The Marshall republican., 1908-06-19

tnht was not aDlaze WIZ
light. giittering against Q fsrawsy baek-
ground OF violet mountains crowned -
snow.
Outside the tall bronze satss whaD
marble lions croucbed the crowd ~
might not pass beyond stassA, chso.
tered. pointed and exclaimed wfthouo
jealousy OF their betters. Unser La
was giving a ball. and II was enough
for their happiness to watch the allow
moving line Of splendid stats coaches.
gorgeous automobiles aud neat broueA-
M with well known crests upea thsoR
doors; to strive good naturediy fsr .
peep at the faces and dresses, ~
Jewels and picturesque uniforms; -
comment upon all freely. but nsv0
im%pudentiy. asking n another wha1
would be for supper and with whe0
the emperor would dance.
There she i%s-there's the benutifu1
young foreign lady who snved himr
cried q girl In the throng. u Wa
there and saw her. I tell you. Isn't
she an angelo"
Instantly a hearty cheer went 10.
growing Ia volume. and the green coat.
ed policemen had to keep back IL
crowd that would have stopped IT,
horses and pressed close for q long
look into a plain dark blue broughsm.
Virginia shrank out Of sight against
the cushions. blushing and breathing
quickly as she caught her mothers
hand.
=. Dear people dear. kind peopler' So
thought. Il love them for loving him.
wonder. oh. ! wonder. n they will
ever see me and cheer me driving By
his slde!'
She had chosen to wear the whitD
dress with the pearls. though up to tho
last moment the grand duchess hal
suffered tortures Of indecision betwes0
that and the blue. to say nothing Of Q
pink chiffon trimmed with crushe1
roses. Before the carriage brought
them TO the palace doors the girls
blush hnd faded. and her face wal -
white as her gown when at her moth
er's side she passed between bowin9
lnckeys through the marble Hall q
Lions. on through the frescoed Rites.
snal TO the throne room. where the
emperor's guests awaited his coming.
II was etiquette not TO arrive a mo
nient Inter than 10 o'clock. and a few
minutes after the hour Baron Won Lyn-
dnl 10 his oficial capacity as grand
master OF ceremonies struck the p0S-
ished door twice with his gold knob
bed wand Of ivory. This signaled the
approach Of the court from the I'm.
perial dinner party. and Leopold On.
tered. with q stout. middle aged royal
hlghness from Russia on his arm.
Until his arrival the beautiful Miss
Mowbray had held all eyes. and even
when he appeared she was not forgot
ten. Every one was on tenterhoon
TO see how she would DO greeted By
thu .rateful emperor.
The Instant that his dark head tow.
cred above other heads In the throns
room 1t was observed even by those
not usually observant that never hsl
Leopold been so handsome.
His was n face remarkable for intsj-
lcct and irmness rather than for clas-
sicnl beauty OF feature. though his fsa-
lures were strong and clearly cut. But
tonight the ~sternness that sometimso
msrred them In the eyes Of womso
was smoothed away. He looked young
and ardent. almost boyish. like Q msa
who has suddenly found an absorbin0
new interest In life.
The irst dance he went through wttA
the Russian royalty. who was ~
quest Of the evening. and, stiil rigsdly
conforming to the line a duty, Wiki
obtains in court bathrooms - - bat
tlenelds, the second. third and fourth
dances were for the emperor penances
instead Of pleasures. But for the nfth.
q waltz. he bowed before Virginia.
During this long hour there had bees
)hers which he had not coutrived to see
since his entrance. He knew Just how
well Baron o Lyndal carried out his
instructions concerning Miss Mowbray.
lie saw each partner presented to her
FOR q dance the emperor might not
flaim. and to save his life Or Q national
crisls be could not have forced the
)ame expression In speaking with be-
loyal highness from Russia 90 that
vutSu epVosouoVoo OftBuVouOO -
face when at last he ~approachs1 W
ginia.
who In that girl?" asked Count ~
BreItsteIu 10 hIs usual abrupt manDsP
as the arm Of Leopold girdled the sin
waist or the princess aud the eyes g
Ieopold drank light from another pair
Of fv~:ss ! !if e f. s.o 8: = y ,cDs ERtSHSsd., tina.
the old chancellor put bis question,
aud she iuttsred Q tiny diamond
spangled fan Of lace to hide lips that
would smile AZ she answered. What.
chancellor, ais yau jesting, or don't
you really know who that siri IsT'
Count . Bseltstein turned syes
cold and gray - glass sway from The
two Gsures moving rhythmicAily with
thu tnusIc "a ~ face of the ones ~
krssesl lsmutx. ioan - ~ ~ ~