Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-06-12


People were vexed at the audacity Of
the girl and the elderly woman and
would have pushed them back, but at
the critical second the blue and silver
uniformed band Of Rhaetia's crack
regiment, the Imperial Life guards.
struck up an air which told that the
emperor was coming. Promptly the
small group concerned forgot its griev.
ance in excitement. crowding together
50 that Virginia was pressed to tie
front, and only Miss Portman was
pushed ruthlessly into the background.
The poor lady raised feeble protest
In English which nobody needed unless
1t were the man who had inadvertently
acted as pioneer. At her shrill out
burst he turned quickly. as II startled
by the sudden cry. and Virginia was
30 close to him that her chin almost
touched his shoulder. For the first
time she had glimpse Of his face.
which matched the yellow wax Of his
neck In pallor.
The girl shrank away from him in
voluntarily. what a deaths head"
she thought-"a sly. wicked face and
awful eyes: He looked frightened. I
wonder why"
Assured that the sharp cry did not
concern him. the man turned to the
front again. and. having obtained his
object-a place In the foremost rank Of
the crowd. with one incidentally for
the princess-he proceeded to take
from his breast u roll Of parchment
tied with narrow ribbon and sealed
with large red seal. AS he drew 1t
out and reurranged his coat his hand
trembled. 1t. too. was yellow white.
The fellow seemed to have no blood in
him.
Virginia. standing now shoulder to
shoulder with the man IN gray and
crimson, had just time to feel STIR
ring Of dislike and perhaps curiosity
when a great cheer arose from thou
sands Of threats. The square rang
with a roar Of loyal reclamation. Men
waved tall hats. soft hats and green
peasant hats with feathers. Beautiful
~ dressed women grouped on the high
decorated balconies waved handker-
chiefs or scattered roses from gilded
baskets. Women In gorgeous costumes
from faroff provinces held up half
frightened, half laughing children, and
then white figure on a white charger
came riding into the square under the
triumphal arch wreathed with flags
and flowers.
Other figures followed-men In uni.
forms Of green and gold and red ON
coal black hOrses-yet Virginia saw
only the white figure. shining. wonder
full.
UnGer the glittering helmet of steel.
with its gold eagle. the dark face was
clear cut as q cameo. and the eyes
were bright with a proud light. To
the crowd lie was the emperor, q fine,
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 dragon wrongs which
might threaten his wide land.
What If he should never love mer'
was the one sharp thought which pierre
ed her pride Of him.
The people were proud. too, az 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 moment there was q pause,
save for shouting. which rose and
rose again. Then he 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 a 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 1t beat