The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-08-19

many names and twenty-eight years.
This surprised me, as the Miss
Mowbray 1 had seen at the birthday
ball looked no more than eighteen
and, I was told. confessed to twenty.
The Mowbrays. learned by II little
further research I'm Burke, were dis
family connected by marriage with the
family OF Bnumcnburg- Drlppe. This
seemed an odd coincidence I'm the cir
cumstances. But, acting MS duty badc
me act, 1 wired to two persons-Baron
yon Sark, your majesty's ambassador
to Great Britain, and the crown prince
OF Hungaria, the brother Of Princess
Virginia"
"What did you telegraph" asked the
emperor icily.
Nothing compromising to our maj
esty, you may well believe. inquired
OF Adalbert IL he had English rela-
lions, n Lady Mowbray and daughter,
Helen, travelling In Rhactia, and | beg
ged that IL SO he would describe their
appearance by telegram. To Won Sark
said that particulars by wire concern
Ing the widow of Lord Mowbray and
daughter, Helen, would put me under
pNhcNht' OpiibNtioh. bOtu tncSc HES
sages 1 sent of night before last. Yes
terday l received Adalbert's answer.
this morning Won Sark's. They are
here" And the chancellor tapped the
breast Of his gray coat. "Wnl your
majesty g themT"
"lf you WISH" replied Leopold at his
%haughtiest and coolest.
The old nan unbuttoncd his coat and
produced a coroneted pocketbook, n
souvenir Of friendship on his last birth
day from the emperor. Leopold saw 1t
and remembered, rs the chancellor
hoped he would.
"Here are the kilograms, our mai
esty," he said. "Thc first one Is from
the crown prince of H%ungaria."
Have no idea where Lady MowDray
and daughter are travelling; may he
Rhaetia or north POLE" Adalbert had
written, with characteristic fippancy.
Have seen neither for eight years
NJ. tall, brown old party, with nose like
hobbyhorse; Helen dark, nose like
mothers, wears glasses"
with no betrayal OF feeling, Leopold
laid the telegram on the red plush
seat II unfolded the other.
pardon delay" the Rhaetian am
bassador's message began. "Have
heen making inquiries. Lady Now.
bray has been widow for ten years.
Not rich. During sons minority has
let her town and country houses.
Lives much abroad. Very high church.,
intellectual, at present in Calcutta.
where daughter U"leG, tyynN.; .eILit,
not pretty, is lately engaged to marry
middle aged Judge OF some distinction"
\ "So"-nnd the emperor threw aside
the second bit of paper-"lt Is on such
slight grounds as these that a man OF
the world can label two ladies 'ad-
yenturesses.'"
The chancellor was bitterly disap.
pointed. He had counted on the i'm
preston which these kilograms must
make, and unless Leopold were act.
Ing 1t was now certain that love had
driven him out OF his senses.
But IL the emperor were mad he
must be treated accordingly, and the
old statesman condescended to "bluff."
"There Is still more to tell" he said,
III your majesty has not heard enough,
but | think when you have reflected
you will not wish for more. 1t is clear
that the wOmen calling themselves
Mowbrnys have had the audacity to
present themselves here under false
colors. They have either deceived
Lady lambert, who introduced them
to Rhnetian society, or, still more like.
ly, they have cleyerly forged their let
ters OF introduction"
"Vhy didn't you telegraph to Lady
Lambert while your hand was inf"
snecred Leopold.
81 did, your majesty, or, rather, not
knowing her present address, l wired
n friend OF mine, an acquaintance Of
hers, begging him to make inquiries
without using my name, but | have
not yet received an answer to that tele-
gram"
Until you do I should think that
two dcfenseless, inoffcnsive ladies the
benefit OF the doubt"
"Inoffensive," echoed Won Brett
stein-"Inoffensive when they came to
this country to your majesty
through he girls beauty! But, great
heaven, 1t is true that I am growing
old! / have forgotten to ask your mai
esty whether you have gone 80 far as
to mention the word marriage to Miss
MowbrayT
I'll answer that question by another.
DO you really believe that Miss Nov
bray came to Rhaetia to 'entrap' met"
II do, though 1 scarcely think that
even her ambition flew MS high as you
are encouraging 1t to soar"
bIu coaa yO,'ra rioht che ,youI1 how