned.
"I'll tell you now why I'm here and
everything else," She was saying, but
the emperor stopped her.
"Ever since came TO myself l want
ed no explanation" he said. 81 want
ed only you. That is all want now.
Lam the happiest man in the universe.
why should ask how came By my
happiness? Virginia! Virginia! It's
a more beautiful name even than
Helen"
"But listen," she pleaded. "There
are some things-just few things
that long to tell you. Please let me.
Last night wished to go into con-
vent. Oh, it was because loved you
so much! wanted you to seem per-
feet as my hero Of romance, just as
you were already perfect as an en-
peror To think that should have
been far away out of Rhaetia by this
time If Miss Portman hadn't been i'll!
Dear Miss Portman! Maybe If we'd
gone nothing would ever have come
right. Who can say?
''You know, my brother came to our
hotel this afternoon. When his card
arrived we couldn't tell whether he
knew our secret or not, but when we
had let him come up we had only to
see his face Of surprise. He was an
cry, too, as well as surprised, for he
blurted out that there were all sorts Of
horrid suspicious against us, and moth
er explained everything to him before
1 could have stopped her even if |
would-how l had not wanted to ac-
cept you unless you could learn to love
me for myself and then how had
been disappointed. No, don't speak;
that's all over now. You've more than
atoned, thousand times more.
"Dal explained things. too, then-very
different things-about plan of the
chancea lor's to disgust you with me
and how he (Dan had played into the
chancelirr's hands because you see
he thought he was acting wisely for
bis neglected sisters sake and because
he had really supposed an actress he
knows was masquerading as Miss
Mowbray. Very imprudently he'd told
her that some day there might be
something between you and his sister
She knew quite well, too, that the real
Mowbrays were our cousins; SO. you
see, as she and he have Quarreled, 1t
might have been an easy and clever
way for an INSCRIPTIONS woman to
take revenge. Dal would have gone
and perhaps have said dreadful things
to the chancellor, who was waiting
downstairs for news, but begged him
not. From being the saddest girl in
the world I'd suddenly become the
happiest, for the chancellor had told
Dal and Dal had told me that you had
followed Helen Mowbray to ask her to
be the empress. That changed every
thing, for then / knew you really loved
her, but just TO punish you for what l
suffered through you last night I long
ed to put you to one more test. 1 said:
Let the chancellor carry out his plot.
Let me 60 with you to your hunting
lodge At first Dal wouldn't consent,
but when I begged him he did, for
generally I can get my way with peo-
pie, warn you.
That's all. except that hadn't real
lied how severe the test would be un-
til you came In and saw the look in
your eyes. 1t was a dagger Of ice in
my heart I prayed heaven 10 make
you believe in me without word. Oh,
how / prayed through all that dread
full moment and how I looked at you,
saying with my eyes, I love you; am
truep If you had failed me then it
would hare killed lie, bul'-
"There could be no but" the en-
peror broke In. ITO doubt is not to
love. When man loves he knows.
Even O. of darkness a light comes
and teljs him."
"Then you forgive me-for tonight,
and for everything, from the begin
n'ng%
"Forgive your
"And IL I'd been different. more like
other girls. content with conventional
affection, you wouldn't have loved me
more?"