Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-06-26

saai paohuse II ropreSn'.-~i WOOD.
Walls and ceiling were masked with
thick growing creepcrs trained over in
visible wires. through which peeped
stars OF electric light, like the cheek
erings of sunshine between netted
branches. Trees grew up. with their
roots in boxes hidden beneath the
moss covered floor. There were grOt-
toes of ivy draped rock in the corners.
and here and there. out from leafy
shadows. Glittered the glass eyes Of
birds and anmalS-eaglcS. stays. cham
OILS. wolves and bearS-which the en-
peror had shot.
This strange room. SO vast as to seem
empty when dozens of people wan
dered beneath its trees and among its
rock grottocs. was thrown open to
guests whenever ball was given at
the palace. but the conservatives and
palm houses were more popular, and
when Leopold brought Miss Mowbray
to the waldsaal after their dance 1t
was In the hope that they might not
be disturbed.
She was loveller than ever In her
white dress under the trees, looking
up at him with Il wonderful look in
her eyes, and the young mans calm
ness was mastered by the beating of
his blood.
This is q kind of Madness" he said
to himself 1T will pass. 1t must
pass" Ard aloud. meaning all the
while to say something different and
commonplace. the real words in his
mind broke through the crust Of con-
ventionality. why did you do it?'
Virginia's eyes widened. II don't
understand" Then. In an instant, she
found that she did understand. She
knew. too, that the question had asked
itself In spite Of him. but that once 1t
had been uttered he would stand to his
guns.
Il mean the thing l shall have to
thank you for always"
If Virginia had had time to think
she might have prepared some pretty
response came. as his question had.
from the heart, IL couldn't help doing
it."
You couldn't help risking your life
to- He dared not finish.
ut was to save Nor was there
any end for her sentence.
Then perhaps it was not strange that
he forgot certain restrictions which a
royal man In conversing with ] COM
moner IS not supposed to forget. In
fact. he forgot that he was royal or
that she was not. and his voice grew
unsteady. his tone eager. as II he had
been some poor subaltern with the girl
Of his first love.
There's something must show
you" he said. Opening . button OF the
military coat blazing with jewels and
orders. he drew out II loop of thin gold
chain. At the end dangled n small
bright thing that flashed under q star
Of electric light.
My ring" brea he'd Virginia
Thus died the cLlperors intention to
ignore the day that had been theirs to-
Ecther
Your ring. You gave 1t to Leo.
He kept it. He will always keep 1t.
Have | surprised your
Virginia felt 1t would be best to say
Yes" but instead she answered NO"
for pretty white Tbs cannot be told
under such look In a mans eyes by
girl who loves him.
Il have not? When did you guess the
truth-yesterday orr
AT Alleheiligen."
Silence fell for minute, while Leo
pold digested the answer and its full
meaning. lie remembered the bread
and ham. the COW he could not milk.
the rucksacks he had carried. lie re-
membered everything and laughed.
"You knew ut Alleheiligen? Not on
the mountain when
Eyes. ! guessed even then. confess.
Oh. don't mean that went there OK