Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-04-06

and away in the Rhaetian mountains
winter had begun. Yet in the lap Of
the low country summer fingered. The
air was soft and sweet with the per-
fume Of roses-roses living and roses
dead in a potpourri Of scattered petals
on the grass. 1t was a garden for low.
ers and night for lovers.
| Egon went to the open window and
looked out. but dared not let his feet
| take the direction of his eyes, though
he was sure that somewhere in the
garden Miss Mowbray and the emper-
or were to be found.
They will come in again this way"
he said to himself. "for they will want
people TO think they have never left
the music room. and for that very rea-
son they won't stop too long. They
must have some regard for the conven-
tons. If l watt
He did not finish the sentence in his
mind. Nevertheless he examined the
resources of the window niche with 4
critical eye.
There was deep Enclosure between
the window frame and the long,
straight curtains of olive green satin
which matched the decoration of the
music room. BY drawing the curtains
few inches farther forward one could
make a screen which would hide one
from observation by any person in the
room or outside in the garden. So
Egon did draw the curtain, and, framed
in his shelter like saint in a niche, he
stood peering into the silver night.
The moon was rising over the lake,
and long, pale rays Of level light were
stealing up the paths like the fingers
of blind child that caress gropingly
the features of beloved face.
Egon could not see the whole gar
den Or all the paths among the roses.
| But if the emperor and his companion
came back by the way they had gone
he would know presently whether they
walked In the attitude of friends or
lovers. 1t was so necessary for his
plans to know this that he thought 1t
worth while to exercise a little pa
thence in waiting. OF course, If they
were lovers, goodby to his hopes. and
he would never have so good a chance
as this to make sure.
All things in the garden that were
not white were gray as doves wings.
Even the shadows were not black,
and the sky was gray, with the soft
gray of velvet under a crust Of dia-
on a woman's fan fash when it trem-
bles in her hand.
White moths. happily ignorant that
! summer would come no more for them.
drifted out from the shadows like rose
petals blown by the soft wind. On a
trellis a crowding sisterhood of pale
roses dropped their heads downward
In memento mort. 1t was a silver
4 night. night of enchantment.
Leopold had meant to take Virginia
ont only 10 see the moon rise oyer the
I water. turning the great smooth snees
| of Jet into q silver shield, for there
had been clouds or spurts of rain on
other nights. and he had said to him.
self that never again perhaps would
they two stand together under the
white spell Of the moon. He had
meant TO keep her for five minutes, oil
ten at the most. and then TO bring hel
back. but they had walked down to
the path which girdled the cliff above
the lake. The moon touched her gold
en- hair and her pure face like a bene
diction. He dared not look at her thus
for long. and when there came a sud
den quick rustling in the grass at theil
feet lie bent down. glad Of any change
in the current Of his thoughts.
| Some tiny winged thing Of the nigh
sought a lodging I'm bell shaped flow
or whore blue color the moon has
drunk. anil as Leopold stopped thu
same impulse made Virginia bend.
He stretched out his hand TO gathe
the low growing branch Of blossoms
which he would give tie girl n
souvenir o. this hour. and their finger
met. Lake and garden swan befor'
4 VI AuT IAaAANo~ -
peror's hand closed over hers.
Her great moment had come. re
now that u was here. womanlike. Sd
wished IL aray. not gone forever-of
no-but waiting just round the eorne
Of the future.
The flowers are yours-I give thsr
to you she laughed. a. II she fsneie'
Il was in cagerness to grasp the Oh
puted spray that he had pressed ne
fingers
You are the ere flower ] want
fouer Of all the vorid.- BE ansverc
in q ehoked voice. speaking words ,
had not meant % speEk- But the 4
barriers that he'd back the torrent
which be had tod her had nated lon
sro and nov had been svept aval
Other barriers Which be hsd b1nt .
in their plsos-has cosvicfionx- bis dut
asa nan az the bead q nsticu-
we're Fone toe. I 1--we yuu- be star
mersi 4 love rs1 far hertH tha