The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-07-22

| rs easy to carry out as to turn n
Kaleidoscope and form charming new
! combination OF color, or so 1t had
seemed while the young voice plead
cd, but when the happy face and
radiant eyes no longer llumined the
path the way ahead seemed dark.
TO he sure, the princess had SO far
walked triumphantly along the high.
road TO success, but 1t was not always
good beginning which led to good
end and the grand duchess felt rs she
rang for Ernestlne that her nerves
would be strained to the breaking point
until matters were definitely settled
for better or for worse.
Virginia had never been loveller than
she was that night at dinner, and Egon
Won Breitstein's admiration for her
beauty had In 1t fascinating new in
grcdicnt. Untll yesterday he had said
20 himself "If she ic not fair to me,
what care | how fair she be?" But
now there was n vague Idea that she
might after all be for him, and he took
enormous pleasure I'm the thought that
he was falling in love with n girl who
had captured the emperors heart.
Egon glanced very often at Leopold,
contrasting his sovereIgn's appearance
unfavOrably with his own. The en-
pcror was thin and dark, with grave
cast OF feature, while Egon's face kept
the color and youthfulness of the early
twcnties. He was older than Leopold,
but he looked a boy. Alma -Tadema
would have wreathed him with vine
leaves. draped him with tiger skins
and set him down on marble bench
against burning sapphire sky, where
he would have appeared more suitably
clad than in the stiff blue and silver
uniform Of crack Rhaetian regiment
Leopold on the contrary, would ncv.
or be painted except as soldier. and
1t seemed to Egon that no normal girl
could help thinking him a far hand
Somcr fellow than the emperor. For
the moment, OF course, Miss Mowbray
did not notice him because his impe-
rial majesty loomed large In the fore
ground OF her Imagination, but the
chancellor had evidently n plan In his
head for removing that stately obsta
Gle into the dim perspective
EGon had not heard Miss Mowbray
spoken of rs an helress. Therefore,
even had there been no emperor in the
way, he would not have worshlped at
the shrine. But now behold the shrine.
attractive before, newly and alluring.
~ decked! Egon wondered much over
his half brothers apparently impulsive
offer and the contradictory command,
which had little later enjoined walt.
Ing
lie was delighted, however, that he
had not been forbidden to make him
self agreeable, and his idea was as
soon rs dinner should be over to find
q place nt Miss Mowbray's side before
any other man should have time to
take It, But, unluckily for this plan
Baron Won Lyndal detained him for n
Few moments with praise OF new
remedy which might cure the chan.
ccllor's gout and when he escaped
from his host to loo,i for Miss Now
bray In the white drawing room she
was not there.
From the music room adjoining, how
ever. came sounds which drew him
toward the door. IIe knew Miss Now
bray'S soft, coaXing touch Oh the Di-
| ano. She was there playing in n
whisper" rs he had heard her call
1t. Pcrhaps she was going to sing, as
she had done once or twice before, and
would need some one to turn the pages
or her music. Egon thought that he
, would much like to be the some one
and was In the act OF parting the white
velvet portiercs that covered the door.
way when his hostess smllingly beck
oned him away.
"The emperor has just asked Miss
MowDray to teach him some old fash.
ioncd Scotch or English air U'm afraid
| don't quite know the difference) call.
cd Annie Laurie" the baroness ex.
| planned. "Hc was charmed with II
when she sang the other evening, and
I've been assuring him that the song
would exactly suit his voice. We
mustn't disturb them while the lesson
Is going on. Tell me-I've hardly had
moment to ask you-how did you
find the chancellor?"
Chained to a forced allegiance, Egon
mechanically answered the questions
of the baroness without making absurd
mistakes, the while his ears burned to
hear what was going on behind the
white curtains.
Everybody knew OF the music les
son now and chatted in tones OF tact.
ful monotony, never speaking too
loudly to disturb the singers, never too
cautiously, lest they should seem to
listen. Once, and then again, tie
creamy mezzo soprano and the rich
tenor that was almost baritone
sang conscientiously through the
verses OF "Annie Laurie" from begin.
ming to end. Then few desultory
chords were struck on the piano. md