Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-08
I, .,cHApTEp rENs

\
sims visit to his brother, and the
and duchess was beginning to Won
lr uneasily what kept her daughter
hen ringed fingers tapped on the panel
the door.
AsCome inr' she answered, and Vir-
lnia appeared, still In the white ten
u dress she had worn that afternoon.
he stood for an instant without speak
Is, her face SO radiantly beautiful!
lat her mother thought it seemed H.
imined from light within.
1T had been on the lips of the grand
uchess to scold the girl for her tardi-
ess, since to be late was an unpardon-
BILE offense with an imperial majesty
i the house. But in that radiance the
lords. died.
94Virginia, what Is It? You look--I
rarcely know how you look. But you
aake me feel that something has hap
ened."
The princess came slowly across the
DOm, smiling softly, with an air OF
ne who walks in sleep. Hardly con-
ciOus Of what she did, she sank down
d big chair and sat resting her ell
COWS on her knees, her chin nesting
etween her two palms, like a pink
White rose in its calyx.
1sYou may go, Ernestine," said the
rand duchess to her maid. "Ill ring
fhen l want you again."
The elaborate process Of waving and
aressing her still abundant hair had
ortunately come to successful end.
nd Ernestine had just caused a dia-
nond star to rise above her forehead.
The was in a robe de chambre, and the
ct or her toilet could wait til curios.
- was satisfied.
But Virginia still sat dreaming. her
iappy eyes far away. The grand Ouch
- had to speak twice before the girl
leard and started little: my daugh.
~. have You anything to tell me?"
The princess reused herself. Moth
ng. mother. really. except that I'm the
tappiest girl on EARTH"
ssWhy, what has he saidY'
'sNot one word that any one mightn't
nave listened to. But know. He does
are. And ] think he will say some
hing before we part"
There's only one more day OF his
sfsif here after tonight"
.tOne whole long. beautiful day to-
tether.'
~Biit after all. dearest" argued her
mother. '.what do you expect? II In
huth you were only Miss Mowbray,
marriage between you and the emperor
would be out of the question. You've
heyef gone into the subject Of your
Deelings about this quite thoroughly
With me, and do wish knew pre-
e1sely what you hope for from him
what you will consider the-the key
Dtcne Of the situation"
Only for him to say that he loves
me-" Virginia confessed. IF I'm right
e I've brought something new into hi.
lfe. something which has shown hin
that his hearts as important as hit
bead, then there will come momen
when he can keep silence no longer
Rhen he'll be forced to say, 4 love you
1ear, and because we can't belong t,
zach other day is turned into night 70
me. Then when that moment comes
he tide OF my fortune will be at 1T
Aood. I shall tell him that love him
No, and ! shall tell him all the truth
1sYOu'n tell him who we really are?
11Yes. and why I've been masquer
bAing- that It was because. ever sine
y was little girl, he'd been the On,
nan In the world for me: because
when our marriage was suggests
s4brough ofncial channels, l made U
Amy mind that l must win him fir
Through love or live single all n
SAAys."
4What II he should be vexed at Il
llecebtion and refuse to forgive 20,
xou know, darling. we shall be in
EatheF curious position when ever
ching comes out, nd we have made {
&xDur friends here under the name
Howbray. OF course the excuse I
what we did IL that our real positi,
- hundred times higher than Il
One we assumed. and all those
whom we've been introduced wou
- delighted to know us in our ov
IL characters at the end. But Leopold
iiA man, not a romantic girl. as y,
ne. He has always had a reputati
for pride and austerity, for being ju
Il before he would let himself be gen,
Gus, and It may be that to one Of
nature a wild within like yours
'You think OF him as he was befo
We met, not as he Is now, II you fan
be could be hard with woman
really loved" said Virginia eager
Hell forgive me- dear. I've no fe
Of him any more. Tonight I've
fear Of anything. He loves me-.ant
I'm empress Of the world"
'sMany women would be satisf
With Rhaetia." was the practical
eponse which jumped into the mi
81 the grand duchess. but she wol
throw no more cold water upon
Tose fame of her daughters exaltati'
She kissed the girl on the torches
Breathing . few words Of mothe