The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-04-29

LIkfit tItttt - 3.
ground of violet mountains crowned by
snow.
Outside the tall bronze gates where
marble lions crouched the crowd that
might not pass beyond stared. chat
tered, pointed and exclaimed without
iealousy of their betters, Unser Leo
was giving a ball, and 1t was enough
for their happiness to watch the slow
moving line of splendid state coaches,
GORGEOUS automobiles and neat brough
ANS with we'll known crests upon their
doors: to strive good natlredly for a
peep at the faces and dresses, the
Jewels aud picturesque uniforms: to
comment upon all freely, but never
impudently. asking one another what
would be for supper and with whom
the emperor would dance.
There she %is-there's the beautiful
young foreign lady who saved him!'
cried a girl in the throng. Il was
there and saw her, I tell you. Isn't
she an angelp
Instantly q hearty cheer went up,
growing In volume, and the green coat
ed policemen had to keep back the
crowd that would have stopped the
horses and pressed close for a long
look into a plain dark blue brougham.
Virginia shrank out of sight against
the cushions. blushing and breathing
quickly al she caught her mothers
hand.
Dear people-dear, kind peoplef' she
thought. II love them for loving him.
I wonder, oh, | wonder, II they will
ever see me and cheer me driving by
his side"
She had chosen to wear the white
dress with the pearls, though up to the
last moment the grand duchess had
suffered tortures OF indeclsion between
that and the blue, to say nothing of a
pink chiffon trimmed with crushed
roses. Before the carriage brought
them to the palace doors the girls
blush had faded. and her face was as
white as her gown when at her moth
ers side she passed between bowling
lackeys through the marble Hall OF
Lions, on through the frese0ed Ritter
saal to the throne room, where the
emperor's guests awaited his coming.
1t was etiquette not to arrive a mo
ment later than 10 O'Clock. and a few
minutes after the hour Baron Won Lyn-
DIAL in his official capacity as grand
master Of ceremonies struck the pol
ished floor twice with hts gold knob.
bed wand Of ivory. This signaled the
approach of the court from the i'm
perial dinner party. and Leopold en-
tered, with a stout, middle aged royal
highness from Russia on his arm.
Until his arrival the beautiful Miss
Mowbray had held all eyes, and even
when he appeared she was not forgot
ten. Every one was on tenterhooks
to see how she would be greeted BY
the grateful emperor.
The instant that his dark head tow
cred above other heads In the throne
room 1t was observed even by those
not usually observant that never hat
Leopold been so handsome.
His was a face remarkable for intel
lect and Hrmness rather than for elias
steal beauty of feature. though his fea
lures were strong and clearly cut. Blu
tonight the sternness that sometimes
married them In the eyes OF womeI
was suloothed away. He looked youni
and ardent, almost boyisb, like a maj
who has suddenly found an absorbing
new interest In life.
The first dance he went through will
the Russian royalty, who was thu
guest Of the evening, and, stiii rigid!
conforming to the line OF duty, which
obtains in court bathrooms as on bat
tleields, the second. third and feurtl
dances were for the emperor penance'
instead OF pleasures. But for the 9th
waltz, he bowed before Virginia.
During this long hour there had beef
hardly a movement, smile or glance o
hers which he had not contrived to sex
since his entrance. He knew just hov
we'll Baron von Lyndal carried out hi
instructions concerning Miss Mowbray
He saw each partner presented to he
Cor a dance the emperor might no
claim, and to save hts life or a nationa
crisis he could not have forced tb'
same expression in speaking with be
royal highness from Russia as tina
which spontaneously frightened hi
face when at last he approached Viz
ginia.
s"who Is that grip" asked Count vol
Breitstein in his usual abrupt name
rs the arm OF Leopold girdled the slim
waist OF the princess and the eyes o
Leopold drank light from another pal
If eyes lifted to his In laughter,
1t was to Baroness o Lyndal tina
the old chancellor put his question
and she nuttered a tiny diamond
spangled fan of lace to hide lips tina
would smile as she answered, "Wha
chancellor, are you testing, OF don
you really know who that girl isY'
Count Won Breitstein turned eye
cold and gray as glass away from tn
two figures moving rhythmically witt
the music to the face Of the nee cele
brstsd beauty, Long ago be had ad