Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-06-19


ward In memory Ike q dream
She had seen that a man was ghast-
" pale; she had caught CLEAN of
fear In his eye; She had felt a tigerish
CULVER run through his frame as the
crowd pressed him against her. In
silHct-and 1ove-had told her the rest
and taught her how TO act.
Vaguely she recalled later that she
had thrown herself forward and struck
up the knife. An impression of that
knife as the light cleaned on it alone
was clear. Sickening, she had thought
Of the dull sound it would make in
:, Of the blood that would spout
from rent in the white coat among
the jeweled orders. She had thought,
as one thinks in dying. of existence in
world empty Of leopold, and she had
known that unless he could be saved
her one wish was to 90 out of the
world with him.
More than this she had not thought
or known. What she did was done
scarcely by her own volition, and she
seemed to wake with a start at last,
to hear herself sObbing and to feel the
throb. throb, of hot pain In her arm.
y hundred hands-not quick enough
to save, yet quick enough to follow the
lead given by her-had fought to seize
the man in gray and stop a second
blow. They had borne him away,
while. as for Virginia. her work DONE
she forgot everything and every one
but Leopold.
Reviving, she had heard him speak
to the crowd and told herself dreamily
that were she dying his voice could
bring her back il he called. She even
listened to each word that rang out
like n cathedral bell above the babel
Still be held her, and when the cheers
came she scarcely understood that
they were for her as we'll as for Leo
pold, the emperor. Afterward, the ne
cessity for public action over, he bent
his head close enough to whisper,
THANK you." and then for Virginia
every syllable was clear.
you are the bravest woman alive"
he said. II had to keep them from
killing the ruflan, but now l can
speak to you alone. I thank you for
what you did with my whole heart,
and pray heaven you're not seriously
hurt"
mo. not hurt and very happy" the
princess answered, hardly knowing
what she said. She felt like a soul re-
leased from its body, floating in blue
ether. What could it matter IL that
body ached or bled? Leopold was
safe. and she had saved him.
He pointed to her sleeve. THE knife
struck you. Your arms bleeding, and
the wound must be seen Immediately
by my own surgeon. Would that could
80 with you myself, but duty keeps
me here. You understand that. Baron
Won Lyndal and his wife will ut once
take you home, wherever you may be
staying. They
but I would rather stop and see
the rest" said Virginia. I'm quite
well now. not even weak, and l can
60 down to my friend
III you're able to stop, it must be
here with me-" answered Leopold.
AFTER the service you have done for
me and for the country it Is your
place"
The ladies Of the court who, with
their husbands, had been waiting to
congratulate Leopold, crowded round
the girl as the emperor turned to them
with a look and gesture Of invitation.
A seat was given her. and the arm in
its blood stained sleeve was hastily
Wound up. She was the heroine Of the
by, dividing honors with its hero.
There was scarcely a grlnde dame
among the brilliant assemDlage on lne
emperor's platform to whom Lady
N0wbray and her daughter had not .
letter Of introduction from their inval-
liable friend. But no one knew Mt
this moment Of any title to their recoy-
milton possessed by the girl other than
the right she had earned by her splen-
did deed. All smiled on her through
grateful tears, though there were some
who would have given their ten fin
gers to have stepped into her place.
Thus Virginia sat through the cere-
monies, careless that thousands Of eyes
were on her face. thinking only Of one
pair Of eyes. which spared a glance for
her now and then. hardly seeing the
statue Of Rhaetia. whose glorious mar
BILE womanhood unveiled reused q
storm Of enthusiasm from the crowd.
hearing only the short. stirring speech
made by Leopold.
When everything was over and the
people had no excuse to linger save to
great personages disperse. Leopold
turned again to Virginia.
All the world was listening. of
course: all the world was watching,
too, and. no matter what his inclina-
ton might have been. his words could
be but few.
Once more he thanked and praised
her for her courage, her presence Of
mind; thanked her for remaining as If
she had been granting q favor to him
and asked her where she was staying
In Kronburg. as he promised himself
the honor Of sending to inquire for her
health that evening
xAAo uCcAC 0OulO Oc " Cdh ~ OnSC AZ
person, he added: but, owing to the
programme arranged for this day and
several days to follow. not only each
hour, but each moment. would be Of
hcially occupied. These birthday fes-
tivities were troublesome. but duty
must be done, and then. Leopold re-
peated, when he had Miss Mowbray's
name and address. the court surgeon
and physician would be commanded to
attend upon her without delay.
With these words and q chivalrous
courtesy Mt parting. the emperor was
gone. Baron Won Lyndal. grand master
Of ceremonies, and his baroness having
been told Off to take care Of Miss Now
bray.
In another mood it would have prick
ed Virginia's sense Of humor to see
Baroness Won Lyndal's almost shocked
surprise at discovering her to he the
daughter of that Lady Mowbray whom