Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-05-26

| The chancellor spread out his old
yeined hands In gesture of appeal
81 fear" he said, that in my anxiety
for your majestys welfare and the
good Of Rhaetia l may have exceeded
my instructions. My one excuse l.
that I believed your mind to he def
| nitely made up. I still believe II to he
so. l would listen to no one who
should try to persuade me of the con
trary, and / will write Adalbert'-
"YOu must get yourself and me ont
of the scrape as best You can, since
you admit you got us into it," broke in
the emperor, with an uneasy laugh
'If Princess Virginia OF Baumenberg
Drippe is rs charming rs she is said to
be, her difficulty will be In choosing Il
husband, not in getting one. For once
my dear chancellor, gossip has told
the truth, and l wouldn't pay the
princess SO poor compliment as to
ask for her hand when I've no heart
left to give her in exchange for it
| There's some one else
1T is Of that some one else | would
venture to speak, your majesty. Cos
sip has named her May II"
"I'll save you the trouble, for I'm
not ashamed that the common fate
has overtaken me-common because
every man loves once before he dies,
and yet uncommon because no man
ever loved woman so worthy. Chan
| cellor, there's no woman in the world
like Miss Helen Mowbray, the lady to
whom owe my life"
Its natural you should he CRATE
full, your majesty, but
"It's natural l should be In love"
Natural that young man mex
perienced In affairs of the heart should
mistake warm gratitude for love. i'm
possible that the mistake should be al
lowed to continue"
Leopold's eyes grew dark. I'm such
connection" he said, 1T would be
better not to mention the word mis-
take I'm glad you are here. for now
you can learn from me my intentions
toward that lady"
Intentions, did you say, your majes-
ty? fear grow hard Of hearing"
AT least you will never grow slow
Of understanding. l did speak OF my
intentions toward Miss Mowbray."
you would give the lady some mag
niflcent estate, some splendid acknowl-
edgment"-
whether splendid or not would be Il
matter of opinion" laughed the en-
peror. II shall offer her present OF
myself"
The old man had been sitting with
his chin sunk into his short neck. peer
ing out from under his brows in way
he had. but he lifted his head sudden
", with q look in his eyes like that Of
an animal who scents danger from a
unexpected quarter.
"Your majesty" he exclaimed, "yo
are your fathers son, you are Rha'
tian, and your standard Of honor
81 hope to marry Miss MOwbray."
Leopold cut him short.
The chancellor's jaw dropped, and he
grew pale. II had dreamed Of nothing
as bad as this" he blurted out. with
no thought or wish to sugar the truth.
"T feared a young mans rashness. l
dreaded scandal. But. forgive Inc, your
majesty. For you a morganatic mar
riage would be Madness
"a morganatic marriage / did think
Of at first, but on second thoughts
saw 1t would be ungrateful."
"Ah, yes, to the country which ex'
poets so much Of you"
"No, to the woman who has the
right to all or nothing. l will make her
empress Of Rhaetla."
With cry the chancellor sprang up
His eyes glared like the eyes Of bull
| who receives the death stroke. His
working lips and the hollow sound In
his throat alarmed the emperor.
"No, your majesty, now he painted.
"But say yes" Leopold answered
"and let no man give me nay. I've
thought 1t all out. I will make her O
countess first. Then she shall be made
my empress"
"Your majesty, It is not possible"
"Take care, chancellor"
"She has been deceiving you. She
has neither the birth, the position mol
the name she claims to have, and
can prove It."
"You are mad. Won Breitstein." the