Oxford Democrat., 1908-05-05

the girl L replied that Leopold wasn't
| the man to pull down a hornets nest
of gossip around the ears Of young
woman who had saved his life. No
matter what his inclinations might he,
| insisted that he would pay her no
repeated visits.
This thrust the fair Mechtilde par
| ried as If repeating mere rumOr by
saying that she believed the girl was
to stay ut the country house Of some
Old friend Of the emperor. At the time
attached little importance to her
chatter. believing that she merely
wished to give me Il sri;eful slap or
| two. as Is hr.' ha' Il vh,I size las the
chance. For On, =. though, sae has
succeeded in stealing a mrrvh upon
me, and she kept the secret OF i!cr plan
| until too late for me to havH ..ly hope
Of preventing Leopold from fulfilling
his engagement ut her house. After
that was safely arranged | don't doubt
she was oyerjoyed that should guess
her plot"
"Do you think that even If you'd
the emperor from visiting at Lyndal-
berg:" asked Egon Il know that you
are iron. but he Is steel"
81 would have stopped him." return
made no bones about the reason, for
I've found that the best way with
Leopold is to blurt out the whole
truth and fight him-my experience
against his will. If advice and warn
ing hadn't sufiiced to restrain him
from insulting the girl who is to be
his wife and injuring the reputation
Of the girl who never can he, | would
have devised some cXpedient TO thwart
him for his own good. I'm not a man
to give up when / feel that | am
right"
Neither is he" Egon added, but
since you seem so determined to nip
this dainty blossom of love in the bud
We'll hope It's not yet too late for a
sharp frost to blight it."
~ sent for you," said the chancellor,
brushing away metaphor with an i'm
patient gesture, ito show me the pre-
else spot on which to lay my finger"
I'll do my best to deserve your con-
ddence," responded Egon gracefully.
Let me see-where shall begin?
Well, as you know, it's simpler for the
emperor to see a good deal Of the wo-
man he admires at friends house
than almost anywhere else in his own
country. This particular woman risked
her life to save his, and it's so natural
for him to be gracious in return that
people would be surprised IL lie were
not. There's so much in their favor at
the commencement.
Miss Mowbray and her mother ar
rived ut Lyndalberg before the EN-
peror, had made friends there and
We're ready for the campaign. The
girl is undoubtedly beautiful-the pref
tiest creature, think, ever saw-and
she has winning way which takes
with women as well as men, Not one
Of her fellow guests seems to put a
wrong construction on her Irritation
with the emperor OF his with her. The
other men would think him blind If he
didn't admire her as much as they do,
and none of the women there are OF
the sort 10 be jealous. So, are you
sure. Lor.nZ. that you're not taking
too serious Il view Of the affair."
ut can't lie taken too seriously, con-
sidering the circumstances. I've told
you my plans for the emperors fu-
ture. Princesses are women. and gos-
sip Is hydra headed. When the lady
hears-She who has been allowed to
understand that the emperor Of Rhae-
tin only waits for suitable opportu-
nifty of formally asking for her hand
for she will surely hear, that he has
seized this very moment for his first
liaison, I tell you neither she nor her
people are likely to accept the state
ment meekly. She's half German-on
her fathers side a cousin not too dis
tant of William H. She's half Eng
lisbon her mothers side related TO
the king through the line or the STU
arts. And in her there's dash OF
American blood which comes from a
famous grandmother who was de-
scended from George Washington, a
man as proud and with the right to
be us proud as any king. All three
countries would have reason to re-
sent such an ungallant slight from
Rhaetia.'
"The little affair must be hushed
up" said Egon.
1T must be stopped, and at once,'
said the chancellor.
"Ach" sighed the young man, with
as much meaning in the long drawn
breath as the elder might care to read.
And if II did not discourage 1t at least
lrritated him. go onw he exclaimed
sharply. go Oh with your sorry tale.'
fro BE CONTINUED