Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-03-25

S~SA@A~N~N~t
- -. -
nobody was near. There were reports |
of speeches made By him since his ac
cession to the throne. accounts of i'm |
provements in guns and an invention |
Of a new explosive. There was some
what crude yet witty play which he
had written and numerous other rec
ords of the accomplishments and
achievements and even eccentricities
which had built up the Princess Vir-
ginia's ideal of this celebrated young
man, proclaimed emperor after the
great revolution eight years ago.
"You are worthy to be an empress"
Her mothers voice broke into Vir-
ginia's thoughts. She started and
found herself under inspection by the
grand duchess. At first she frowned;
then she laughed, springing up on
quick impulse to turn earnest into jest
and so perhaps escape further cate
chisfng. '""---''"---@--"--'----
Eyes. would not make an empressT
she echoed, stepping out from the
shadow of her favorite elm into the
noontide radiance of summer.
The sun poured over her hair as she
stood with uplifted head and threaded
1t with a network of living gold, glean-
ing into the dark gray eyes trimmed
with black lashes and turning them to
Jewels. Her fair skin was as flawIess
in the unsparing light as the petals of
lilies. and her features though repe-
fp
ginia girl famous long ago. were carved
with royal perfection.
There is no real reason why you
should not make an empress, dearest"
lid her mother, in pride of the girls
beauty and desiring, womanlike, to
promote her child's happiness. "Stran-
ger things have happened. Only last
week at Windsor the dear queen was
saying what pity poor Henri was not
more. But, no matter; he is well
| enough. However, if And when one
comes to think of it, it's perhaps not
unnatural that Leopold of Rhaetia has
never been mentioned for you, although
there could be nothing against the mar
rage. What match for any woman
| supreme one! Not a royal girl but
would go on her knees to him IT,
Il wouldn't" said Virginia. IT might
worship him, yet he should GO on his
knees to me-"
| So doubt If those proud knees of his
| win ever bend In homage to man or
| woman" replied the grand duchess
"But that's a mere fantasy. Pm seri
GUS now, darling, and l very much
| wish you would be-"
| "Please, I'd rather not" smiled Vir-
ginia uneasily. LET us not talk of the
emperor any more-and never again
after this, mother. You know now
That's all that's necessary, and
But it's not all that's necessary
You have put the idea into my head
and it's not an unpleasing idea. Be
sides, it has evidently been in YOU
head for a long time, and should Ike
to see you happy-see you In a position
such as you're entitled to grace. You
are very beautiful girl there's no dis
guising that from you, as you know
you are the image of your grandmoth
er, who was a celebrated beauty. ant
the best blood in Europe runs in you
veins. You are royal, and yet-and We
our circumstances are such that-iI
fact, for the present we're somewha
handicapped"
Were beggars." said Virginia
laughing, but it was not happ.
laugh.
"Cophetua married the beggar maid,
the grand duchess reminded her, wit
elaborate playfulness. "And. 20
know. all sorts of things have haT
pened In history-much stranger tha
any one would dare put in fiction
writing of royalties. My dear husban
was second cousin once removed to tn
German emperor. though he was trea
ed But we mustn't speak of that. Tn
! subject always upsets me. What
was leading up to is this-though Their
may be other girls who from world