Oxford Democrat., 1908-04-21


its new occupants. Therefore she loved
Alleheiligen; therefore she thought
with redoubled satisfaction of her visit
there.
To learn her full name he must have
thought 1t worth while to make in
quirles. 1t had fingered in his thoughts
or he would not have scrawled 1t twice
on some bit OF paper-since destroyed.
no doubt-in a moment of idle dream
Ing.
Through most Of her life Virginia
had known the lack Of money, but she
would not have exchanged thousand
pounds for the contents Of that little
bag.
Hohenlangenwald Is the name Of the
house from which the rulers Of Rhae-
tia sprang. Therefore everything In
the beautiful city Of Kronburg which
can take the name Of Hohenlangen-
wald has taken 1t. and it was at the
Hohenlangenwald hotel that suit Of
rooms had been engaged for Lady
Mowbray.
The travellers broke the long journey
at Mellnabad. and Virginia's study Of
trains had timed their arrival In kron-
burg for the morning Of the birthday
eve, early enough for the first cere-
mony of the festivities. the unveiling
by the emperor of statue Of Rhaetia
in the Leopoldplatz, directly In front
of the Hohenlangenwald hotel.
Virginia looked forward to seeing the
emperor from her own windows, as,
according to her calculation. there was
an hour to spare, but at the station
they were told by the driver OF the
carriage sent to meet them that. the
crowd in the streets being already very
great. he feared it would be a tedious
undertaking to get through. Some Of
the thoroughfares were closed for traf-
tic. He would have to go by round
about way and in any case could not
reach the main entrance Of the hotel.
At best he would have to deposit his
passengers and their luggage at side
entrance in narrow street.
As the carriage started, from far
away came burst of martial music
military band playing the national
air which the chamois hunter had
heard a girl sing behind closed door
at Alleheiligen.
The shops were all shut. would be
shut until the day after tomorrow. but
their windows were unshuttered ana
payly decorated to add to the bright
ness of the scene Strange old shops
displayed the marvellous chased silver,
the ieweled weapons and gorgeous en-
broideries from the far eastern prov
inces of Rhaetia. Splendid new shops
rivaled the best of the Rue de la laiX
in Paris. Gray mcdiacval buildings
made wonderful backgrounds for dra-
perry of crimson and blue and garlands
of blazing flowers. Modern buildings
Of purple red porphyry and the famous
honey yellow marble of Rhact!a nut
tered with flags, and above all. In the
heart of the town, between. old ana
new. rose the Castle Rock. VirSinia's
pulses beat as she saw the home or
Ieopold for the first time, and she was
proud of its picturesqueness. Its riches
and grandeur. as If she had some right
in II too.
Ancient narrow streets and wide new
streets were alike arbors of evergreen
and brilliant blossoms. Prosperous
ln, inh
poorer quarters and stalwart peasants
from the country elbowed and pushed
each other good naturedly as they
streamed toward the Leopoldplatz.
Handsome people they were. the girl
thought. her heart warming to them
and 10 her It seemed that the very
air tingled with expectation. She be-
lie-cd that she could feel the mag
netIc thrill in It even II she were
blind and deaf and could hear or see
nothing of the excitement.
I'VE must be in time. We shall be
In time" she said to herself. II shal!
lean out from my windows and see
him."
But M the hote' which tney dld
finally reach. the girl had to bear Il
keen disappointment. With many apol
ogles the landlord explained that he
had done his very best for Lady Now
brays party when he received their
letter fortnight before and that he
had allotted them good suit, with
balconies overlooking the river ut the
back of the house-quite Venetian ef-
feet, as her ladyship would find. But
ms to rooms at the front-impossible.
All had been engaged fully six weeks
| In advance. One American millionaire
was paying thousand gulden solely
| for an hours use of small balcony,
| today for the unveiling and again to-
morrow for the street procession. Nir-
ginia was pale with disappointment.
| Then I'll 20 down into the crowd and
take my chance of seeing something
she said to her mother when they had
| been shown into handsome rooms sat
| isfactOry in everything but situation.
| 'T must hurry or there'll be no hope
my dear child. impossible for y"r
| to do such a thing" exclaimed the
grand duchess II can't think of allow
ing 1t. Fancy what crush there will
be-all sorts Of creatures trampling
ON each other for places. Besides. You
could see nothing"
ooh. mother" pleaded the princess