Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-08

! tan the mountains had given that the | baroness was alarmed She had taken 1 Virginia's words as Virginia had meant her to take them and therefore l supposed that a formal farewell of | some sort had been spoken. This i'm 1 presson did not prevent her from | guessing that there must have been a misunderstanding, and she was tin gling with lively curiosity which she was obliged carefully to hide.
 The romance which had been enact 1 ed under her eyes she believed to be largely of her own making, and, not l being q bad hearted woman, she had l grown fond of Virginia. She had even 1 had bangs of conscience, and, though i she did not see the way for a happy i ending to the pretty drama. it dis tressed her that the curtain should go down on sadness.
 Il did not know they were going at all,' Leopold answered frankly. will ing to sacrifice his pride for the sake of coming quickly at the truth. Oh exclaimed the baroness, Il am distressed, Miss Mowbray distinctly said when I begged that they would wait, The emperor will understand " "i do understand-now 1 know they have gone" he admitted. But Miss Mowbray thinks she has some cause of complaint against me. and she's mistaken. l cant let such a mistake go uncorrected. You say they must be at Kronburg before this. Are they staying on there?'
 I'm afraid not. your majesty. They leave kronburg for England today by the Orient express
 Do you happen to remember at what hour the train starts?"
 ''I believe at 12."
 Leopold pulled out his watch. It was twenty minutes past H. Forty times sixty seconds and the girl would be gone.
 The blood rushed to his face. Bar ring accidents. he could catch her if he ordered his motor car and left at cnce. But to cut short his visit at Schloss Lyndalberg would be virtually to take the world into his secret. Let him allege important state business at the capital if he chose. gossip would still say that the girl had fled; that he had pursued her. The baroness knew already. Others would chatter as if they knew. That was inevitable-if he went.
 A month ago. when yielding to in clination meant humbling his pride as emperor and man, such a question would have answered itself. Now it answered itself also, the only differ ence being that the answer was exact ly opposite to what it would have been a month earlier.
 Baroness, forgive me-" he said quickly. 'I must go. I can't explain"
 You need not try" she answered softly.
 Thank you hundred times. Make everything as straight for me as you can. Say what you will. I give you carte blanche, for we're old friends, and trust you"
 Its for me to thank your majesty. You want your motor car?''
 Yes"
 I'll telephone. Your chauffeur will have it here in six minutes. And your aid-de-camp. Will you
 T don't want him, thanks. I'd rather go alone"
 Seven minutes later the big. white motor car was at the door which was the private entrance to the emperor's suit, and the emperor was waiting for it, having forgotten all about the sable lined coat which had been a present from the ear. If it had been midwin- fer he would have forgotten. just the same. nor would he have known that it was cold
 There was plenty of time now to car " out his plan, which was to catch the Orient express at the Kronburg station and present himself to the Mowbrays in the train later. As to what would happen afterward. it was beyond planning. but Leopold knew that the girl had loved him. and he hoped that he would have Lady Now bray on his side.
 The only way of reaching Kronbury from Schloss Lyndalberg was by road. There was no railway connection be- tween the two places But the town and the castle were separated by a short eight miles. and until checked by traffic in the suburbs the sixty horse power car could cover a mile in less than two minutes
 Unfortunately. however. police regII- lauons were strict. and of this Leo pold could not complain. as he had ap- proved them himself Once he was stopped and would certainly not have been allowed to proceed had he not re EeIled himself as tho emperor. the owner of the one unnumbered car in Rhaetia. AS it was. he had suffered delay Of five minutes. and just as he was congratulating himself on the goodness of his tires. which had made him no trouble for many weeks. loud report as of a pistol shot gave warn ing of puncture
 But there was not moment to waste or repairs Leopold drove on on the rims. "-ly to acknowledge presently the truth of an old proverb. The more haste the less speed
 Delayed by a torn and Tapping tire. the car arrived at the big central sta- tion 0f Kronburg oniy five minutes be- fore 12 Leopold dashed in careless whether he were recognized or not. and was surprised at the absence Of