Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1908-10-09

girl, we may say, that it happened to
be her arm which struck up the
weapon"
''Or she wouldn't be here tonight,
you mean," laughed the baroness.
Don't you think, then. that his majes-
ty is right to single her out for 30
much honor" Her eyes were on the
dancers, yet that mysterious skill
which most women of the world have
learned taught her how not to miss the
slightest change Of expression, II there
were any. on the chancellor's square,
lined face.
Ills majesty is always right" he re-
piled automatically. IAN Invitation to
ball. dance or two, few compli-
ments. a call to pay his respects-a
gentleman could not be less gracious.
And his majesty is one Of the first gen.
tlemen in Europe"
"He has had good training what to
do and what not to do" The baroness
flung her little sop Of dattery to Ger
berus with dainty ghost of bow for
the man who had been as a second
father to Leopold since the late en-
peror's death. "But-we're old friends,
chancellor was not to blame that
they had not been more in the days
before she became Baroness Won I.yn-
dal-''so, tell me, can you look at the
girls face and the emperor's and still
say that everything will end with an
invitation. dance, some compliments
and a call to pay respects?''
Iron Heart frowned and sneered,
wondering what he could have seen
twenty two years ago to admire In this
Eighty woman. He would have es.
capped from her now If escape had been
feasible. but he could not be openly
rude to the wife of the grand master
of ceremonies at the emperor's ball,
and, besides, he was not unwilling per.
haps to show the lady that her sentl-
mental and unsuitable innuendos were
as the buzzing OF ny about bis ears.
"I'm close upon seventy and no long
er fair Judge of woman's attrac-
tions," he returned carelessly. "A look
at her face conveys nothing to me, but
were she Helen of Troy instead Of
Helen Mowbray the invitation. the
dance, the compliments and the call,
with the present of some jeweled SOU
venir. are all that are permissible in
the circumstances"
"What circumstances?'' and the bar
oness looked az innocent as an inquir-
ing child.
1.-THE lady is not of royal blood, and
his majesty. I thank heaven, 10 rot
roue.'
HE has a heart. though you trained
him, chancellor, and he has eyes. He
may never have used them to much
purpose before, yet there must be a
first time, and. the higher and more
strongly built the tower. once it begins
to topple.th greater is the fall thereof"
lis 1t the sense of humor.. which you
say lack. that gives you pleasure in
discussing the widest improbabilities
as II they were events to be consider
ed seriously? If it is I'm not sorry to
lack 1t. In any case, It's we'll that
neither Of US is the emperor's keeper"
"We're at least his very good friends,
you as we'll as in my humber way,
chancellor, and you and have known
each other for twenty-five years. If ii
amuses me to discuss improbabtlities
why not? Since you call them i'm.
probabilities it can do no harm to dwell
upon them as ingredients for romance,
Not for worlds would suggest that
his majesty isn't an example for all
men to follow nor that poor. pretty
Miss Mowbray could be tempted to in
discretion, but yet I'd he ready to make
a wager, the emperor being human and
the girl beauty, that an acquaintance
so Economically begun won't end with
ball and call"
"What could there possibly be more
or what you hint at as more, in honor?'
The chancellor's voice was angry al
last as we'll as stern. for he could not
bear persistence in other people unless
1t were to further some cause Of his
own. To the delight Of the woman
who had once tried in vain to melt his
iron heart, Count Won BreiBtein began
10 look somewhat like baited bull
Really, said the baroness to herself
there was an actual resemblance iu
feature. and joyously she searched fol
q few more little ribbon tipped ban
derillOs.
What fun it was to rune the TEN
per of the surly old brute who had hui
inflated her woman's vanity in days
long past, but not forgotten! She
knew the chancellor's desire for the
emperor's marriage as soon a. suit
able match could lie found and, though
she was not in the secret of his plans
would have felt little surprise at learn