Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-01-01

great sheets against the house. Shir-
ley was wholly uncomfortable over the
turn of affairs. The ambassador would
not leave until the storm abated. and
meanwhile Armitage must remain
where he was If by any chance he
should be discovered in the house, no
ordinary excuses would explain away
his presence, and as she pondered the
matter it was Armitage's plight, his
injuries and the dangers sthat beset
4 him, that was uppermost in her mind.
The embarrassment that lay In the af-
fair for herself If Armitage should be
found concealed in the house troubled
her little. Her heart beat wildly as she
realized this, and the look In his eyes
and the quick pain that twitched his
face at the door haunted her.
The two men were talking Of the
new order of things in Vienna.
1.-THE trouble is" said the ambassa-
dor, that Austria Hungary Is not a
nation, but what Metternlch called
italy-a geographical expression. Where
there are so many loose ends n strong
grasp is necessary to hold them to-
gether."
And a weak hand" suggested Judge
Claiborne, "might easily lose or scat
ter them"
Precisely. And man Of character
and spirit could topple down the card.
house tomorrow, pick out what he liked
and create for himself new edifice-
and stronger one. l speak frankly.
Van Stroebel is out of the way, the
new emperor-king Is a weakling and If
he should die tonight or tomorrow
The ambassador lifted his hands and
snapped his fingers.
Eyes. After him, what?"
"After him his scoundrelly cousin
Francis, and then stronger than Won
Stroebel might easily fail to hold the
disjecta membra of the empire to-
gether."
But there are shadows on the
SCREEN" remarked Judge Claiborne.
There was Karl, the mad prince"
"Humph. There was some red blood
in him, but he was impossible. He
had faint of democracy, treason. re-
bellion."
Judge Claiborne laughed
81 don't like the combination Of
terms. If treason and rebellion are
are in danger"
mo; you are miracle-that is the
only explanation" replied Marhof.
"But a man like Karl-what If he
were to reappear in the world! A lit
tie democracy might solve your prob
lem"
mo, thank God, he is out of the
way! He was sane enough to take
himself off and die
but his ghost walks. Not a year
ago we heard Of him, and he had a
son who chose his fathers exile. What
if Charles Louis, who is without heirs,
should die and Karl or his som
'In the providence of God they are
dead. Impostors gain little brief no
/. toriety by pretending to be the lost
Karl or his son Frederick Augustus.
but Won Stroebel satisfied himself that
Karl was dead. l am quite sure of it.
, You know dear Stroebel had a genius
for gaining information"
II have heard as much" and Shirley
and the baron smiled at Judge Clai-
borne's tone.
The storm was diminishing, and Shir-
ley grew more tranquil. Soon the am
bassador would leave and she would
, send Armitage away, but the mention
of Stroebels name rang oddly In her
ears, and the curious way in which
Armitage and Chauvenet had come
into her life awoke new and anxious
, questions.
Count Won Stroebel was not a dem.
ocrat, at any rate" she said. HE be-
; lieved in the divine right and all that
, 80 do /, Miss Claiborne. It's all
we've got to stand on"
"But suppose a democratic prince
,, were to fall heir to one of the Euro
pean thrones, insist on giving his crown
to the poor and taking his oath in @
frock coat. upsetting the old order en-
tirely"-
, 'He would be fool. and the people
, would drag him to the block in O
week." declared the baron vigorously.
g They pursued the subject in lighter
. vein a few minutes longer then the
baron rose. Judge Claiborne summon
r ed the waiting carriage from the sta
BILE, and the baron drove home.
q 81 ought to work for an hour on tha
o Danish claims matter" remarked thu
judge. glancing toward his curtaineC
q den
"You will do nothing of the kind
!. Night work Is not permitted in the val
+ ley"
"Thank you. | hoped you would sa!
e that, Shirley. | believe l am tired
a and now if you will find a magazin,
l. for me I'll go to bed. Ring for Thorn
as to close the house."
d 81 have a few notes to write. They'll
take only minute, and I'll write then
q here"
n She heard her fathers door close, lis
e tened to be quite sure that the hous
n was quiet and threw back the curtains
2. Armitage stepped out into the library.
r "You must go You must gow sh