The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-20

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ing but spoil all ones fun and oblige
one to do stupid, boring things which
one hates"
Nevertheless noblesse does oblige.'
went on the Dresden china prophecies
Of conventionality. when alliances
are arranged for women Of our posi-
ton. we must content ourselves with
the hope that love may come after
marriage, or. if not, we must go on do
ing our duty in that state of life to
which heaven has graciously called
u.s."
Bother dutyw broke out Virginia
Thank goodness, In these days not all
!, the kings horses and all the kings
men can make even princess marry
against her will. hate that everlast,
ing cant about duty In marriage.
When people love each other they're
kind and good and sweet and true be-
cause it's JOY, not because it's a
duty. And that's the only sort Of 10y
atty worth having between men and
women. according to me. wouldn't
accept anything else from man, and
should despise him If he were less or
more eXacting."
"Virginia. the way you express your,
self Is almost improper Pm thankful
that no one hears you except myself.
said the grand duchess. But at this
moment. when clash Of tongues and
! opinions seemed imminent, there oc-
Cured a happy diversion in the arrival
of letters.
| Virginia, who was a neglectful cor.
| respondent. had nothing. but two or
three important looking envelopes
claimed attention from the grand duch-
esS. and as soon as the ladies were
once more alone together in the sweet
scented garden she broke the crown
stamped seal Of her son Adalbert. now
by adoption crown prince of Hungaria.
open the others for me, dear" she
demanded excitedly, while see what
| Dal has to say" And Virginia leisure
ly obeyed, wondering whether DaFs
news would by and by be passed on
to her. 1t was always an event when
q long letter came from him, and the
grand duchess Invariably laughed and
/ exclaimed and sometimes blushed rs
she read, but when she bluShed the
letter was not given to the crown
princes sister.
There was note today from an old
friend of her mothers of whom Viz
ginia was fond, and she had just be-
gun to be interested in the third para
graph, all about an adorable Dandy
Dlnmont puppy, when an odd. half
stifed ejaculation from the grand duch-
ess made the girl lift her eyes.
"Has Da! been having something be-
yond the common in the way Of adven-
tures?" she inquired dryly.
Hcr mother did not answer, but she
had grown pink and then pale.
Virginia began to be uneasy. "What
is the matter? Is anything wronG:
she asked.
"No-nothing In the least wrong. fur
from it, indeed; but, oh, my child!
Mother, dear, what is it"
"Something so extraordinary. go
wonderful mean as a coincidence
that can hardly speak. l suppose
can't be dreaming. You are really
talking 10 me in the garden, aren't
you"
"I am, and wish you were telling
me the mystery. Do. dear. You look
awake. only rather odd.'
at would be strange If | didn't look
odd Dal says-Dal says
"What has he been doing-getting
engaged?"
"No. 1t is-your emperor, not Dal,
who talks Of being engaged"
"Oh," said Virginia. trying not to
speak blankly. trying not to flush. try
ing not to show in any way the sudden
sick pain in her heart.
OF course she was not in love with
him. OF course, though she had been
childish enough long ago to make him
her ideal and foolishly faithful enough
to keep him so, she had always known
that he would never be more to her
than a shadow emperor. Some day he
would marry one Of those other royal
girls who were so much more suitable
than she. That would be natural and
right, as she had more than once told
herself with no conscious pang, but
now that the news had come. now that
the royal girl was actually chosen anu
she must hear the letter and read
about the happy event In the neWspa-
pers, it was different She felt sud
denly cold and sick under the blow
hurt and defrauded and even jealous.
She knew that she would hate the girl
some wretchcd, commonplace girl
with stick out teeth, perhaps, or no fig
ure and no idea Of the way to wear her
clothes or do her hair.
But she swallowed hard and clinch-
ed her fingers under the voluminous
letter about Dandy Dinmont. "Oh. so
our friend is going to be married" she
remarked lightly.
That depends" replied the grand
duchess, laughing mystcrously. with a
catch in her voice as if she had been
nervous glrl-"that depends. You must
guess But, no: I won't tease you.
My dear. my dear, after DaI's letter
coming. as It has come. in the midst OF
such n conversation. | shall be firm
believer in telepathy This letter on Its
way to lis must have put the thoughts
into our minds and the words on our
tongues. 1t may be that the emperor
Of Rhaetia will marry; 1t may not, for