Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-26

| ~
too foolish. because, instead of being
beneath, he's far. far above me-"
Virginia, of whom can you be talk
ing? Or is this another joke?"
Virginia blushed a little and. instead
of answering her mothers look of help
hollyhocks that blazed along the ivy
| hidden garden wall She did not speak
! for an instant, and then she said. with
the dainty shyness Of child pinned to
a statement by uncomprehending eld-
ers: 1T isn't joke. Nonsense, maybe,
yet not joke. I've always thought of
| him-for so many years I've forgotten
when it first began. He was so great,
so-everything that appeals to me.
How could l help thinking about him
and putting him on pedestal? /
| there's no idea of marriage in my mind,
of course, only-there's no other man
| possible after all the thoughts I've
! given him-no other man in the world"
"My dear, you must tell ME his
name"
What, When I've described him-al-
most-do you still need to hear his
name? Well. then, I'm not asham-
ed to tell. It's Leopold"
Leopold. You're talking of the en-
peror of Rhaetia."
"As if it could have been any one
else
And you have thought of him.
you've cherished him. for years as an
ideal! Why. you never spoke of him
particularly before"
That's because you never seriously
wanted me to take husband until this
prim, dull French Henri proposed him
self. My thoughts We're my own. l
wouldn't have told you only-you see
why"
''Of course. my precious child. How
extremely interesting and-and roman
tic" Again the grand duchess lapsed
into silence, yet her expression did not
suggest a stricken mind. She merely
appeared astonished, with an astonish-
ment that might turn into an emotion
more agreeable.
Meanwhile it was left for Virginia
to look veXed-vexed with herself. She
wished that she had not betrayed her
poor little foolish secret-so shadowy a
secret that 1t was hardly worthy of the
name. Yet it had been precious-pre-
cious since childhood, precious as the
immediate jewel of her soul because
haI of l,o,
no one else had dreamed of its exist
ence. Now she had shown it to other
eyes, almost Haunted it. Never again
could it be n joy to her.
In the little room. half study, half
boudoir. which was her own there was
a desk, locked in her absence, where
souvenirs of the young emperor of
Rhaetia had been accommodating for
years. There were photographs which
Virginia had contrived TO buy secret
ly-portraits of Leopold from an early
age up TO the present, when he was
shown as a tall. dark, cold eyed, warm
Tipped, firm chinned young man of
thirty. There were paragraphs cut
from newspapers telling Of his genius
as 4 soldier his prowess as a noun
taineer and hunter Of big game, with
dramatic anecdotes of his naughty
courage in time Of danger. his impul
sive charities. his well thought out
schemes for the welfare OF his subjects
in every walk Of life.
There were black and white copies
of bold. clever pictures he had painted
There was martial music composed by
him and plaintive folk songs adapted
by him. which Virginia had tried soft
ly TO herself on her little plano when
nobody was near. There were reports
Of speeches made 10y him since his ac-
cessiOn TO the throne, accounts of i'm
prOvements in guns and an invention
of a new explosive. There was n some [
what crude yet witty play which he
had written and numerous other rec
orls Of the accomplishments and
achievements and even eccentricitics
which had built up the Princess Viz
ginia's ideal OF this celebrated young
man. proclaimed emperor after the
FAA lt-h ~ u AAffl4 fA~AL eFsAAE Il ~
'You are worthy 10 I've an empress"
Her mothers voice broke into Viz
ginia's thoughts. She started and
found herself under inspection 10y the
grand duchess. At first she frowned;
then she laughed sprluging Ip on a
quick impulse 10 turn earnest into jest
AMI 50 perhaps escape further cate
cbisiag.
Yes. would not make an empressT'
She echoed. stepping out from the
shadow 81 her favOrite elm into the
radiance u summer.
The sun poured over her hair as she
stood with I.plifted head and threaded
il with = network Of living gold. gieam-
Ing into the dark gray eyes trimmed
With black iasBes aud turning them to
jewels. Her fair skin was as nawiess
In the unsparing light as the petals Of
lilies. and her features. though a rene
iffinn Of those which had made n Viz
zinia girl famous long ago. were carved
aith royal perfection.
There Is no real reason why yOu
should not make an empress. dearest"
lHl her mother. in pride Of the girls
beauty and desiring wOmanlike. to
promote her chIid's happiness. -Stran-
-er things have happened Only last
week al Windsor the dear queen was
saying what a pity poor Henri was not
more But M matter: he Is well
snouEh- However. if And when one
omes II think q il. it's perhaps not