Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-07
had refused.-an emperor.

But he had allowed himself to hope, because he had confidence in his star and because perhaps 1t had scarcely been known in the annals of history that an emperor's suit should be re- pulsed.
 Besides, he had loved the girl so pas sionately that 1t seemed she could not remain cold. And he hoped still that when she had passed long night in reflection, in thinking over the situa- ton, perhaps taking counsel with that comparatively commonplace yet prac- tical little lady, her mother, she might be ready to change her mind.
 For the first few moments after the stinging rebuff he had endured Leo pold felt that if she did it would be her turn to suffer, for he could never hum- ble himself to implore for the second time. But as he stood in the soft still ness of the night, gazing toward the lights of the house, thoughts of Vir- glnia-her youth, her sweetness, her beauty dimmed with grief-overwhelm ed him. Could he have reached her he would have fallen on his knees and kissed her gown.
 By and by vast tenderness breath. ed its calm over the thwarted passion in his breast, and plans to win her back came whispering in his ear. He would write letter and send it to her room. But, no; perhaps it would be wise to give her longer interval for reflection and, it might be, regret To- morrow he would see her and show all the depths of that great love which she had thought to throw away. She could not go on withstanding him for ever, and, now that he had burned his boats behind him, he would never think of turning back. He would per severe till she should yield.
 Meanwhile Virginia had hurried blindly toward the house, and it was instinct rather than intention that led her to the open window of the music room, by which she had come out.
 Tears burned her eyelids, but they did not fall until she stood once more in the room where she and Leopold had been happy together. There she had sat at the piano, and he had be1t over her, love in his eyes-honest love, she had thought, her heart 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 bear her pain, and how could she go on living out her life?
 She paused in the window niche, looking. into the room through a mist of tears, and sob choked her. Cruel, cruel" she whispered. What agony, what an insult!
 Then, dashing away her tears, she pushed back the dark curtains and would have passed on into the room had not the quick gesture brought her arm into contact with the buttons and gold braid on mans breast.
 Instantly she realized that some one was hiding there. some one dressed in a military coat, and her first impulse was for flight. anything to escape un recognized. But on second thoughts she changed her mind. .---~
 Whoever it was had in all probabili- ty hidden himself for the purpose of spying and was already aware that Miss Mowbray had rushed into the house weeping after a tete-a-tete with the emperor in the garden. Perhaps he had even caught word or two of her sobbing ejaculation. No; she must not run away and leave the outcome of this affair to chance. She must see with whom she had to deal that she might know what was best to do.
 She had taken a step into the room, but quick as light she turned, pulled away the screen of curtains and faced Captain von Breitstein.
 It was trying moment for him, and the girls look stripped him of all his light audacity. She had come to the window by different path from the one he had watched; therefore she had taken him unawares before he had time to escape, as he had planned. He was caught fairly and must save him. self as best he could without prepara- ton.
 If her reproach forestalled his ex- cuse he was lost. He must step into the breach at whatever risk. There was no time to weigh words. He must let loose the first that sprang to his lips. 4-
 q see what you think of me-" he said. q see you think was watching you. swear I wasn't, though I knew you were in the garden with-the em- peror. Wait-you must listen. You must hear my Justification. I was sent to this room to fetch you. For your sake, how could I go back and say you had dlsappeared-together? I looked out into the garden and saw you-with him. I saw from your man. ner that-he had made you suffer. was half mad with rage. guessing guessing something which one word you let drop as you came in told me had happened. He is my sovereign, but-he has insulted you. Let me be your knight. as in days of old. Let me defend you. for I love you. waited here to tell you this as you came. so that if you would we might announce an engagement
 If virginia's eyes had been daggers he would have fallen at her feet pierc. ed to the heart. For one long second she looked at him without speaking. her face eloquent. Then she went by him with the proud bearing of queen
 Egon was stricken dumb. Duly he wafchnd her rI,nvn acrnss inc rnnrr, Ia