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

heard to say that, whate ier else the
future empress o. Rhaetia may be. he
won't give his people an ugly woman
to reign over them. And so alto
gether"-
"And so altogether, my references
being satisfactory, at pinch might
do for the place." cut in Virginia. with
the hot, impatient rebellion of her
youth. "Oh. mother, you think me
mad or fool. know. and perhaps |
am mad. yet not mad enough not to see
that it would be great thing. a won
derful thing. to be asked in marriage
by the one man In my world f-ah,
that great If'-he had only seen and
fallen in love with me. 1t might have
happened. you know. AS you say, I'm
not ugly, and / can be rather pleasant
If I choose-so l believe. If he had
only come to this land to see what l
was like, as royal men did in the dear
old fairy stories, and then had asked
me to be his wife, why, should nave
been concelted enough to think 1t was
because he loved me even more tnan
because Of other things. Then l should
have been happy-yes, dear, I'll con-
fess 1t to you now-almost happy
enough to die Of the great joy and trl-
umph Of it. But now I'm not happy.
| will marry Leopold or I'll marry no
man. but l swear to you I won't be
married to Leopold in Count Won Brett
STEMS hateful old, cold, cut and dried
way"
"It's the emperor's way as well as
Won Breitstein's."
"Then for once in his big. Grand. Oh
stinate life he'll have tn learn that
there's one insignificant girl Eno ""!. t
play Griselda even for the sake of be-
ing his empress"
The girl proclaimed this resolve. ris-
ing to her feet. with her head hfgh
and a look In her gray eyes which
told the grand duchess that 1t would be
hopeless for her to argue down the
resolution. At first it was proud look
and a sad look. but suddenly a beam
Of light flashed into it and began to
sparkle and twinkle. Virginia smiled
and showed her dimples. Her color
came and went. In moment she was
different girl. and her mother be-
wildered. fearful still, dared to hope
something from the change.
"IIow odd you look" she exclaimed.
you've thought of something. You
are happy. You have the air of-of
having found some plan"
at found me, l think" the girl an
swered, laughing, "all suddenly. just
in flash. That's the way it must be
with inspirations. This is one-1 know
It, It's all In the air, floating round
me- But / shall grasp 1t soon."
She came close to her mother. Still
smiling. and knelt down in the grass at
her feet. looking up with radiance in
her eyes.
Luckily there was no one save the
Dresden china lady and the birds and
flowers to see how young princess
threw her mantle Of dignity away, for
the two did not keep royal state and
royal retinue in the quaint old house
at Hampton Court, and the big elm
which Virginia loved kindly hid the
mother and daughter from intrusive
eyes.
"You do love me, don't you. dear
estw cooed the princess softly as
dove.
"You know I do, my child, though
don't pretend to understand you,"
sighed the grand duchess, well aware
that she was about to be coaxed into
some scheme. feeling that she would
yield and praying Providence that the
yielding might not lead her into trlbu-
lation.
People grow dull If we understand
them too WE'LL" said Virginia. Its
like solving a puzzle-there's no more
fun in it when It's finished. But you
wish me to be happy, darling?"
"More than l wish for anything else,
excepting, Of course, dear Da's"-
"Dal is a man and can take care OF
himself. I must do the best I can
poor me! And there's something
want so much, so much 1t would be
heaven on earth, all my own, If could
win it-Leopold's love, quite for my
self. as q girl not as suitable Prot
estant princess For few horrid
minutes thought 1t was too late to
hope for that and must give him up,
because never could be sure If I ac-
cepted him without his love and he
said it had come afterwards; that 1t
was really, really true. Anyway. 1t
could never be the same. and was
miserable over what might have been.
Then suddenly 1 saw how it still
might be. l almost think l may be
able to win his love If you'll promise
to help me, dear"
"Of course l WILL" said the grand
duchess, carried out Of her pretty little
conventional self into unwontcd i'm
pulSiveness by the warmth Of kisses
soft and sweet rs the roses on Vir-
ginia's bosom.
THAT is, will if I can. But don't
a all see what can do
Il see And what l want you to do
is to please, please sec with my eyes"
They're very bright ones" smiled
her mother.
Princess Virginia clasped the grand
duchess round the waist so tightly that
it hurt Then she laughed. loud. half
frightened, excited laugh. Dearest,
something perfectly wonderful is 60
Ing to happen to you and me-" she said