Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-06-02
fcoNTlNuED.]

| bul IL tue tulpcIOE very ludu AC
must be treated accordingly, and the
old statesman condescended to bluff. P"
'"There is still more to tell" he said,
IF your majesty has not heard enough,
but l think when you have reflected
you will not wish for more. 1t is clear
that the women calling themselves
Mowbrays have had the audacity to
present themselves here under false
colors. They have either deceived
Lady Lambert, who introduced them
to Rhaetian society, or, still more like
ly, they have cleverly forged their let
tiers of introduction"
."Why didn't you telegraph to Lady
Lambert while your hand was in"'
sneered Leopold.
II did, your majesty, or, rather, not
knowing her present address, l wired
friend of mine. an acquaintance OF
hers. begging him to make inquiries
without using my name, but have
not yet received an answer to that tele-
gram"
Until you do I should think that
even cynic like yourself might give
two defenseless, inoffensive ladies the
benefit of the doubt"
"Inoffensive," echoed Won Brett
stein-"inoffensive when they came to
this country to ensnare your majesty
through the girls beauty! But, great
heaven, 1t is true that I am growing
old! / have forgotten to ask your maj
esty whether you have gone so far as
| to mention the word marriage to Miss
| Mowbray?
"Ill answer that question by another.
Do you really believe that Miss Now
bray came to Rhaetia to 'entrap me?'
81 do, though I scarcely think that
even her ambition few as high as you
are encouraging 1t to soar"
"In case you're right she would have
been overjoyed with an offer Of NOR
ganatic marriage"
"Overjoyed is a poor word. Over
whelmed might be nearer"
Yet l tell you she refused me last
night and Is leaving Rhaetia today
rather than listen to further entrsa.
ties"
Lcopo!d bent forward to launch this
nun .crbolt. his brown hands on his
Nee. his eyes eager The memories,
.:.!f bitter. half sweet, called up by
| hiS own words caused Virginia to ap.
Dcar more beautiful, more desirable,
ever than before.
He was delighted with the express
sion of the chancellor's face. Now,
| what arguments have you left?' he
broke out in the brief silence.
"All | had before and many new
ones, for what your majesty has said
shows the lady more ambitious, more
astute. therefore more dangerous. than
had guessed She staked everything
on the power Of her charms. and she
| might have won had you not an old
servant who wouldn't be fooled by the
witcheries Of a fair Helen"
"She has won," said Leopold, then
quickly: God forgive me for Ginning
In with your bitter humor, as If she'd
played game. BY simply being her
self she has won me, such as l am.
She's proved that If she cares at all
it's for the man and not the emperor,
since she called the offer you think so
magnificent an insult. Yes, chancel-
or. that was the word she used, and
1t was almost the last she said to me,
which is the reason I'm travelling to-
day. And none of your boasted proofs
can hold me back"
by heaven. your majesty must look
upon yourself from the point Of view
you credit to the girl! You forget the
emperor in the man."
"The two need not be separated"
Love indeed makes men blind and
spares not the eyes Of emperors."
"I've pledged myself to bear with
.'ou, chancellor"
"And know you'll keep your word.
nlust speak for Rhaetia and your
better self. You are following this
lady to give her your empire for a
toy"
"She must first accept the emperor
| as her husband"
"A lady who has so poor name OF
her own that she steals one which
doesn't belong to her-the nation won't
bear It,"
You speak for yourself, not for
Rhaetla," said Leopold. Though I'm
| not so old as you by half your years,
believe can Judge my people better
than you do. The law which bids an
emperor of Rhaetia match with royal
ty is an unwritten law, law solely Of
customs handed down through the gen.
erations. I'll not spoil my life by sub
hitting to its yoke, since by breaking
it the nation gains, as l do. / could
90 to the worlds end and not find
woman as worthy to be my wife and
empress Of Rhaetia us Helen Now
bray"
you have never seen Princess Vir-
ginia."
"I've no wish to see her. There's but
one woman for me, and swear to you
IL | lose her I'll go to my grave un-
married. Let the crown fall to my
uncle's son. I'll not perjure myself
even for Rhaetia."
The chancellor bowed his head and
held up his hands, for by that gesture
alone could he express his despair.
"If my people love me they'll love
my wife and rejoice in my happiness"
Leopold went on sharply. IF they
complain, why, we shall see who's
master-whether or not the emperor of
Rhaetia is mere fgurehead. In some
countries royalty is but an ornamental
survival Of a picturesque past; king
or queen Is a mere puppet which the
nation loads with luxury to do itself
honor. That's not true Of Rhaetia,
though. as I'm ready to prove, If prove
| It I must. But I believe I shall be
spared the trouble. We Rhaetians love
romance-you are perhaps the one ex-
| ception-wfile, as for the story you've
| told me, would not give that for IT.
And the emperor snapped his fingers.
"You still believe the ladies have
right to the name Of Mowbray?
81 believe that they are Of stainless
reputation and that any seeming mys
| terry can be explained. Miss Mowbray
| is herself. That's enough for me. Per
haps, chancellor, there are two Lady
| Mowbrays."
"Only one is mentioned In Burke"
"Burke isn't gospel.