Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-10-02

popular. brilliant young man, who
ruled his country better than 1t had
been ruled yet by one of his house and,
above all. provided many a pleasing
spectacle for the people, but to Vir-
ginia he was far more-an ideal Sir
Galahad or a st. George strong and
brave to Stay all dra gon wrongs which
might threaten his wide land.
what If he should never love me?"
was the one sharp thought which pierre
ed her pride Of him.
The people were proud. too, as he sat
there controlling the white war horse,
with its gold and silver trappings. the
crusted jewels Of many orders spar
king on his breast. while he saluted
his subjects in his soldiers way.
For a moment there was a pause,
save Tor a shouting. which rose and
rose again. Then no alighted, where
upon important looking men with rib
bons and decorations came forward.
bowling. to receive the emperor. The
ceremony Of unwilling the statue Of
Rhaetia was about to begin.
To reach the great crimson draped
platform on which he was to stand
the emperor must pass within few
yards Of Virginia. His gaze flashed
over the gay crowd. What II 1t should
rest upon her? The girls heart was
in her throat. She could feel it beat
ing there, and for moment the tall
white figure was lost In a mist which
dimmed her eyes.
She had forgotten how she came to
this place Of vantage, forgotten the
pale man In gray and red to whom she
owed her good fortune, but suddenly,
while her heart was at its loudest and
the mist before her eyes at its thick
est. she grew conscious again Of his
existence, poignantly conscious Of his
close presence. So near her he stood
that quick start. gathering of his
muscles for spring, shot like an cleo
trio message through her own body.
The mist was burnt up In the flame
Of a strange enlightenment. clarity Of
vision which showed not only the
hero of the day. the. tnrong and the
wax white man beside her. but some
thing which was in the soul Of that
man as WELL
"He IL going to kill the emperor!"
] 1t was as If voice spoke the words
IN her, ear. She knew now why she
had struggled to win this place, why
she had succeeded. what she had to do
or die In failing to do.
Leopold was not half dozen yards
away and was coming nearer. No one
but Virginia suspected evil. She alone
had felt the thrill Of murderer's
nerves, the tense spring Of his mus
cles. She alone guessed what the roll
OF parchment hid.
"Now-now!' the voice seemed to
whisper again, and she had no fear.
While the crowd shouted wildly for
"Unser Leo!" man in gray and red
leaped, catlike. at the white figure that
advanced. Something sharp and bright
flashed out from q roll Of parchment,
catching the sun In a streak of steely
light.
Leopold saw, but not in time to
swerve. The crowd shrieked, rushed
forward too late. and the blade would
have drunk his life had not the girl
who had felt all. seen all. struck up
the arm before 1t fell.
The rest was darkness for her. She
knew only that she was sobbing and
that the great square, with it's crowded
balconies, its ropes of green, it's wav.
ing hags, seemed to collapse upon her
and blot her out
II It was Leopold who caught her as
4 she swayed, and while the people surg
4 ed around the thMarted murderer the