The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-04-08

Is tHdt way OF saying you never
intend to marryT
"I'm afraid 1t amounts to that" ad-
mitted Virginia. "since there Is only
one man In the world would have for
my husband"
my dearest! A man you have let
yourself learn to care for. man be-
meath you? How terrible! But you see
no one. r.
1--WE never seen this man. And-Im
not In love- with him. That would be
too foolish, because, instead Of being
beneath, he's far, far above me-"
Virginia, of whom can you be talk
ing? Or Is this another joker
Virginia blushed little and, instead
of answering her mothers look of help
less appeal. stared at the row Of tall
hollyhocks that blazed along the Ivy
hidden garden wall. She did not speak
for an instant, and then she said, with
the dainty shyness of child pinned to
n statement by uncomprehending eld-
ers: at isn't joke. Nonsense, maybe,
yet nota joke. I've always thought OF
him-for so many years I've forgotten
when 1t first began. He was 30 great,
so-everything that appeals to me.
How could | help thinking about him
and putting him on a pedestal? l.
there's no idea Of marriage In my mind,
of course. only-there's no other man
possible after all the thoughts I've
given him-no other man In the world"
my dear. you must tell me his
name"
"What! When I've described him-al-
nlost-do you still need to hear his
name2 Well, then, I'm not asham-
! ed to tell It's Leopold"
Leopold. You're talking of the EN-
peror Of Rhaetia."
"As If 1t could have been any one
else"
"And you have thought of him.
you've cherished him. for years as an
ideal! Why, you never spoke of him
particularly before"
That's because you never seriously
wanted me to take husband until this
prim, dull French Henri proposed him
self My thoughts were my own.
wouldn't have told you only-you see
why"
"Of course, my precious child. How
extremely interesting and-and roman
tic" Again the grand duchess lapsed
into silence, yet her expression did not
suggest stricken mind. She merely
appeared astonished. with an astonish-
ment that might turn into an emotion
more agreeable.
Meanwhile 1t was left for Virginia
to look vexed-vexed with herself. She
wished that she had not betrayed her
secret that 1t was hardly worthy Of the
name. Yet 1t had been precious-pre-
cious since childhood, precious as the
immediate jewel Of her soul because
1t had been the jewel Of her soul, and
no one else had dreamed of Its exist
ence. Now she had shown 1t to other
eyes, almost Haunted 1t. Never again
could 1t be a Joy to her.
In the little room, half study, half
boudoir, which was her own there was
desk, locked In her absence, where
souvenirs of the young emperor of
Rhaetia had been accommodating for
years. There were photographs which
Virginia had contrived to buy secret
ly-portraits of Leopold from an early
age up to the present, when he was
shown as tall, dark, cold eyed, warm
Tipped, firm chinned young man Of
thirty. There were paragraphs cut
from newspapers telling of his genius
as q soldier, his prowess as noun
taineer and hunter OF big game, with
dramatic anecdotes of his naughty
courage in time Of danger, his impul-
sive charities. his we'll thought out
schemes for the welfare Of his subjects
In every walk Of life.
There were black and white copies
Of bold. clever pictures he had painted
| There was martial music composed by
him and plaintive folk songs adapted
by him, which Virginia had trie5 soft.
~ to herself on her little piano when
nobody was near. There were reports
Of speeches "'"de by him since his ac-
eession to rome, accounts OF i'm.
provement Guns and an invention
Of a new explosive. There was some-
what crude yet witty play which ne
had written and numerous other rec
ords of the accomplishments ana
achievements and even eccentricities
which had built up the Princess vir-
ginias ideal of this celebrated young
man, proclaimed emperor after the
great revolution eight years ago.
"You are worthy to be an empress"
Her mothers voice broke into Vir-
! ginias thoughts. She started and
found herself under inspection by the
grand duchess. At first she frowned;
then she laughed, springing up on
quick impulse to turn earnest into jest
and so perhaps escape further cate
chising.
Eyes, would not make an empress?"
she echoed, stepping out from the
shadow Of her favorite elm into the
noontide radiance of summer.
The sun poured over her hair as she
stood with uplfted head and threaded
1t with network of living gold. CLEAN
ing into the dark gray eyes trimmed
with black lashes and turning them to
jewels. Her fair skin was as 1awless
In the unsparing light as the petals of
| lilies and her faatt1res though a rome