Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-03-31

"'What has he been doing-getting
engagedT
"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 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 and
she must hear the letter and read
about the happy event in the newspa-
pers, 1t 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 wretched, 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 mysteriously, with a
catch in her voice as II she had been
nervous girl--"that depends. You must
guess. But, no; I won't tease you.
My dear, my dear, after Dars letter,
coming, as 1t has come, in the midst Of
such Il conversation. shall be firm
believer in telepathy. This letter Oh its
way to us must have put the thoughts
into our minds and the words Oh our
tongues. 1t may be that the emperor
of Rhaetia will marry; it may not, for,
my sweet. beautiful girl. it depends
upon-you."
"Me?" The voice did not sound 10
Virginia like her own. Was she. too.
dreaming? Were they both in a dream?
"He wishes to marry you"
All the letters dropped from Vir-
ginia's lap-dropped and futtereI to the
grass slowly, like falling rose leaves
Scarcely knowing what she did. she
clasped her hands over the young bos
ON, shaken with the sudden throbbing
of her heart. Perhaps such betrayal
Of feeling by royal maiden deco
rously sued (by proxy for her hand
was scarcely correct. but Virginia had
no thought for rules Of conduct as laid
down for her too often by her mother.
"He wishes to marry-me:' she
echoed dazedly. Why"
providence must have drawn your
inclination toward him, dearest. 1t is
Indeed romance. Some day. no doubt,
it will be told to the world in history"
But how did he Virginia broke
off and began again. Did he tell this
to Dal and ask him to write youf
'Not-not precisely that" admitted
the grand duchess. her face changing
from satisfaction to uneasiness, for
Virginia was difficult in some ways,
though adorable in others. and held
such peculiar ideas about life-inherit-
ed from her American grandmother
that 1t was impossible to be sure how
she would receive the most ordinary
announcements.
The princess rapt expression faded
like the passing Of dawn.
Not precisely that!' she repeated
"Then what-how"-
"Well, perhaps, though it's not strict
ly the correct thing, you had bette!
read your brothers letter for yourself.
Virginia put her hands behind he:
back with a childish gesture. and u
frightened look came into the eyes
which at most times gazed bravely up
on the world. "I-somehow | can't
she said. please tell me-
"To begin with, then, you know what
an admiration Dal has felt for Coun