The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-08-19

since she called the offer you think so
magnificent an insult. Yes, chancel-
Tor, that was the word she used, and
1t was almost the last she said to me.
which is the reason I'm travelling to-
day. And none OF your boastcd proofs
can hold me back"
by heaven, your majesty must look
upon yourself from the point OF view
you credit to the girl! You forget the
emperor In the man."
THE two need not be separated"
Love Indeed makes men blind and
spares rot the eyes OF emperors."
tive liedged myself to bear with
you, chancellor"
And I know you'll keep your word.
l must speak for Rhaetia and your
better self. You are following this
lady to give her your empire for a
toy"
"She must first accept the emperor
as her husband"
"a lady who has SO poor q name of
her own that she steals one which
doesn't belong to her-the nation won't
bear It,"
you speak for yourself, not for
Rhaetia," said Leopold. Though I'm
not SO old as you by half your years,
| believe can judge my people better
than you do. The law which bids an
emperor of Rhaetia match with royal
ty is an unwrittcn law, n law solely of
customs handed down through the gen.
erations. I'll not spoil my life by sub
hitting to It's yoke. since by breaking
1t the nation gains, ns l do. / could
go to the worlds II and not find n
woman as worthy to be my wife and
empress OF Rhaetia as Helen Now
bray"
You have never seen Princess vir-
ginin.'
give no wish to see her. There's but
one woman for me, and l swear to you
IL l lose her III go to my grave I'M
married. Let the crown fall to my
unclc's son. I'll not perJure myself
even for Rhaetia."
The chancellor bowed his head and
held up his hands. for by that gesture
alone could he express his despair.
"lf my people love me they'll love
my wife and rejoice In my happiness"
Leopold went on sharply. "If they
complain, why, we shall see who's
master-whether or not the emperor OF
Ithactia is n mere fgurehead. In some
countries royalty Is but an ornamental
survival OF a picturesque past; a king
or queen Is a mere puppct which the
"rt,on roads VIII luxury to do itsen"
honor. That's not true Of Rhaetia,
though, as Pm ready to prove, IL prove
1t l must. But ] believe I shall be
spared the trouble. We Rhaetians love
romance-you are perhaps the one ex-
ception-while. rs for the story you've
told me, i would not give hat for IT."
And the emperor snapped his fingers.
You still believe the ladies have a
right to the name OF Mowbrayi"
II believe that they are OF stainless
reputation and that any seeming v
terry can be explained. Miss Mowbray
Is herself. That's enough for me. Per
hapS, chancellor. there are two Lady
Mowbrays."
"Only one Is mentioned in Burke"
Burke isn't gospel"
pardon me. It's the gospel OF the
British pceragc. 1t can no more be
guilty Of error than Euclid"
"Nor can Miss Mowbray be guilty OF
wrong. l should still stake my life on
that even had your conclusions not
been lame ones"
The old man accepted this rebuff In
silence. But 1t was not the silence OF
absolute hopelessness; 1t was only such
n pause as n prize fighter makes be-
tween rounds.
"Your majesty VIII not be I'm too
great haste, at all events, I trust" he
said Mt lnst-"at least q little rcncc-
ton. Il little patience, to cool the blood.
I have not laid down all my cards yet"
ITS often bad policy not to lead
trumps," replied Leopold.
"Oftcn. but not always. Time and
dhe end of the play Will show. Is your
majcsty's indulgence for the old man
quite cXhaustcdi"
mot quite, though rather strained, /
confess" Leopold tempered his words
with n faint smile.
"Ihen ! have one more important
question to ask. venturlng to remind
you first that 1 have acted solely In
your interest. IL such q step as you
contemplate should be my deathblow
1t Is because Of my love for you and
Rhaetia. Tell me. your majesty, this
one thing. If 1t were proved to you
that the lady you know as Miss Now
bray was not only not the person she
prctcnds to be, but In all other respects
unworthy OF your love, what would
YOU do?"
"You speak Of imposslbilities."
"But If they were not impossible
ties?"
"In such a case I should do as other
men do-spend the rest Of my life In