Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-05-19

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looking into the room through a mist
Of tears, and a sob chOked her. "Cruel,
cruel" she whispered. What agony,
what an insultr'
Then, dashing away her tears, she
pushed back the dark curtains and
would have passed on into the room
had not the quick gesture brought hel
arm into contact with the buttons and
gold braid OH mans breast.
Instantly she realized that some one
was hiding there, some one dressed In
military coat, and her first impulse
was for flight, anything to escape un
recognized. But on second thoughts
she changed her mind.
Whoever 1t was had in all probabili-
ty hidden himself for the purpose of
spying and was already aware that
Miss Mowbray had rushed into the
house weeping after a tete-a-tete with
the emperor in the garden. Perhaps he
had even caught word or two Of her
sobbing ejaculation. No; she must not
run away and leave the outcome of
this affair to chance. She must see
with whom she had to deal that she
might know what was best to do.
She had taken step into the room.
but quick as light she turned, pulled
away the screen of curtains and faced
Captain Won Breitstein.
1t was trying moment for him, and
the girls look stripped him of all his
light audacity. She had come to the
window by different path from the
one he had watched; therefore she had
taken him unawares before he had
time to escape, as he had planned He
was caught fairly and must save him
self as best he could without prepara-
tion.
If her reproach forestalled his eX-
cuse he was lost. He must step into
the breach at whatever risk. There
was no time to weigh words. He must
let loose the first that sprang to his
lips.
81 see what you think of me-" lie
said. II see you think was watching
you. swear wasn't, though l knew
you were in the garden with-the en-
peror. Wait-yOu must listen. You
must hear my justification. was
sent to this room to fetch you. For
your sake, how could I go back and
say you had disappeared-together? /
looked out into the garden and saw
you-with him. l saw from your man.
Ter that-he had made you suffer. |
was half mad with rage, guessing
guessing something which one word
you let drop as you came in told me
had happened. He is my sovereign,
but-he has insulted you. Let me be
your knight, as in days Of old. Let
me defend you, for | love you. |
waited here to tell you this as you
came, so that If you would we might
announce an engagement
II Virglnia's eyes had been da.gers
he would have fallen ut her feet pierre
ed to the heart. For one long second
she looked at him without speaking.
her face eloquent. Then she went by
him with the proud bearing of II queen.
Egon was stricken dumb. Duly he
watched her move across the room to
a door which led into n corridor. He
heard the whisper Of her satin dress
and saw the changing lights and shad-
ows on Its creamy folds under the
crystal chandeliers; he saw the white
reflection, like a spirit, mirrorei deep
under the polished surface of the floor
Never had she been more beautiful
but she was beautiful in his eyes no
longer. He had hurt her pride, but she
had stabbed his vanity, and to wound
Egon Won Breitstein's vanity WAS tC
strike at his life. He hated The girl
hated her so sharply that his nerves
ached with the intensity of his hatred
and the only relief he could have
would be through reprisal.
He had not been able to deceive her
She knew that he had been spying,
and it was fortunate for his future. he
realized already, that she had broken
with the emperor. He must co all he
could, and do 1t quickly. to prevent q
reconciliation lest she should work him
injury.
AS for his hastily stammered pro
posal, it was good thing that tht
girl had not taken him ut his word
for the chancellor had not given hin
permission to speak, and IL she hac
accepted him he might have had tt
wriggle out Of his engagement. Still.
he could not forgive her scorn Of him.
"Lorenz shall help me to pay her 70
thlsr he said furiously to himself, to>
angry to mourn over lost hopes, los.
opportunities. He will know how t'
punish her. And between us she shal
suffer-