The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-05-13

nobody was near. There were reports
Of speeches made by him since his ac-
cession to the throne, accounts of i'm
proYements in guns II an invention
OF q new explosive. There was Il some
what crude yet witty play which he
had written and numerous other rec
ords Of the accomplishments and
achievements and even ccccntricities
which Had built up the Princess Vlr-
8inla's ideal of this celebrated young
man. proclaimed emperor after the
great revolution eight years ago.
"You are worthy to be an empress"
Her mothers voice broke into, Vir-
ginia's thoughts. She st: ed and
found herself under inspect, by the
grand duchess. At first she frowned;
then she laughed, springing up on a
quick impulse to turn Cnrnest into Jest
and so perhaps escape further cate
chising.
Yes, would / not mas .u cmprcss?"
she echoed, stepping out from the
shadow Of her favorite elm INTO the
noontide radiance of summcr.
The sun poured over her lair as she
stood with uplifted head and threaded
1t with a netwo"'- Of living gold, glcam-
Ing into the du.k gray eyes trimmed
with black lashcS and turning them to
jewels. Her fair skin was as tlaw!css
in the unsparing light as the petals of
lilies, and her features. though Il rope
tltion of those which had made a Nir-
ginia girl famous long ago, were carved
with royal perfection.
"Thcrc Is no real reason why you
should not make an empress, dearest"
said her mother. in pride of the Girl's
beauty and desiring, w~omanlike, to
promote her child's happiness. "Stran-
ger things have happened. Only last
week at Windsor the dear queen was
saying what q pity poor Henri was not
more. Cut, no matter; he is well
enough. However,. If And when one
comes to think of it, 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 n match for any woman
a supreme one! Not n royal girl but
would go on her knees to him it,
IL 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 n mere fantasy. I'm seri-
Gus now, darling, and l very much
wish you would be-"
please, I'd rather not" smiled Vir-
vtnto ,,r1nctl- - "a 49,. -1I a. - ~
emperor any more-and eve 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, 1t has evidently beer in your
head for a long time, and | should like
to see you ~happy-see you in a position
such as you're entitled to grace. You
are a very beautiful girl 0herc's no dis
Gulslng that from you, as you know
you are the image Of your grandmoth-
er, who was n celebrated beauty. and
the best blood in Europe runs il your
veins. You are royal, and yet-and yet
our circumstances are such that-in
fact, for the present were somewhat
handicapped"
Were beggars," said Virginia,
laughing, but 1t was not n 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 l
was leading up to Is this-though there
may be other girls who from a worldly