Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-10-16
CONTINUED

81 wonder why you kept the ring
after my-impert1nence."
II had good reason for keeping it.
won't you tell me7"
you're quick at forming conclu-
sions, Miss Mowbray. Can't you
guess?'
ITO remind you to beware Of strange
young women on mountains"
"No."
Because your own picture u In.
side7"
at was better reason than that"
"Am not to ask it?''
ION that day you asked what you
chose. All the more should you do 90
now, since there's nothing could re-
fuse you"
mot the half Of your kingdom. like
the royal men in fairy stsries1''
AZ soon 40 the worcs were-out vir-
ginia would have given much to have
them back. She had not thought Of
meaning they might convey. but she
tried not to blush lest he should think
Of 1t now. Nevertheless he did think
Of 1t. and the light words. striking 4
chord they had not aimed to touch,
went echoing on and on till they
reached that part of himself which the
emperor knew least about-his heart.
'.Half his kingdom?" Yes, he would
give it to this girl IL he could. Heav.
ems, what it would be to share 1t
with her!
ASK anything you WILL" he said AZ
q man speaks In dream.
Then tell newly you kept the
ring.''
Because the only woman ever
cared-to make my friend took it from
her finger and gave 1t to me-
"Now the emperor Is pleased to pay
compliments"
'.Y0u know I am sincere"
"But you'd seen me only for IN hour.
Instead Of deserving your friendship,
I'm afraid ~
"For one hour? That's true. And
how long ago 10 that one hour? A
week or SO. l suppose. as time counts.
But then came yesterday and the
thing you did for me. Now I've
known yop always"
III you had, perhaps you wouldn't
want me for your friend"
II do want you"
The words would come. It was true
already. He did want her, but not as
q friend. His world-a world without
women, without passion dery enough
to devour principles or traditions-was
upside down.
1t was we'll that the ten minutes
grace between dances was over and
the music for the next about to begin.
A young officer. Count Won Breitstein's
half brother. who was to bs Miss
Mowbray's partner. appeared in the
distance looking for her. but stopped,
seeing that she was still with the en-
peror.
"Goodby.'' said Virginia while her
words could still be only for the ears
of Leopold.
mot goodby. We're friends"
"Yes. But we shan't meet often"
"Why? Are you leaving Kronburg?'
"Perhaps-soon. don't know"
II must see you again. viii SEQ
you once more, whatever comes
"Once more, perhaps. hope 80,
but
"After that
"Who knows?"
"Once more-once more!" The words
echoed In Virgtnia's ears. She heard
them through everything, as one hears
the undertone of a mountain torrent,
though brass band may bray to
drown its deep music.
Once more he would see her, what
ever might come. She could guess
why 1t might be only once, though he
would fam have that once again and
again repeated. for this game Of hers.
begun with such light heart, was
moro difficult to play than she had
dreamed.
he would tell her 20 in words and not
with eyes alone. the rest might be
easy, although at best she could not
see the end. Yet how in honor could
he tell Miss Helen Mowbray that he
cared? And IL the telling were not to
be In honor how could she bear to live
her life?
: "Once more!' What would happen
In that "once more?" Perhaps moth
ing save repetition Of grateful thanks
and courteous words akin to fare
well.
Ts be sure, Lady Mowbray and her
daughter might run away and the ne
rotations between the emperor's ad-
yisers and the Grand Duchess Of Bau-
menburg- Drippe for the Princess Viz