The Marshall republican., 1908-08-14

hiiAhpul. tadSi the dL.., isp U :
, ncf II was o irssOJ ~ lat vacilla-
.Jn. and he had of,e1 saiJ to bi..l. elf
as u Toy nat when he grew up he
would not. ike the prince Of the story.
mi y n gift Of the gods through weak
hesitation.
The pretty legend In his mind had
for a hero n young prince who went
abroad to seek his fortune md receIv-
ed from one Of the fstes TO whom he
paid n visit three magic citrons, which
he must cut open by the side Of q GER
tain fountain. He obeyed his instruc.
lions. but when from the first citron
sprnng IN exquisite fniry maiden. dc.
mnnding q drink Of water, the young
man lost his presence Of mind. While
he snt staring the lovely lady van
ished. and with a second experiment II
was the same Only the third citrou
remained OF the fate's s~quapdered
gifts, and when the prince cut II In
half the maiden who appeared was 30
much more beautiful than her sisters
that In adoring wonder he almost lost
her a. he had lost the others.
my knife IL on the rind Of the last
citron now" Leopold said to himself.
Let me not lose the n chance ] have
left"
Last night he had believed that there
would not he o In a mans heart
for more love than his held for Helen
howbray; but. realizing to the full
bow great was the danger OF losing
hsr. he found that his love had grown
beyond reckoning.
, lie had thought Il a sacrifice TO sug.
gcst q morganatic marriage. Now Q
voice seemed to say In his esr: The
Dssce you offered was not enough. 10
bovs worth oil 10 you or not3" And he
easwered: TT 10 worth all. I will offer
81. yet not count II . sacrifice. That 10
love. aaA nothing les IL love"
A white light broke before his eye
NE . meteor bunting. and the voice
In his ear spsks words that sent Q
fame through m vcAss.
Il WIN do g." he aah. who 10
eAsrU among my people who will dare
~ Ne to tAsir emperor's 'YesT' I
vii make q new NV. I win be q law
ssto myself"
NJ face. that had been pale. was
' nushed. lie tore Or the unfinished
telegram ssd wrote smother. which he
signed leo. the ChamoIs Hunter"
Then. when he Ind hsuded IN the
nessass ssd paid. thers was but Just
time TO buy bis ticket. engage a whole
hrst class compartment for himself
and dash into II before his train was
due 10 start.
As II moved slowly out Of the big
station Ieopold's brain rang with the
noble music OF his great resolve. He
could see nothing. think Of nothing.
but that. His arms ached e clasp his
love. His lips. cheated last night. al.
ready felt her kisses. for she would
/ give them now. and she would give
herself. lie was tresding the past Of
an empire underfoot In the hope Of q
future with her. and every throb Of
the engine was taking him neare to
the threshold Of that future.
3 hut such moments Of supreme eI.
aitation come rarely In q lifetime. The
heart Of man or woman could not beat
on for long with such wild music for
, accompaniment. and 90 Il was that -
the moments passed the song Of the
emperor's blood fell to q minor key.
He thought p~assionately Of Virginia,
but he thought Of bic country a. well
and tried to weigh the effect upon 9th
ep OF the thing that be was prepared
) to do. There ives no ous on earth
whom Leopold q Rhsetia seed feat.
: but there was one to whom he owed
much. one whom II would be ~Grisvous
to offend.
In his fathers day one man. OLE
J even then. had built upon the founda-
lions OF = tragic past . great and pros
porous nation. This man had been to
Leopold what his father had never
been and. without the magic power Of
Inspiring warm affection. had insttiied
respect aud gratitude IN the breast of
n enthusiastic boy.
'Poor old Won Breitstein" The en-
peror sighed. The country II his idsl
1.-The country with all the old trsdi-
= lions. He'll feel this break sorely. re
spare him n I could. Bst ] caA't live
my life for him."
4, He sighed again and teoae1 -
frowning. at . sudden ssua1 vh1co
meant intrusion. I
Like a spirit called fssa the go
there stood the chancellor at tAs 49,
between Leopold's compartment a.
the n adjoining.