Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-05-15

QOllyDOckS ln1C DldZeu IIOlS luc IVY
hidden garden wall. She did not speak
for an instant, and then she said. with
the dainty shyness of child pinned to
a statement by uncomprehending eld-
ers: 1T isn't joke. Nonsense, maybe.
yet not Joke. I've always thought Of
him-for so many years I've forgotten
when 1t first began. He was so great,
so-everything that appeals to me.
How could l help thinking about him
and putting him on n pedestal? l.
there's no idea of marriage in my mind,
Of course, Only-there's no other man
possible after all the thoughts I've
given him-no other man In the world"
"My dear. you must tell me his
name"
"What! When I've described him-al-
most-do you still need to hear his
name? Well, then, I'm not asham-
ed to tell. It's Leopold"
leopold. You're talking Of the en-
peror Of Rhaetia."
"As II 1t could have been any one
else"
"And you have thought Of him,
you've cherished him, for years as an
ideal! Why, you never spoke Of him
particularly before"
That's because you never seriously
wanted me to take husband until this
prim. dull French Henri proposed him
self. My thoughts were my own.
fnI
why"
"Of course, my precious child. How
extremely interesting and-and roman
tic" Again the grand duchess lapsed
into silence. yet her expression did not
suggest Il, stricken mind. She merely
appeared .astonished, with an astonish-
ment that might turn into an emotion
more agreeable.
Meanwhile it was left for Virginia
to look veXed-vexcd with herself. She
poor little foolish Sccret-SO Shadowy q
secret that 1t was hardly worthy Of the
name. Yet it had been precious-pre-
ciOus since childhood. precious as the
immediate jewel of her soul because
I had been the jewel Of her soul, and
no one else had dreamed OF its exist.
ence. Now she had shown 1t to other
eyes. almost Haunted it. Never again
could 1t be Il joy to her.
In the little room, half study, half
bOudOir. which was her own there was
a desk. locked in her absence, where
souvenirs Of the young emperor OF
Khaetia had been accommodating fol
years. There We're photographs which
Virginia had contrfved to buy secret
ly-portraits of Leopold from an early
age up to ,the present, when he was
shown rs a-tau. dark, cold eyed, warm
Tipped. firm chinned young man OF
thirty. There were paragraphs cht
from newspapers telling Of his genius
as soldier, his 'prowess as a noun
taineer and hunter Of big game, with
dramatic anecdotes of his naughty
courage in time Of danger, his impul
sive charities. his we'll thought Out
schemes for the welfare Of his subjects
in every walls,of life.
There were black and white copies
Of bold. clever pictures he had painted
There was martial music composed BY
tim and plainive folk songs adapted
~ him, which Virginia had tried soft
y to herself on her litt'e piano wher
nobody wasInear. There were report
OF speeches ,made by him. since his &C
cession to the throne, accounts of i'm
prOvementS In guns and an invention
of new explosive: There was . some
what crude yet witty play which h
had written and numerous other rec
ords Of the accomplishments ant
achievements and even eccentricitie
which had built up the Princess VII
ginia's ideal of this celebrated youn
man. proclaimed emperor after tn
great revolution eight years. ago.
"You are worthy to be an empress"
Her mothers voice broke into Vii
ginia's thoughts. She started an
found herself under inspection by tn
grand duchess. At first she frowned
then she laughed, springing up on
quick impulse tO,turn earnest into jes
and SO perhaps escape further cate
chising.
'Yes. would not make an empress D.?
she echoed. stepping out from tn
shadow of her favorite elm into til
noOntide radiance of summer.
The sun poured over her hair as sh
stood with uplifted head and threads
1t with network Of living gold, CLEAN
Ing into the dark gray eyes rimme,
with black lashes and turning them t
jewels. Her fair skin was as flawles
in the unsparing light as the petals o
lilies. and her features. though repe
titiOn Of those which had made Vii
ginia girl famous long ago. were carve
with royal perfection.
There Is no real reason why yo
should not make an empress. dearest,
said her mother. In pride of the girl
beauty and desiring. womanlike, t
promote her child's happiness ''StraI
ger things have happened. Only las
week at Windsor the dear queen wa
saying what a pity poor Henri was no
more. But, no matter; he is we
enough. However. If And when ON
comes to think Of 1t. it's perhaps NO
unnatural that Leopold Of Rhaetia ha
never been mentioned for you. althoug
there could be nothing against the mar
riaee. What a match for any woman
a supreme one. Not n royal girl bu
would go on her knees to him If
II wouldn't" said Virginia. Il Nigh
worship him. yet he should go on hi
knees to me-"
IL doubt If those proudalinecs of hi
Will ever bend In homage to man o
woman" replied the grand duchess
"But that's Il mere fantasy I'm ser
Gus now. darling. and | very mucl
wish you would be-
Please. Id rather ot.'-smiied Viz
ginia uneasily. Let us not talk Of tn
emperor any more-andA never. aglil