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

in the room where she and Leopold
had been happy together. There she
had sat at the piano, and he had bent
over her. love in his eyes-hon"st love,
she had thought. her heart full Of
Thanksgiving. How little she had
guessed then the humi..;aiion in StoGc
for her and the end. OF all her hopes!
How could she bear her pain, and how
could she go on living out her life?
She paused in the window niche,
looking into tile room through mist
of tears, and a sob choked her. Cruel.
cruew she whispered. What agony,
what an insult"
Then, dashing away her tears, she
pushed back the dark curtains and
would have passed on into the room
had not the quick gesture brought her
arm into contact with the buttons and
gold braid on mans breast.
Instantly she realized that some one
was hiding there. some one dressed in
military coat. and her first impulse
was for flight. anything to escape un'
recognized. But on second thoughts
she changed her mind.
Whoever 1t was had in all probabili-
ty hidden himself for the purpose of
spying and was already aware that
Miss Mowbray had rushed into the
house weeping after tete-a-tete with
the emperor In the garden. Perhaps he
bad even caught word or two of her
sobbing ejaculation. No; she must not
run away and leave the outcome of
this affair to chance. She must see
with whom she had to deal that she
might know what was best to do.
She had taken step into the room.
but quick as light she turned, pulled
away the screen Of curtains and faced
Captain Won Breitstein.
It was a trying moment for him, and
the girls look stripped him of all his
light audacity. She had come to the
window by a different path from the
one he had watched: therefore she had
taken him unawares before he had
time to escape. as he had planned. He
was caught fairly and must save him.
self as best be could without prepara-
ton.
If her reproach forestalled. his ex-
cuse be was lost. He must step into
the breach at whatever risk. There
was no time to weigh words. He must
let loose the first that sprang to bis
lips.
81 see what you think Of me-" he
said. II see you think was watching
YOU. l swear I wasn't, though Iknew
you were in the garden with-the EN-,
peror. Wait-you must listen. You
must hear my justification. was
sent to this room to fetch you. Fol
your sake, how could I go back and
say you had disappeared-together?
looked out into the garden and saw
you-with him. saw from your man
ner that-he had made you suffer.
was half mad with rage, guessing
guessing something which one word
you let drop rs you came In told me
had happened. He is my sovereign
but-he has ilsulted you. Let me be
your knight, as in days Of old. Let
me defend you, for | love you.
waited here to tell you this as you
came, so that If you would we might
announce an engagement
If virginia's eyes had been dagger:
he would have fallen at her feet pierc
ed to the heart. For one long SECOND
she looked at him without speaking
her5face eloquent. Then she went BY
him with the proud bearing of a queen
Egon was stricken dumb. Duly h'
watched her move across the room II
door which led into a corridor. R'
heard the whisper Of her satin dress
and saw the changing lights and shad
ows on its creamy folds under the
crystal chandeliers; he SAW the white
reflection, like spirit, mirrored deer
under the polished surface Of the floor
Never had she been more beautiful
but she was beautiful in his eyes nc
longer. He had, hurt her pride. but she
udu SluUDcu ulo NoiiitS, oho w "SoAiS
Egon Won Breilstein's vanity was tc
strike at his life. He hated the girl
hated her so sharply that his nerves
ached with the intensity of his hatred
and the only relief he could have
/ would be through reprisal.
He had not been able to deceive her
She knew that he had been spying
, and 1t was fortunate for his future. he
realized already, that she had broken
with the emperor. He must do all be
could, and do It quickly. to prevent a
reconciliation lest she should work him
injury.
AS for his hastily stammered pro.
posal it was a good thing that the
girl had not taken him ut his word
for the chancellor had not given him
permission to speak. and If she had
accepted him he might have had to
wriggle out of his engagement: Still,
he could not forgive her scorn of him.,
"Lorenz shall help me to pay her for
this" he said furiously to himself, too
angry to mourn over lost hopes. lost
opportunities. "He will know how to
punish her. And between US she shall
suffer-"
81 "a