Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-06-12

by the emperor OF statue Oh hudetld
In the Leopoldplatz. directly In front
of the Hohenlangenwald hotel.
Virginia looked forward to seeing the
emperor from her own windows, as,
according to her calculation. there was
an hour 10 spa:c. bat at the station
they were told by the driver of the
carriage sent to meet them that. the
crowd in the streets being already very
great, he feared it would be a tedious
undertaking 10 get through. Some Of
the thoroughfares were closed for traf-
fic. He would have to 80 by round
about way and in any case could not
reach the main entrance Of the hotel.
At best he would have to deposit his
passengers and their luggage at side
entrance in q narrow street.
AS the carriage started, from far
away came a burst Of martial music
military band playing the national
air which the channels hunter had
heard a girl sing behind closed door
at Alleheiligen.
The shops were all shut, would be
shut until the day after tomorrow, but
their windows were unshuttered and
gayly decorated to add to the bright
ness Of the scene. Strange old shops
displayed the marvellous chased silver,
the jeweled weapons and gorgeous en-
broideries from the far eastern prov
inces Of Rhaetia. Splendid new shops
rivaled the best Of the Rue de In PaiX
in Paris. Gray medieval buildings
made wonderful backgrounds for dra-
perry Of crimson and blue and garlands
of blazing flowers. Modern buildings
Of purple red porphyry and the famous
honey yellow marble Of Rhaetia flut-
tered with flags, and above all, In the
heart Of the town. between old and
new, rose the Castle Rock. Virginia's
pulses beat as she saw the home Of
Leopold for the first time, and she was
proud Of its picturesQueness, its riches
and grandeur, as II she had some right
In 1t too.
streets were alike arbors of evergreen
and brilliant blossoms. Prosperous
citizens in their best. Inhabitants Af the
poorer quarters and stalwart peasants
from the country elbowed and pushed
each other good naturally as they
streamed toward the Leopoldplatz.
Handsome people they were. the girl
thought, her heart warming to them.
and to her 1t seemed that the very
air tingled with expectation. She be-
lieved that she could feel the mag
netic thrill in 1t even II she were
blind and deaf and could hear or see
nothing Of the excitement.
I'VE must be in time! We shall be
In timer she said to herself II shall
lean out from my windows and see
him."
But ut the hotel. which they did
finally reach. the girl had to bear a
keen disappointment. With many apol-
Ogies the landlord explained that he
had done his very best for Lady Now
bray's party when he received their
letter fortnight before and that he
had allotted them good suit, with
balconies overlooking the river at the
back Of the house-quite Venetian ef-
feet. as her ladyship would find. But
as to rooms at the front-impossible
All had been engaged fully six weeks
In advance. One American millionaire
was paying a thousand gulden solely
for an hours use Of a small balcony,
today for the unwilling and again to-
morrow for the street procession. Viz
ginia was pale with disappointment.
Then I'll go down into the crowd and
take my chance Of seeing something"
she said to her mother when they had
been shown into handsome rooms sat
isfactory in everything but situation.
Il must hurry or there'll be no hope"
MY dear child. impossible for you
to do such q thing!" exclaimed the
grand duchess. II can't think Of allow.
ing It. Fancy what a crush there will
be-all sorts Of creatures trampling
on each other for places. Besides, you
could see nothing"
"Oh, mother" pleaded the princess
In her softest, sweetest voice, the voice
she kept for extreme emergencies of
cajoling. Il couldn't bear to stay shut
up here while that music plays and the
crowds shout themselves hoarse for
my emperor. Besides. it's the most
curious thlng-I feel as IL a voice kept
calling to ME that I must be there.
Miss Portman and I'll take care Of
each other. You will let me 20. won't
you"
or course the grand duchess yielded.
her one stipulation being that the two
should keep close to the hotel, and the
princess urged her reluctant companion
away without waiting to hear her
mothers last counsels.
Their rooms were on the first door.
and the girl turned eagerly down the
broad flight Of marble stairs, Miss
Portman following dutifully upon her
heels.
They could not get out by way Of the
front door, for people had paid for
standing room there and would not
yield an inch, even for an instant.
while the two or three steps below
and the broad pavement In front were
rs closely blocked.
|. Matters began to llsok hopeless. but
Virginia would not be daunted. They
tried the side entrance and found il
free, the street into which 1t led being
comparatively empty. but just beyond,
where 1t ran into the great open
square Of the Leopoldplatz, there was
a solid wall Of sightseers.
I'VE might as well go back" said
Miss Portman, who had none of the
princess keenness for the undertak-
Ing. She was tired after the Journey
and for herself would rather have had
cup Of tea than see fifty emperors
unveil as many statues by celebrated
sculptors.
"Oh. no" cried Virginia. We'll get
to the front somehow sooner or later.
even II we're taken OF our feet. Look
at that man just ahead of us. He