Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-06-02
door out of Rhaetia, leaving no trace
which even a lover could find?

btlT tuem UP ny every meduS III uio
power This was the course he finally
chose, and just as he was about to
&c. upon his decision he remembered
his carelessly given promise to Count
Won Breitstein.
There was telephone in the railway
station at Felgarde, and Leopold him
self called up the chancellor at Kron-
burg.
"My friends are pot here. I'm start
ing for Kronburg as soon as possible,
either by the next train or by special"
he announced after faraway squeak
had signifed Count Won Breitstein's
presence at the other end. 81 don't see
why you wish to know, but would not
break my promise; that's all. Goodby.
Eth? What was that you said?"
81 have a-curious-piece of-news
for you," came over the wire In til
ehancellor's voice. "Its-about the
ladies'"
what is 1T" asked Leopold.
II hinted that I had more informa
ton which could not give you then.
But | am in a different position now
You did not find your friends In the
Orient express"
NO" said the emperor.
"They gave out that they were leav.
ing Rhaetia, but they haven't crossed
the frontier"
Thanks. That's exactly what want.
ed to know"
"You remember certain person
whose name can't be mentioned over
the telephone buying hunting lodge
near the village of Inseleden, in the
Buchenwald, last year,"
"Yes: l remember very well. But
what has that to do with my friends?'
"The younger lady has gone there
without her mother, who remains In
Kronburg with the companion. It
seems that the present owner Of the
hunting lodge has been acquainted with
them for some time, though he was ig-
norant Of their masquerade. You see,
he knows them only under their real
name. The young lady is singer In
comic operas, Miss Jenny Brett,
whose dossier can>be given you on de-
mand. The owner of the hunting lodge
arrived at his place this morning, mo-
tored into Kronburg, where the young
lady had waited, evidently informed Of
his coming. She invited him to pay
her a visit at her hotel. He accepted
and returned the invitation, which she
accepted"
"You are misinformed. The lady was
never an opera singer, and I'm certain
she would neither receive the person
you mention nor go to visit him."
"Will you drive out to the lodge to-
night when you reach Kronburg and
honor the gentleman with an unex-
pected call?"
~ will, d-n you, but not for the rea-
son you think" cried the emperor. 1t
was the first time in his life that he
had ever used strong language to the
chancellor.
He dropped the receiver flung down
a gold coin with his own head upon 1t
(at the moment he could have wished
that he had no other and, waving
away an offer Of change, rushed out OF
the office.
Under his breath he swore again. the
strongest oaths which the rich Ian
guage of his fatherlapd provided.
matchmaking not the beloved wom-
an, maligned, but the man who ma
ligned her.
There would be death in the thought
that she could be false to herself and
her confession of love for him. But,
then, 1t was unthinkable. Let the whole
world reek with foulness, his love must
still shine above 1t white and remote
as the young moon.
This old man, whose life would
scarce have been safe II In his emper-
or's present mood the two had been
together-this old man had grudgc
against the one perfect girl on earth.
There was no black rag Of scandal he
would not stoop to pick out Of the mud
and fly as a flag Of battle. soothing
his conscience-if he had one-by say
ing it was for "Rhaetias good"
Telling himself that these things
were truths, Leopold hurried away to
inquire for the next train back to
Kronburg. There would not be anoth-
er for three hours, he found, and as
nothing could have induced him to
wait three hours, or even two, he Or
dered a special. There was raging
tiger in his breast which would not
cease to tear him until he had seen
Helen Mowbray, laid his empire at her
feet, received her answer and, through
It, punished the chancellor.
The special, he was told, could be
ready in less than an hour. The jour
ney to Kronburg would occupy nearly
three more, and it would be close upon
0 before he could start with Count
Won Breitstein for the hunting lodge
which he had promised to visit. But
the chancellor would doubtless have
his electric carriage ready for the de-
sired expedition, and they could reach
their destination In twenty minutes.
This was not too long time to give
up to proving the old man wrong, for
to do this, not to find Helen Mowbray,
was Leopold's motive In consenting.
She would not be there, and the EN-
peror was going because she would
not. He wanted to witness Won Brett.
STEMS confusion. for humiliation was
the bitterest punishment which could
possibly be inflicted on the proud and