Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-10

1 Vi HILL a WOaAAh W nVoC t0SC Wuo nSb
fortune, whose place in life. was hard
ly as high as the first step Of throne,
had refused-an emperor!
| Hardly could Leopold believe the
| thing that had happened to him. He
had spoken Of doubling that he had
won her love, and he had doubted.
But he had allowed himself to hope,
because he had confidence in his star
and because perhaps it had scarcely
been known in the annals Of history
that an emperors suit should be NJ
pulsed.
Besides, he had loved the girl so pas
sionately that it seemed she could not
remain cold. And he hoped still that
when she had passed long night In
reflection, in thinking over the situa-
ton, perhaps taking counsel with that
comparatively commonplace yet prac-
teal little lady, her mother, she might
be ready to change her mind.
For the first few moments after the
singing rebuff he had endured Leo
pold felt that If she did it would be her
turn to suffer, for he could never hum
BILE himself to implore for the second
time But as he stood in the soft still
ness of the night. gazing toward the
| lights Of the house, thoughts of Vir-
] ginia-her youth, her sweetness, her
beauty dimmed with grief-overwhelm-
ed him. Could he have reached her he
would have fallen ON his knees and
kissed her gown.
By and by vast tenderness breath
ed its calm over the thwarted passion
in his breast. and plans to win her
back came whispering in his ear. He
would write letter and send it to her
y room. But. no; perhaps it would be
wise to give her a longer interval for
reflection and it might be. regret. To
morrow he would see her and show
all the depths of that great love which
she had thought to throw away. She
| could not go on withstanding him for.
ever, and, now that he had burned his
boats behind him, he would never
think Of turning back. He would per
severe till she should yield.
Meanwhile Virginia had hurried
blindly toward the house. and it was
instinct rather than intention that led
her to the open window Of the music
room, by which she had come out.
Tears burned her eyelids. but they
did not fall until she stood once more
In the room where she and Leopold
had been happy together There she
had sat at the piano, and he had bent
over her, love in his eyes-honest love,
she had thought. her heart full of
thanksgiving. How little she had
guessed then the humiliation in store
for her and the end of all her hopes'
How could she bear her pain, and how
could she go on living out her life?
She paused in the window niche,
looking into the room through a mist
Of tears. and a sob choked her. "Cruel,
cruel!" she whispered. what agony,
what an insultv
Then. dashing away her tears, she
pushed back the dark curtains and
would have passed on into the room
had not the quick gesture brought her
arm into contact with the buttons and
gold braid on mans breast.
Instantly she realized that some one
was hiding there. some one dressed in
a military coat, and her first impulse
was for flight, anything to escape IN
recognized. But on second thoughts
she changed her. mind.
| Whoever 1t was had in all proba bill
ty hidden himself for the purpose OF
Spying and was already aware that
Miss Mowbray had rushed into the
house weeping after a tete-a-tete with
the emperor in the garden. Perhaps he
had even caught word or two of her
sobbing ejaculation. No; she must not
run away and leave the outcome of
this affair to chance. She must see
with whom she had to deal that she
might know what was best to do.
She had taken step into the room,
but quick AZ light she turned, pulled
away the screen Of curtains and faced
Captain Won Breitstein.
1t was a trying moment for him. and
the girls look stripped him Of all his
light 'audacity. She had come to the
window by different path from the
one he had watched: therefore she had
taken him unawares before he had
time to escape. as he had planned. He
was caught fairly and must save him
self AZ best he could without prepare.
ton.
II her reproach forestalled his ex.
cuse he was lost He must step ints
the breach at whatever risk. There
was no time to weigh words. He must
let loose the first that sprang to his
lips.
II see what you think OF me-" he
said. II see you think I was watching
you. lswear wasn't though knew
you were In The garden with-the en-
peror. Wait-you must listen. You
must hear my justification. was
sent to this room to fetch you. For
your sake. how could 60 back and
say you had disappeared-together? I
looked out into the garden and saw
you-with him. saw from your man.
ner that-he had made you suffer. /
was half mad with rage. guessing