The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-04-21

r
as you are, am too old to endure all
this. think you should not have sub
jected me to it"
The grand duchess voice was plain
tive and pried among the girls sick
nerves like hot wire.
What 10 :ou mean. dear: ,!o not
understand" she said DULY. I'm so
sorry you are ILL., If it's my fault In
any way r.
Her mother pointed toward writing
table. 1.-THE telegram is there" she
murmured. at is too distressing-too
humiliating"
Virginia picked up crumpled tele-
graph form and began to read the mes
sage, which was dated London and
written in English:
Some one making Inquiries here about
the Mowbrays. Beg to advise you to ex-
plain all at at once or leave kronburg to
avoid almost certain complications.
LAMBERT.
Lady Lambert was the wife Of the
exam bassadCr to the court Of Rhaetla
from Great Britain.
The princess finished in silence.
isn't it hdeous|' asked the grand
duchess. ITO think that you and |
should have deliberately placed our
selves in such position! We are to
run away, like detected adventuresses,
unless-unless you are now ready to
tell the emperor ALL"
NO" said Virginia hopelessly.
What! Not yet? Oh. my dear, then
you must bring matters to a crisis
instantly-tonight even. It's evident
that some enemy. perhaps some jeal-
GUS person. has been at work behind
our backs. 1t Is for you to turn the
| tables upon him. and there isn't an
hour to waste. From the first you
meant to make some dramatic revela-
ton. Now the time has come"
"Ah. | meant-I meunt!" echoed .Vir-
ginia. with a sob breaking the ice in
her voice. Nothing has turned out
as meant. You were right. dear: |
was wrong. We ought never to have
| come to lthaetia.
The grand duchess grew paler than
before. She had been vaguely dis
trcssed. Now she was sharply alarm
ed. If Virginia admitted that this
greet adventure should never have
| been undertaken, then indeed the earth
must be quaklng under their feet.
"Ought MOTTO have come?' she re-
peated piteously. "What dreadful
thing has happened?
The princess stood with bent head
"It's hard to tell" she said, "hardel
almost than anything ever had to do
But 1t must be done. Everything's a
an end. dear"
"What-you've told him, and he has
refused to forgive"
"He knows nothing"
"For heavens sake, don't keep mt
in suspense"
Virginia's lips were dry. He ask
ed me to be his wife," she said. "Oh
wait-wait! Don't look happy. Yor
don't understand, and ! didn't at first
He had to explain. and he put the
thing as little extensively as he could
Oh, mother, he thinks me only good
! enough to be his morganatic wife"
The storm had burst at last, and the
princess fell on her knees by the sofa.
where. burying her face in her moth
er's lap, she sobbed US if parting with
her youth.
| There had always been mental and
temperlmental barriers between the
! Dresden china lady and her daughter
but they loved each other, and never
had the girl been so dear to her moth
er as now. The grand duchess thought
Of the summer day when Virginia had
knelt beside her. saying, I'VE are go
ing to have an adventure, you and l."
Alas. the adventure was over. and
summer and hope were dead! Tears
trembled in the mothers eyes. Poor
little Virginia. so young. so inexperi
enced and, in spite of her self viii! and
recklessness. so sweet and loving with
al!
But, dear, you are making the
worst of things" the grand duchess
said soothingly. her hand on the girls
bright hair why, instead Of crying
you ought to be smiling. l think. Leo
pold must love you desperately or he
would never have proposed marriage
even morganatic marriage. Just al
first the idea must have shocked you
knowing who you are. But. remember
If you were Miss Mowbray 1t would
have been triumph. Many women OF
| high position have married royalty
morganatically, and every one has re
spected them. You seem to forget thai
tile emperor knows YOU only as Helen
Mowbray."
HE ought to have known that Helen
Mowbray was not the girl to consent
no, not more easily than Virginia OF
Baumenburg-D -Drippe. he, should have
understood without telling that to a
girl with Anglo-SaIon blood In her
veins such an offer would be like q
blow over the heart"
'EHow should he understand it? he
is Rhaetian. His point of view 80:
."His point Of view to me is terrible
Oh, mother, it's useless to argue! Ev'
erything is spoiled. OF course IL he
knewI was Princess Virginia he would
be sorry for what he had proposed
even if he thought I'd brought It on
| m rsnlf Rnt thnn. II would he too lnte