The Marshall republican., 1908-06-26

Next to the throne Don was the
ballroom, and beyond was another |
known as the waldsaal. which Leo |
pold had fitted up for the qualification
OF n fancy. II was named. the wald
Walls and ceiling were masked with
thick growing creepers trained over In.
visible wires. through which peeped
stars Of electric light, like the check.
erings OF sunshine between netted
branches. Trees grew up. with their
roots in boxes hidden beneath the
moss covered floor. There were grot.
toes OF Ivy draped rock In the corners.
and here and there, out from leafy
shadows, elittered the glass eyes Of
birds and animals-eagles. stays. cham
dis. wolves and b~ears--which the EN-
peror had shot.
This strange room, SO vast rs TO seem
empty when dozens OF people wan.
dcred beneath its trees and among Its
rock grottoes, was thrown open 10
guests whenever q ball was given NJ
the palace. but the conservatorles and
palm houses were more popular. and
when Leopold brought Miss Mowbray
70 the waldsaai after their dance II
was In the hope that they might not
be disturbed.
She was lovellcr than v In her
white dress under the trees. looking
up nj him with n wonderful look In
her eyes. and the young mans calm.
ness wa mastered by the beating OF
his blood.
This is a kind Of Madness" he said
to himself. ut win pass. II must
pass" And aloud. meaning all the
while to say something different and
commonplace. the real words In his
mind broke through the crust OF con.
~yentionniity. "wby did you do itr
virgInia's eyes widened. ~ don't
understand" Then. IN nm instant, she
found that she did understand. She
knew. too. that the question had asked
itself In spite Of him. but that once II
had been uttered he would stand to bis
guns.
II mean the thing ! shall have TO
thank you for always"
II virginia had had time TO think
she might have prepared some pretty
answer: but. there being no time. her
response came. as his question had.
from the heart, IL couldn't help doing
st."
"You couldn't help risking your life
to- lie dared not finish.
at wa 20 save Nor wns there
any end for her sentence.
Then perhaps II was not strange that
he forgot certain restrictions which O
royal man In conversing with a COM
moner IL not supposed to forget. In
fact. he forgot that he was royal or
that she was not. and his voice grew
unsteady. his tone eager. as II he had
been some o subaltern with the girl
Of Lts irst love.
"Therc's something must show
You" he said. Opening q button Of thu
military coat Diazing with jewels ant
orders. ne drew out a loop of thin gold
chnin. At the end dangled q small
bright thing that flashed under a stat
Of electric light.
"My ring!' breathed Virginia.
Thus died the emperor's intention Il
ignore the day that had been theirs to
gether.
,"Your ring! You gave II to Leo
He kept II. He will always keep 1t
Have ] surprised your"
virginia felt II would be best to say
Eyes" but instead she answered "No,'
for pretty white abs cannot be told
under such a look In a mans eyes b.
a girl who loves him.
81 have not? When did you guess TIL
truth-yesterday orr
AT Aileheiligen."
Silence fell for q minute. while Leo
pdld digested the answer and Its full
meaning. He remembered the brea'
and ham, the COW he could not milk
the rucksacks he had carried. He re
membered everything and laughed.
"You knew at Aileheiligen? Not Of
the mountain when
Eyes. ] guessed even then. ! confess
oh. I don't mean that ] went there 81