The Marshall republican., 1908-07-24

Even the SHADOWS were not blacS |
and the sky was gray. with the son
gray OF velvet under q crust Of dis- |
mohis which flashed as the spangleo
on y woman's fan fash when II trsu.
bles I'm her hand.
White moths. happily ignorant that
summer would rome no more for them.
drifird out from the shadows like rose
petnla blown by the soft wind. On q
trellis a crowdIne sisterhood Of pale
roses dropped their heads downward
In memento mort. II was a silver
night. n night OF enchantment.
Leopold had meant to take virqinis
ont only to see the moon r'ss "~or enc
wafer. turning tine great smooth sheet
of let into n 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 Wgethsr under the
white spell Of the n.,op. lie had
meant to keep her for five minutes. or
ten mt the most. and then to bring her
back. but they had walked down to
the path which girdled the cliff above
the like. The moon touched her gold.
on hair and her pure face like a bene'
dic,ion. lie dared not look at her thus
for lony. and when there came n sud
den quick rustling In the grass at their
feet he bent down. glad OF any change
In the current OF his thoughts.
Some tiny winged thing of the night
sought n lodging In n bell shaped flow.
or whose blue color the moon had
drunk. and rs Leopold stopped the
same impulse made virginia bend.
He stretched out his hand to gather
the low growing branch OF blossoms.
which he would give the girl M n
souvenir OF this hour. aud their fingers
met. Lake ind garden swan before
the eyes OF the princess rs the en-
pcror's hand closed over hers.
Her great moment Ind come. yet
now that Il was here. womanlike. she
wished Il away. o goue ~forever-oh.
no-but waiting Just round the corner
OF the future.
"The flowers are yours-i give them
10 YOU" she laughed. as II she fancled
Il was IN eagcrness to grasp the dis
puied spray that he had pressed her
fingers.
lou uTt tut OHt uoNtt U Wuh'
flower Of all the world" he answered
In a choked voice. speaking words he
had not meant 20 speak. But the ics
barriers that held hack the torrent oil
which he had told her had melted Ions
agu and now had been swept AWAY
Other barriers which he had built ~
In their pluce-his convictions, his duty
NJ n man NJ the head OF n nation
were gone toe II love YOU" he STUN
mered. II love you far better thu
my life, which you saved. Two love-
you ever since our first hour togethe
on the mountain. but every day m.
love has grown n th~ousandfold unit
now. us greater and higher than an.
mountain. I can fight against mysel
no longer. I thought I was strong
but this love is stronger than ! an
Say that you care for me-only "a
that"
81 10 care Virginia whispered. Sh
hrd prayed for this, lived for this. an
she was drowning In happiness. u
she had pictured n different scene.
scene Of storm and stress. She ha
heard In fancy broken words OF 30
row aud noble remuneration on his lip
anu In anticipating his suffering sf
had felt the Joy her revelation woul
give. II care-so much. 30 much! Ho
n" hard It Will be to part!'
"If you care. then. we shall not
parted" said Leopold.
The princess looked up ut him
wonder, holding back a he wou
have caught her In his arms. VIII
could he mean? What plan was In b
mind that. believing her to be Hell
Mowbray. yet made II possible {
him TO reassure her sof
~ don't understand" she faltere
~You are the emperor, and I am
more than
"You are my wife II you love me-"
In the shock of her ecstatic surpri
she was helpless to resist him long
and he held her close and p~assionateI
his lips ON her hair. her face crush
against his heart. She could hear
beating, feel II throb under her chez
His wife? Then he loved her enouI
for that. Yet how was II possible [
him to stand ready for her sake
override the laws Of his W landf
my darling-my wifer he 81
again. ITO think that you love mer
II have loved you from the nrs
the princess confessed, but "
Afraid you would feel. even II ,
cared. that we must say good
Now"- And In ar instant the VIII
. truth would have been out but
word "goodby" stabbed him, and
could not let 1t pass.
1--WE shall not say goodby. not
an hour" he cried. after this
could not lose you. There's nothing
prevent my being your husband, J
my wife. Would to God you were
royal blood and you should b. my
press--the fairest empress that poet
historian ever saw-but we're pria
err Of fats, you and !. We must y