Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-04-28

princess answered, hardly knowing
what she said. She felt like soul re-
leased from its body, floating in blue
ether. What could it matter If that
body ached or bled? Leopold was
safe, and she had saved him.
He pointed to her sleeve "The knife
struck you. Your arms bleeding. and
the wound must be seen Immediately
by my own surgeon. Would that could
80 with you myself, but duty keeps
me here You understand that. Baron
Won Lyndal and his wife will at once
take you home, wherever you may be
staying. They
But would rather stop and see
the rest" said Virginia. I'm quite
well now, not even weak, and 1 can
60 down to my friend
"If you're able to stop, 1t must be
here with me-" answered Leopold.
"After the service you have done for
me and for the country it is your
| place"
The ladies Of the court, who, with
l
congratulate Leopold, crowded round
the girl as the emperor turned to them
with look and gesture of invitation.
A seat was given her, and the arm In
| Its blood stained sleeve was hastily
bound up. She was the heroine Of the
day, dividing honors with its hero
There was scarcely grande dame
among the brilliant assemblage on the
emperor's platform to whom Lady
Mowbray and her daughter had not a
letter of introduction from their inval-
liable friend. But no one knew at
this moment Of any title to their recog-
milton possessed by the girl other than
the right she had earned by her splen-
did deed. All smiled on her through
grateful tears, though there were some
who would have given their ten fin
gers to have stepped into her place.
Thus Virginia sat through the cere-
monies, careless that thousands of eyes
were on her face, thinking only of one
pair of eyes, which spared a glance for
her now and then, hardly seeing the
statue of Rhaetia, whose glorious mar
BILE womanhood unveiled reused a
storm of enthusiasm from the crowd,
hearing only the short stirring speech
made by Leopold.
When everything was over and the
people had no excuse to linger save to
see the emperor ride away and the
great personages disperse, Leopold
turned again to Virginia.
All the world was listening, OF
course; all the world was watching.
too, and, no matter what his inclnd-
ton might have been, his words could
be but few.
Once more he thanked and praised
her for her courage, her presence OF
mind: thanked her for remaining as il
she had been granting favor to him
and asked her where she was staying
in Kronburg, as he promised himself
the honor of sending TO inquire for her
health that evening.
His desire would be to call ut once Il!
person, he added; but, owing to the
programme arranged for this day anu
several days to follow, not only each
hour. but each moment, would he Of
ficially occupied. These birthday fcs-
tivities were troublesome, but duty
must be done, and then, Leopold re
peated. when he had Miss Mowbray's
name and address, the court surgeon
and physician would be commanded L
attend upon her without delay.
With these words and chivalrous
courtesy at parting. the emperor was
gone, Baron Won Lyndal, grand master
of ceremonies, and his baroness having
| been told off to take care OF Miss Now
bray.
In another mood it would have prick
ed Virginia's sense Of humor to see
Baroness Won Lyndal's almost shocked
surprise ut discovering her TO be the
daughter Of that Lady Mowbray whom
she was asked to meet. Luckily all
the letters of introduction had reached
their destinations, 1t merely remaining
according to the etiquette in Rhaetia.
for Lady Mowbray to announce her ar
rival in Kronburg by sending cards to
the recipients. But Virginia had no
heart for laughter now.
She had been on the point of forget
ting until reminded by a dig from the
spur of necessity that she was only a
masquerader acting her borrowed part
| I'm pageant. For the first time since
she had hopefully taken it up that part
| became detestable She would have
given almost anything to throw 1t of
| and be herself for nothing less than
clear sincerity seemed worthy OF this
day and the event which crowned 1t.
Nevertheless, in the vulgar language
of proverb which no well brought up
princess should ever stoop to use. she
had made her own bed, and she must
| lie in 1t. 1t would not do for her sud
denly to give out to the world OF
Kronburg that she was not, after all,
| Miss Mowbray, but Princess Virginia
| of Baumenburg-Dr Drippe. That would
not be fair to the grand duchess, who
| had yielded to her wishes, nor fair to
her own plans. Above all, 1t would
| not he fair to the emperor, handicap
ped as he now was by a debt of graft
tude. No: Miss Mowbray she was, and
Miss Mowbray she must for the pres
ent remain.
Naturally the grand duchess tainted
when her daughter was brought back
with ominous red stains upon the gray
background of her travelling dress. But
the wound was neither deep nor dan
gerous. The court surgeon was as
| consoling as he was complimentary
and by the time that messengers from
the palace had arrived with inquiries
from the emperor and invitations to
| the emperor's ball the mother OF the
heroine could dispense with her sal
volatile.
She had fortunately much to think
of. There was the important question
of dress for the ball tomorrow night;
there was the still more pressing ques-
ton of the newspapers. which must
not be allowed to publish the borrow
| od mama of Nowhray lest cOmDlica-