Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-05-19

Those who were socia-
bly, inclined appeared.
Those who loved not their species un-
Ill the day was older ate in their
rooms.
Leopold had shown himself ut the
table each morning however, and set
the fashion. And the day after the
parting in the garden he was earlier
even than usual. 1t was easy to be
early, as he had not been to bed that
night. but he had an extra incentive.
He could scarcely wait to see how
Helen Mowbray would meet him
whether she would still be cold or
whether sound advice from her mother
would have made her kind.
This was his last day at Lyndalberg.
BY his special request no programme
Of entertainment had been arranged,
and before coming down TO breakfast
Leopold had been turning over in his
mind plan after plan for another
chance Of meeting the girl alone. He
had even written letter, but had
torn II up because he was unable to
say on paper what was really In his
heart.
Breakfast passed, however, and when
she did not appear Leopold grew rest
less. He did not ask for her before
the others. but when he and the baron
ess had strolled out together on the
terrace, where white peacocks spread
their jeweled tails, the emperor sought
some opportunity Of bringing In the
name that filed his thoughts.
Il see the red October lilies are open
ing" he said. Miss Mowbray will be
Interested. She tells me there's moth
ing like them in England"
"Ah she has gone just too soon.'
sighed the baroness.
The emperor glanced quickly from
the mass Of crimson flowers to his
hostess face. Gomez he repeated.
"Yes," the baroness answered. They
must have reached Kronburg before
this. You know. they left their COM
panion there. Perhaps your majesty
did not realize that they were leaving
here quite so early!'
He turned so white under the brown
tan the mountains had given that the
baroness was alarmed. She had taken
yirginia's words as Virginia had
meant her to take them and therefore
supposed that formal farewell or
some sort had been spoken. This I'M
preston did not prevent her from
guessing that there must have been
misunderstanding and she was TIM
Cling with lively curiosity which she
was obliged carefully 10 hide.
The romance which had been enact
ed under her eyes she believed 10 be
largely of her own making, and. not
being a bad hearted woman, she had
grown fond of Virginia. She had even
had pangs of conscience, and, though
she did not see the way for Il happy
ending TO the pretty drama. 1t 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, II am
distressed, Miss Mowbray distinctly
said when | begged that they would
wait, The emperor will understand
II do understand-now ! know they
have gone" he admitted. But Miss
Mowbray thinks she has some cause
Of complaint against me, and she's
mistaken. | can't let such Il mistake
go uncorrected. You say they must be
at Kronburg before this. Are they
staying on thereI'
"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"
81 believe at T."
Leopold pulled out his watch. 1t was
twenty minutes past II. Forty times
sixty seconds and the girl would be
gone!
The blood rushed to his face. Bar
ring accidents, he could catch her II
he ordered his motor car and left at
once. 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 fed; that he
had pursued her. The baroness knew
already. Others would chatter as II
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 1t
answered itself also. the only differ
ence being that the answer was exact
ly opposite to what 1t would have been
a month earlier.