The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-08-12

80 '"S NtN WIS iuc alC III their
rooms.
Leopold had shown himself at the
table each morning, however, and set
the fashion. And the day after the
parting in the garden he was earlier
ever than usual. 1t was easy to be
early, MS he had not been to bed that
night, but he had an extra incentive.
lie could scarcely wait to see how
Helen Mowbray would meet him
whether she woul still be cold or
whether oun advice from her mother
would have made her kind.
This was his last day at I.yndalberg.
by his special request no programme
of entertainment had been arranged.
and before coming down to breakfast
Leopold had been turning over In his
mind plan after plan for another
chance of meeting the girl alone. He
had even written q letter, but had
torn 1t up because he was unable to
say on paper What was really In his
heart.
Breakfast passed, however, and when
II did not appear Leopold grew rest
less. He did not ask for her before
the others, but when he and the baron
css had strolled out together on the
terrace, where white pcacocks spread
their jeweled tails, the emperor sought
come opportunity of bringing in the
name that filed his thoughts.
II see the red October lilies are open
ing" he said. Miss Mowbray will be
interested. She tells me there's moth
ing like them i'm England"
"Ah, She has one just too soon!'
sighed the baroness.
The emperor glanced quickly from
the mass OF crimson flowers to his
hostess face. Gomez he repeated.
YES" the baroness answered.. "They
must have reached Kronburg before
this. You know, they left their COM
panion there. Perhaps your majesty
did not realize that they were leaving
hero quito so carly?'
He turnCl so white under the brown
tan the mountains had given that the
baroness was alarmed. She had taken
Nirginia'S words as Virginia had
meant her to take them and therefore
supposed that n formal farcW ell of
some sort had been spoken. This I'M
preston did not prevent her from
guessing that there must have been Il
misunderstanding. and she was tin
CLING with a lively curiosity which she
was obliged carefully to hide.
The romance which had been enact
ed under her eyes she believed to be
largely of her own making. and. not
being a bad hearted woman. she had
grown fond of Virginia. She had even
had panSs OF conscience, and, though
she Gid not see the way for Il happy
ending to the pretty drama. it dis
tresscd her that the curtain should go
down OH sadness.
Il did not know they were going at
all" Leopold answered frankly, will
ing to sacrifice his pride for the sake
OF coming quickly at the truth.
"Oh," exclaimed the baroness, 81 am
distressed! Miss Mowbray distinctly
said when / begged that they would
wait, Tho emperor will understand"
II do undcrstand-now i know they
nave gone" he admitted. But Miss
MowDraY thinks she has some cause
OF complaint against me, and she's
mistaken. | can't let such n mistake
go uncorrcctcd. You say they must be
at Kronburg before this. Are they
staying on thcrc?"
Pm afraid not, your majesty. They
leave Kronburg for England today by
the Orient express"
ID you happen TO remember at
what hour the train startsf"
81 believe at ~"
Leopold pulled out his watch. 1t was
twenty minutes past IL. Forty times
sixty seconds and the girl would be
gone!
The blood rushed to his face. Bar.
ring accidents, he could catch her If
lie ordered his motor car ana left Mt
once. But to cut short his visit at
Schloss Lyndalberg would be virtually
to tak the world into his secret. LET
him allcgc important state business Mt
the capital IL he chose, gossip would
still say that the girl had fed; that he
had pursued her. The baroness knew
already. Others would chatter as If
they knew. That was inevitable-if he
went.
y month ago, when yielding to in
%ciination meant humbling his pride as
emperor and man, such n question
would have answered itself. Now it
answered itself also, the only differ
cncc being that the answer was exact
ly opposite TO what 1t would nave been
a month earlier.
baroness, forgive me-" he said
quickly. II must go. / can't explain"
You need not try" she answered
softly.
THANK you a hundred times. Make
everything as straight for me as you
can. Say what YOU will. / give you
carte blanche, for we're old friends,
nd | trust YOU"