The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-20

nobody was uear. There were reports
Of speeches made By him since his ac-
cession to the throne, accounts Of i'm
proyements in guns: and an invention
Of new explosive. There was some
what crude yet witty play which he
orls of the accomplishments and
achievements and even eccentricities
which had built up the Princess Fir-
ginia's ideal of this celebrated young
man, proclaimed emperor after the
great revolution eight years ago.
You are worthy to be uu empress"
Her mothers voice broke into Flr-
ginia's thoughts. She started and
found herself under inspection by the
grand duchess. At 6rst she rrowned;
then she laughed springing up on a
quick impulse to turn earnest into jest
and so perhaps escape further cate
chising.
"Yes. would I not make an empress"'
she echoed. stepping out from the
shadow of her fayorite elm into the
noontide radiance of summer.
The sun poured over her hair as she
stood with uplifted head and threaded
it with network of living gold. gleam-
ing into the dark gray eyes trimmed
with black lasbcs and turning them to
jewels. Her fair skin was as tiawless
in the unsparing light as the petals or
lilies, anu her features. though a repe-
tition o. those which had made Fir-
ginia girl famous long ago. were carved
with royal perfection.
There is no real reason why you
should not MAKE an empress. dearest
S lid her mother. in pride of the girls
beauty and desiring, womanlike. to
promote her child's happiness. "Stran-
ger things have happened. Only last
week at Windsor the dear queen was
saying what pity poor Henri was not
more. But, no matter; he Is well
enough. However. if And when one
comes to think Of 1t. it's perhaps not
unnatural that Leopold of Rhaetia has
never been mentioned for you. although
there could be nothing against the mar
riage. What match for any woman
supreme one! Not royal girl but
would go on her knees to him if'-
81 wouldn't" said Virginia. 81 might
worship him. yet he Should go on his
knees to me-"
81 doubt if those proud knees of his
will ever bend in homage to man or
woman" replied the grand duchess.
"But that's mere fantasy. Pm seri-
GUS now. darling. and very much
wish you would be-"
please, I'd rather not" smiled Vir-
einia uneasily. Let us not talk of the
emperor any more-and never again
after this, mother. You know now.
That's all that's necessary, and"-
But it's not all that's necessary.
You have put the idea into my head,
and it's not an unpleasing idea. Be
sides, it has evidently been in your
head for q long time, and should like
to see you happy-see you in a position
such as you re entllleu 10 SfaEe. Iou
are very beautiful girl (there's no dis
guising that from you, as you know
you are the image of your grandmoth-
er, who was a celebrated beauty. and
the best blood in Europe runs in your
veins. You are royal, and yet-and yet
our circumstances are such that-in
fact, for the present we're somewhat
handicapped"
Were beggars," said Virginia,
laughing, but 1t was not a happy
laugh.
"Cophetua married the beggar maid"
the grand duchess reminded her, with
elaborate playfulness. "And, you
know, all sorts Of things have hap
pened In history-much stranger than
any one would dare put in fiction If
writing Of royalties. My dear husband
was second cousin once removed to the
German emperor. though he was treat
ed But we mustn't speak Of that. The
subject always upsets me. What |
was leading up to is this-though there
may be other girls who from worldly