Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-06-26

show.
Outside the tall bronze gates where
marble lions crouchcd the crowd that
might not pass beyond stared, chat
tered. pointed and exclaimed without
jealousy OF their bettrrs. tnScr Leo
was giving Il ball. and ii WAS enough
for their happiness to watch the slow
moving line of splendid state coaches.
gorgeous automobiles and neat brough
ans with we'll known crests upon their
doors; to strive good naturally for Il
peep ut the faces and dresses, the
jewels and picturesque uniforms; to
comment upon all freely. but never
impudcntly. asking one another what
would be for supper and with whom
the emperor would dance.
There she is-there's the beautiful
yOunS foreign lady who saved him.
cried girl in the throng. II was
there and saw her, l tell you. Isn't
she an angel:"
Instantly hearty cheer went up.
growing In volume, and the green coat
ed policemen had to keep back the
crowd that would have stopped the
horses and pressed close for long
look into plain dark blue brougham.
Virginia shrank out of sight against
the cushions. blushing and breathing
quickly as she caught her mothers
hand.
Dear people-dear. kind peoplew she
thought. Il love them for loving him.
l wonder. oh. l wonder. II they will
ever see me and cheer me driving by
his sidew
dress with the pearls. though up to the
last moment the grand duchess had
suffered tOrtures Of indecision between
that and the blue. to say nothing Of
pink chiffon trimmed with crushed
roses. Before the carriage brought
them to the palace doors the girls
blush had faded. and her face was as
white as her gown when at her moth
er's side she passed between bowling
lackeys through the marble Hall of
Lions. ON through the frescoed Ritter
Saal to the throne room, where the
emperOrs guests awaited his coming.
1t was etiquette not to arrive a mo-
ment later than 10 o'clock. and a few
minutes after the hour Baron Won Lyn-
dal In his official capacity as grand
master Of ceremonies struck the pol
1shed floor 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 en-
tered, with a stout. middle aged royal
highness 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 tenterhooks
to see how she would be greeted by
the grateful emperor.
The instant that his dark head tow
cred above other heads in the throne
room 1t was observed even by those
not usually observant that never had
Leopold been SO handsome.
His was face remarkable for intel
lect and firmness rather than for clas-
steal beauty Of feature. though his fea-
lures were strong and clearly cut But
tonight the sternness that sometimes
marred them In the eyes Of women
was smOothed away. He looked young
and ardent. almost boyisb, like a man
who has suddenly found an absorbing
new interest in life.
The first dance he went through with
the Russian royalty, who was the
guest Of the evening. and. still rigidly
conforming to the line of duty, which
obtains in court bathrooms as on bat
tlefelds, the second, third and fourth
dances were for the emperor penances
instead of pleasures. But for the fifth,
a waltz. he bowed before Virginia.
During this long hour there had been
hardly movement. smile or glance Of
hers which he had not contrived to see
since his entrance. He knew just how
well Baron Won Lyndal carried out his
instructions concerning Miss Mowbray.
He saw each partner presented to her
for a dance the emperor might not
claim, and to save his life or national
crisis he could not have forced the
same expression in speaking with her
royal highness from Russia US that
which spontaneously frightened his
face when Mt last he approached Vir-
ginia.
'Who is that girl:" asked Count von
Breitstein in his usual abrupt manner
as the arm Of Leopold girdled the slim
waist Of the princess and the eyes Of
Leopold drank light from another pair
Of eyes lifted to his in laughter.
1t was to Baroness Won Lyman tnar
the old chancellor put his question,
and she fluttered tiny diamond
spangled fan of lace to hide lips that
would smile as she answered. What,
chancellor, are you jesting, or don't
you really know who that girl is?"
Count Won Breitstein turned eyes
cold and gray as glass away from the
two figures moving rhythmically with
the music to the face Of the once cele-
brated beauty. Long ago he had ad-
mired Baroness Won Lyndal as passion
ately as 1t was in him to admire any
woman, Lut that day was SO far dis
tant as to be remembered with scorn,
and now such power as she had over
AAA4 "oo AhCACiy " CANiNC II ICCnuSS VI
irritation.
Il seldom trouble myself to jest"
he answered
"Ah, one knows that truly great men
are born without sense Of humOr.
Those who have it are never as sue
cessful In life as those without"
smiled tie baroness, who was by birth
q Hungarian and loved laughter bet
ter than anything else except compli-
ments upon her vanishing beauty.
How stupid Of me to have tried your
patience! That GIRL as you SO I'M
cOmpromisingly call her, has two
claims to attention ut court She Is
the English Miss Helen Mowbray
whose mother has come to Kronburg
armed with sheaves Of intrOductions
to US all She is also the young wom-
an Of whom the papers are full today.
for 1t is she who saved the emperor's
lifo"