Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-03-31

there's 10 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 If it 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 a husband until this
prim, dull French Henri proposed him
self. My thoughts were my own. |
wouldn't have told you only-you SCI
why"
"Of course, my precious child. How
extremely interesting and-and romau
ticw Again the grand duchess lapseG
into silence. yet her expression did nc,
suggest stricken mind. She merel
appeared astoniShed, with an astoniSh
ment that might turn into an emotion
more agreeable.
Meanwhile ii was left for NirSini;
to look veyed-veXed with herself. SEt
wished that she had not betrayed hel
| poor little foolish secret-so shadowy :
secret that it was hardly worthy of III.
name. Yet 1t had been precious-prc
cious since childhood, precious as the
immediate jewel Of her soul because
1t 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 tlannted it. Never again
could it be joy to her
In the little room. half study, half
boudoir, which was her own there was
desk. locked in her absence. where
souvenirs Of the young emperor of
Rhaetia had been accumulating for
years. There were photographs which
Virginia had contriyed to buy secret
| ly-portraits Of Leopold from an early
age up to the present, when he was
shown as tall, dark. cold eyed, warm
| Tipped, firm chinned young man OF
thirty. There were paragraphs cut
from newspapers telling of his genius
Is u soldier. his prowess as Il noun
taineer and hunter Of big game, with
| dramatic anecdotes of his naughty
courage in time Of danger, his impul-
sive charities. his well thought out
schemes for the welfare of his subjects
in every walk of life.
| There were black and white copies
Of bold, clever pictures lie had painted.
There was martial music composed by
him and plaintive folk songs adapted
by him, which Virginia had tried soft
ly to herself ON her little Piano when
nobody was near. Tie !, ere reports
of speeches l..;ide b. HIN incc his ac'
cession 10 the throne, accounts OF i'm
provemrnts in guns and an invention
of 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 Fir
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 ano
found herself under inspection by the
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 empressT
she echoed, stepping out from tnt
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
it with a network Of living gold, geam
ing into the dark gray eyes trimmed
with black lashes and turning them Il
Jewels. Her fair skin was as fawless
in the unsparing light as the petals Of
| lilies. and her features, though repe
| tition of those which had made VII
ginia girl famous long ago. were carvet
with royal perfection.
There is no real reason why yot
should not make an empress, dearest,
lid her mother, in pride Of the girl'i
beauty and desiring, wOmanlike, II
promote her child's happiness. "Stran
ger things have happened. Only las
week at Windsor the dear queen wal
saying what pity poor Henri was no
more. But, no matter; he Is wei
enough. However, If And when ont
comes to think Of it, it's perhaps no
unnatural that Leopold of Rhaetia ha'
never been mentioned for you, although
there could be nothing against the mar
riage. What match for any woman
supreme one! Not royal girl bu
would go Oh her knees to him if
81 wouldn't" said Virginia. IL nigh
worship him, yet he should go on hi
knees TO me"
81 doubt II those proud knees OF Ill
will ever bend In homage to man O
woman" replied the grand duchess