The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-07-08

t3kGyl' of the nine fountains.
that was not ablaze with
light, glittcring against faraway back
ground of violet mountains crowned by
snow
Outside the tall bronze G,,'cs where
marble lions CrOuchCd the crowd that
might not pass beyond stared, chat
tered, pointed and exclaimed without
jealousy of their bCttcrs. UnScr Leo
was giving Il ball, and it was enough
for their happiness to watch the slow
moving line of splendid state coaches,
gorgeous automobiles and neat Drough
ans with we'll known crcsts upon their
doors; to strive good naturcdly for
peep ut Inc faces and dresses, the
jewels and picturesque uniforms; TO
comment upon all freely, but never
impudently, asking one another what
would be for supper and with whom
the emperor would Jancc.
"There she iS-tnere's the beautiful
young foreign lady who saved hlm!'
cried girl in the throng. "I was
there and saw her, l tell you. Isn't
she an angcl?"
Instantly hearty cheer went up,
growing in volume, and the green coat
ed policemen had to keep back the
crowd that would have stopped the
horses and pressed close for long
look into plain dark blue brougham.
Virginia Shrank out of sight against
the cushions, blushing and breathing
quickly as she caught her mothers
hand.
Dear people dear, kind pcoplew she
thought. 81 love them for loving him.
l wonder, oh, wonder, if they will
ever see me and cheer me driving by
his side"
She had chosen to wear the white
dress with the pearls, though up to the
last moment the grand duchess had
suffered torturcs of INDIGESTION between
that ana the blue. to say nothing of n
pink chiffon trimmed with crushed
roses. Before the carriage brought
them to the palace doors the girls
blush had faded, and her face was as
white as her gown when at her moth
er's side she passed between bowing
lackeys through the marble Hall of
Lions, on through the frcscocd Ritter.
saal to the throne room, where the
emperors guests awaited his coming.
1t was etiquette not TO arrive mo.
mont later than 10 o'clock, and a few
minutes after the hour Baron Won I.yn-
dal In his official capacity as grand
master of ceremonies struck the poi
tshed floor twice with his gold knob.
bed wand of ivory. This signalcd the
approach of the court from the i'm
perial dinner party, and Leopold en-
tered, with stout middle aged royal
highness from Russia on his arm
Until his arrival the beautiful Miss
Mowbray had held all eyes, ana even
when he appeared she was not forgot
ten. Every one was on tcntcrhoOlis
to see how she would be greeted by
the grateful emperor
The instant that his dark head tow
cred above other heads in the throne
room 1t was observed even by those
not usually oDscrvant that never had
Leopold been so handsome.
His was n face remarkable for intel
lcct and lrmncss rather than for clas
sIcal beauty of feature, though his fca.
lures were strong and clearly cut But
tonight the stcrnncss that sometimes
marred them in the eyes of women
was smoothcd away He looked young
and ardent, almost boyish, like man
who has suddenly found an absorbing
new interest in life.
The first dance he went through with
the Russian royalty, who was the
guest of the evening, and, still rigidly
conforming to the line Of duty, which
obtains in court bathrooms as on bat
tlefclds, the second, third and fourth
dances were for the emperor pcnances
instead Of pleasures. But for the firth,
waltz, he bowed before Virginia.
During this long hour there had been
hardly n movement, smile or glance OF
hers which he had not contrived to see
since his entrance. He know lust how
well Baron Won Lyndnl carried out his
instructions concerning Miss MowDray
He saw each partner presented to her
for dance the emperor might not
claim, and to save his life or national
crisis he could not have forced the
same expression in speaking with her
royal highness from Russia as that
which spontaneously frightened his
face when at last he approached Vlr.
glnia
"Who is that grip asked Count Won
Breitstcin In his usual abrupt manner
as the arm OF Leopold girCllcd the slim
waist of the princess and the eyes OF
Leopold drank light from another pair
Of eyes lifted to his in laughter
1t was to Baroness Won Iyndal that
the old chancellor put his question,
and she futtcred tiny diamond
Bpangled fan of lace to hide lips that
would smile as she answered. "What,
chancellor, arc you jcsting, or cont