The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-07-08

euSh hcce5sily arising" BrumDled the
chancellor, struggling his shoulders
ITS like your integrity and courage.
what comfort, then, that the neces-
sity is so unlikely to arlsew
The old man looked at her with level
gaze, the ruthless look that brushes
away womans paint and powder and
roldly counts the wrinkles underneath.
II must have misunderstood you. then,
moment ago." he said. Il thought
your argument was all the other way
round, madam"
81 told you was amusing myself
What can one do at ball when one
has reached the age when it would bc
foolish to dance? Why, believe that
Lady Mowbray and her daughter are
not remaining long in Kronburg."
At last she was able to judge that
she had given the chQncellor few un
easy moments, for his eyes frightened
visibly with,rclicf. "Ah," he returned
then they are going out Of Rhactia?"
"Not exactly that" said the baroness
slowly, pleasantly and distinctly. 81
hear that they've been asked to the
country to visit one of his majcsty's
Oldest friends"
Leopold was not supposed TO care for
dancing, though he hanced-aS it was
his pride to do all thinGs-wcll. Ger
tainly there was often q pcrfunctOri
ness about his manner in ballroom,
q suggestion of the soldier on duty in
his unSmiling face and his readiness
to lead partner TO her seat when Il
dance was over.
But tonight n new Leopold moved to
the music. a girls white arm on his
that slender arm which had been
quick and firm rs q mans in his de
fcnsc-the perfume of girls hair
and the gold glints upon it. the shadow
of q girls dark lashcs and the light in
pair Of gray eyes when they were
lifted, the beating Of girls heart near
him, the sprlngtimc grace of girls
sweet youth in its contrast with the
voluptuouS summer of Rhactian types
Of beauty, the warm rose that spread
upward from n girls chidlikc dipplcs
10 the womanly arch of her DrowS--all
these charms and more which rendered
one girl hundred times adorable took
hold Of him and made him not an en-.
peror, but man, unarmOrcd.
When the music ceased he fancicd
for an instant that some accident had
bcfalen the musicians. Then VIII he
realized that the end of the dance
come in its due time he rcmcm
with pleasure a rule OF his court cstap-
lished in the days of those who had
been before him. After each dance an
interval of ten minutes was allowed
before the beginning of another. Ten
minutes are not much to Il man who
has things to say which could hardly
be said In ten hours. Still they are
something, and to waste even one
would be like spilling drop of pre-
cious elixir from Il tiny bottle contain
ing but nine other drops.
They had scarcely spoken vet cX-
cept for commOnplaccs which any one
might have overheard, since the day
on the mountain, and In this first mo-
ment OF the ten each was wondering
whether or no that day should be im-
norcd between them. Leopold did not
feel that it should be spoken of. for it
was possible that the girl did not rccog-
nlZc the chamois hunter in the cmpcr-
or, and Virginia did not feel that she
could speak of It, But, then, few
things turn out rs people feel they
should.
Next to the throne room was the
ballroom, and beyond was another
known rs the waldsaal, which Leo.
pold had fitted up for the qualification
of fancy. 1t was named the valid
saal because 1T represented n wood.
Walls and ceiling were masked with
thick growing crecpers trained over in
visible wires, through which pccpcd
stars of electric light, like the check.
erings Of sunshine between ncttcd
branches. Trees grew up, with their
roots In boxes hidden beneath the
moss covered floor There were grOt-
toes OF Ivy drapcd rock in the corners,
and here and there, out from lcafy
shadows. glittercd the glass eyes Of
birds and animals-eagles, stays, cham
ois, wolves and bears-which the en-
peror had shot.
This strange room, so vast as to seem
empty when dozens of people wan.
dered beneath IT'S trees ana among its
rock grottoes, was thrown open to
guests whenever ball was given at
the palace, but the conservatorlcs and
palm houses were more popular and
when Leopold brought Miss Mowbray
to the waldsaal after their dance it
was In the hope that they might not
be disturbed
She was lovelier than ever in her
white dress under the trees, looking
up at him with q wonderful look in
her eyes, and the young mans calm.
ness was mastered by the beating of
| his blood.
This Is n kind of Madness" he said