Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-05-19

4
| 60 step he took as If to
NMy follow and keep her
but checked himself
and let her 60. Only
his eyes went with her, and In them
there was more of pain than anger,
though never before in all his life per-
haps had he been thwarted in any
strong desire. Passion urged him for.
ward, but pride held him back. for
Leopold was a proud man, and to have
his love thrown in his face was to re-
ceive an icy douche with the blood at
fever heat.
For this girls sake he had In few
days changed the habits Of lifetime
Pride, reserve, self control, the wish
not only to appear but to be man
above the frailties of common men, the
ambition to be placed and wOrthily
placed on a pedestal by his subjects
all these he had thrown away fol
Helen Mowbray.
He was too just man not to admit
that If one Of his royal cousins OF
younger branches had contemplated
such folly as this he would have done
his best to nip that folly while 1t was
In bud. HE jests at scars who never
felt wound" and until Leopold had
learned by his own unlocked for e1-
perience what love can mean, what
men will do for love while the sweet
madness is on them, he would have
been utterly unable to understand the
state Of mind.
A cousin inclined to act as he was
now bent on acting would but a month
ago have found all the emperor's infiu
ence, even force perhaps, brought to
bear in restraining him. Leopold saw
the change in himself, was startled
and shamed by it. Nevertheless he
would have persevered, trampline
down every obstacle that rose in his
way, if only the girl had seen things
with his eyes.
She had accused him Of insulting
her, not stopping to consider that even
to make her morganatically his wife
he must give great cause for com
plant not only to his ministers, but to
his people. for he was expected to
marry girl of royal blood that the
country might have an heir. If Helen
Mowbray had accepted the position he
offered her. he could never have bro
ken her heart by making another mar
riage.
Not only would it be difficult In these
days to find princess willing to toler
ate such a rival, but it would have
been impossible for him to desecrate
the bond between himself and the one
adored woman.
This being the case, with Helen
Mowbray as his mOrganatic wife
there could be no direct heir to the
throne. At his death the son of his
uncle, the Archduke Joseph, would
succeed, and during his life the popu
lrty which was dear to him would
be hopelessly forfeited. Rhactia would
never forgive him for selishly prefer
ring his own private happiness to the
good of the nation.
He could fancy how old Iron Heart
Won Breitstein would present this point
of view to him with fierce cloquence
temples throbbing like the ticking Of q
watch, eyes netted with bloodshot
veins. But. on the other hand. he coult
picture himself standing calmly to
face the storm, steadfast in his owr
lndomitable will, happy with love t.
uphold him.
But now the will which had horn,
him through life in Il triumphal marct
had been powerless against that "l
this Young girl. She would have none
Of him. \ woman whose face was hel
fortune. whose place in life was hard
L. as hig. as the first step of II throne
had refuse,,--;in emperor.
Hardly could Leopold believe the
illing that had happened to him. He
had Spo,:en of doubling that lie had
won her love, and he had doubted
But hes had allowed himself to hope
because he had confidence in his stal
and because perhaps it had scarcely
been known in the annals of history
that an emperor's suit should be re-
pulsed.
Besides, he had loved the girl so pas
sionately that it seemed she could moi
remain cold. And he hoped still that
when she had passed long night In
reflection, in thinking over the situa
ton, perhaps taking counsel with that
comparatively commonplace yet prac
tical little lady, her mother, she might
he ready to change her mind.
For the first few moments after the
stinging rebuff he had endured Leo
pold felt that II she did it would be hei
| turn to suffer, for he could never hum
BILE himself to implore for the second
time. But as he stood in the soft still.
ness Of the night. gazing toward the
lights of the house, thoughts Of Fir
ginia-her youth, her sweetness, her
beauty dimmed with grief-overwhelm'
ed him. Could lie have reached her he
would have fallen on his knees and
kissed her gown.
BY and by a vast tenderness breath
ed its calm over the thwarted passion
in his breast, and plans to win hel
back came whispering in his ear. He
would write letter and send 1t to her
room. But. no; perhaps 1t would be
wise to give her longer interval fol
reflection and, it might be, regret. To
morrow he would see her and show
all the depths of that great love which
she had thought to throw away. She
could not go on withstanding him for
ever, and, now that he had burned his
boats behind him, he would never
think of turning back. He would per
severe till she should yield.
Meanwhile Virginia had hurried
blindly toward the house, and 1t was
instinct rather than intention that led
her to the open window Of the music
room, by which she had come out.
Tears burned her eyelids, but they
did not fall until she stood once more
In the room where she and Leopold
had been happy together. There she
had sat at the piano, and he had bent
over her, love in his eyes-honest love
she had thought, her heart full Of
thanksgiving. How little she hat