Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-04-28

People were veXed at the audaclty OF
the girl and the elderly woman and
would have pushed them back, but at
the critical second the blue and silver
uniformed band of Rhaetia's crack
regiment, the Imperial Life guards,
struck up an air which told that the
emperor was coming. Promptly the
small group concerned forgot its griev-
ance In excitement, crowding together
so that Virginia was pressed to the
front, and only Miss Portman was
pushed ruthlessly into the background.
The poor lady raised u feeble protest
IN English which nobody needed unless
ii were the man who had inadvertently
acted as pioneer. At her shrill out
burst he turned quickly, as if startled
by the sudden cry. and Virginia was
so close to him that her chin almost
time she had glimpse of his face,
which matched the yellow wax Of his
neck IN pallor.
The girl shrank away from him III
voluntarily. What a deaths head
she thought-"a sly, wicked face and
awful eyes. He looked frightened.
Nouder why"
Assured that the sharp cry did not
concern him. the man turned to the
front again, and, having obtained his
obiect-a place in the foremost rank OF
he crowd, with one incidentally for
the prlnceSs-he proceeded to take
from his breast u roll of parchment
tied with narrow ribbon and sealed
with large red seal. AS he drew it
out and rearranged his coat his hand
trembled. 1t. too. was yellow white.
The fellow seemed to have no blood in
him.
Virginia, standing now shoulder to
shoulder with the man in gray and
crimson. had just time to feel STIR
.ing of dislike and perhaps curiosity
when Il g.lIt cheer arose from thou
sands of t!Ioats. The square rang
with roar of loyal acclamation. Men
..ayed tail hats, soft haas and green
III illt UutS WIN
: dressed women grouped on the high
i,corated balconies waved handker-
lies OF scattered roses from gilded
1lc..ets. Nomen in gorgeous costumes
from faroT provinces held up half
frightened. half laughing children. and
,i:en white figure OH white charger
came riding into the square under the
uiumnaal arch wreathed with flags
ard flowers.
Other figures followed-men In uni
forms Of green and gold and red ON
coal black horses-yet Virginia saw
only the white figure, shining, wonder
full
Under the glittering helmet of steel,
with Its gold eagle, the dark face was
clear cut as cameo, and the eyes
were bright with proud light. To
the crowd be was the emperor, a fine,
popular. brilliant young man, who
ruled his country better than 1t had
been ruled yet by one Of his house and'
above all. provided many a pleasing
spectacle for the people. but to Viz
ginia he was far more-an ideal Sir
Galahad or st. George strong and
brave to slay all dragon wrongs which
might threaten his wide land.
What if he should never love me!'
was the one sharp thought which pierc-
ed her pride Of him.
The people were proud, too, as he sat
there controlling the white war horse.
with its gold and silver trappings, the
crusted Jewels of many orders spar
king on his breast, while he saluted
his subjects in his soldiers way.
For a moment there was a pause,
save for q shouting, which rose ana
rose again. Then he alighted, where
upon important looking men with RIB
bons and decorations came forward,
bowing, to receive the emperor. The
ceremony Of unveiling the statue OF
Rhaetia was about to begin.
To reach the great crimson draped
platform on which he was to stand
the emperor must pass within few
| YuTuS vi uSllllu. Lis sS"-S Ai''H>''
over the gay crowd. What If 1t should
rest upon her? The girls heart was
| In her throat She could feel it beat
ing there, and for moment the tall
white figure was lost In a mist which
dimmed her eyes.
She had forgotten how she came to
this place of vantage, forgotten the
pale man in gray and red to whom she
owed her good fortune, but suddenly,
while her heart was ut Its lOudest and
the mist before her eyes at its thick
est, she grew conscious again OF his
existence, poignantly conscious of his
close presence. So near her he stood
that quick start, a gathering of his
muscles for spring. shot like an cleo
trio message through her own body.
The mist was burnt up In the flame
Of strange enlightenment, clarity OF
vision which showed not only the