Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-04-11

| you admit you got us into It," broke in
| the emperor, with an uneasy laugh.
IF Princess Virginia Of Baumenberg-
| Drippe is as charming as she is said to
| De, her difficulty will be in choosing a
husband, not in getting one. For once,
my dear chancellor, gossip has told
the truth, and l wouldn't pay the
| princess so poor a compliment as to
ask for her hand when I've no heart
left to give her in exchange for it.
There's some one else
| at Is Of that some one else l would
venture to speak, your majesty. Cos
sip has named her. May I|'
'1'll save you the trouble, for I'm
not ashamed that the common fate
has overtaken me-common because
every man loves once before he dies,
and yet uncommon because no man
ever loved woman SO worthy. Chan
cellor, there's no woman in the world
like Miss Helen Mowbray. the lady to
whom / owe my life"
''It's natural you should be CRATE
full, your majesty. but
| "Its natural should be in love-"
Natural that a young man mex
! perienced in affairs of the heart should
mistake warm gratitude for love. i'm
possible that the mistake should be al
lowed to continue"
| Leopold's eyes grew dark. "In such
a connection" he said, at would be
better not to mention the word mis-
take I'm glad you are here, for now
you can learn from me my intentions
toward that lady," ...
| Intentions, did you say. your males
ty? l fear l grow hard of hearing"
"At least you will never grow slow
of understanding. ! did speak Of my
| intentions toward Miss Mowbray."
"You would give the lady some mag
nificent estate, some splendid ackn0wl
edgment'-
whether splendid or not would be a
matter Of opinion" laughed the EN-.
peror Il shall offer her a present OF
| myself"
The old man had been sitting with
his chin sunk into his short neck. peer.
ing out from under his brows in a way
he had. but he lifted his head sudden
~, with look In his eyes like that OF
an animal who scents danger from an
unexpected quarter.
"Your majesty" he exclaimed, "you
are your fathers son. you are Rhae
tim. and your standard of honor
II hope to marry Miss Mowbray, .
Leopold cut him short.
The chancellor's jaw dropped. and be
grew pale. Il had dreamed Of nothing
as bad as this" he blurted out, with
no thought or wish to sugar the truth
II feared young mans rashness.
dreaded scandal. But, forgive me, your
majesty. For you morganatlc mar
riage would be Madness
"A morganatc marriage l did think
Of at nrst, but on second thoughts
saw 1t would be ungrateful."
"Ah, yes, to the country which *
poets so much Of you"
mo, to the woman who has the
right to all or nothing. l will make hel
empress of Rhaetia.'
| With cry the chancellor sprang up
His eyes glared like the eyes of a bull
who receives the death stroke. Hi
working lips and the hollow sound ir
his throat alarmed the emperor
mo, your majesty. nor he painted.
But l say yes" Leopold answered
land let no man give me nay. I've
thought 1t all out. will make her q
countess first. Then she shall be made
my empress"
Your majesty, 1t is not possible"
"Take care, chancellor"
"She has been deceiving You. She
has neither the birth, the position nor
the name she claims to have, and |
can prove it."
"You are mad. Won Breitstein," the
emperor flung at him. "That can be
your only excuse for such words"
Il am not mad, but I am old and
wise, your majesty. Today you have
made me feel that l am very old
Punish me as you will for my frank
hess. My work for you and yours Is
nearly done. Cheerfully will l sub.
NIT to my dismissal IL only this last
effort In your service may save the
ship of state from wreck. would
not make an accusation which could
not prove. And can prove that the
two English ladies who have been
staying at Schloss Lyndalberg are moi
the persons they pretend to be-"
"Who has been lying to your cried
Leopold, who held between clinched
hands the temper he vowed not to lose
with this old man.
ITO me. no one. To your majesty. r.
society In Kronburg, two adventures.
% have lied"
The emperor caught his breath. III
J you were a young man l would kill
you for that" he said.
Il know you would. As 1t Is, my
life is yours. But before you take It.
for Gods sake. for your fathers sake
near me outv'
Leopold did not speak for a moment
but stared at the vanishing landscape
which be saw through red haze
Every WELL" he said at last; II will
| Z