The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-05-03

mia, Da1matia, Croatia, Esclavonia-and twen-
| ty-three years Old
He had come TO demand the hand of So.
phie. He had seen her. She would do The
Wittelsbach, though plain home folks, were
of exalted blood, fit to espouse a Hapsburg.
His own mother had arranged the match He
would ask Duke Macmillan after the banquet
and make prompt getaway to Vienna
| where pleasure waited.
Alone beneath the trees, a pup came romp-
ing to him; and a fresh, sweet young voice
cried: Dick, come back!" And he marveled
at the vision, beautiful girl of sixteen, supple.
slender, Of proud. pure type, laughing flower
on tall forest stem. She had been running.
and stopped, blushing. breathless: please ex.
cuse Dick, monsieur!"
Don't apologize for Dick, mademoiselle.
His friendship is recommendation. l know
| the ways Of the house." he answered.
Father thinks So" she laughed.
Your father? Then you are"
elizabeth Amelia, duchess in Bavaria"
Francis Joseph had already started in for
Irritation. He stopped. troubled. Holding
out his hand, he asked
why have not seen you before?'
Very young, serene and naughty, yet i'm.
pulsive and tender, unafraid of the youth in
tourist tweeds and struck by sudden admira-
ton, Elizabeth held out her beautiful white
hand.
Il am too young to figure at the banquet"
she said And Francis Joseph understood His
uncle wished to marry off the elder daughter
first. He whispered to the younger girl, laugh
ing, tempting:
BE dressed on the lawn, before the ban
quet. I'll arrange"
1t was the first escapade of Elizabeth, and
it had the excuse of love at first sight. She
dressed and descended calmly pursued by
ffrio tod Ri IN kho nc
Joseph offered her his arm The effect was
theatrical. Duke Macmillan was wild with
anger. After the banquet the young emperor
drew him aside:
my uncle" he said, II have the honor to
ask the hand, not Of my cousin Sophie, but Of
my cousin Elizabeth"
my nephew" said the duke, 1T is impos-
sible"
"Then I'll ask for neither" said Francis Jo-
seph.
So he quilted Possenhofen Three months
later, on the birthday of the emperor, all 1schl
was en- fete To the imperial villa many great
ones were invited, notably Duke Macmillan,
his duchess, their three sons and four daugh-
ters.
The church of Ischl was packed for morn
ing service. To universal surprise, as the i'm
perial cortege entered, the proud mother Of
Francis Joseph humbly stood aside, and mo.
lOueu young EllZaDeth, the blonde Elizabeth,
to pass before her.
And the young emperor took her by the
hand. Approaching the altar, he said to the
priest.
my father, here is my fiancee. Bless U.S."
Their wedding tour passed in Moravia 1t
was an ideal honeymoon in mountainous
country. where the young emperor was wor.
| SHIPPED by loyal peasantry. They rode from
town to town. almost alone, Francis Joseph
triumphant, Elizabeth happy She had found
the Prince Charming of her dreams.
All changed when they returned to Vienna.
The first morning the blooming beauty
was refused entrance to her husbands study.
An usher in green and gold with gold chain
and Ivory wand barred her way, bowling cere-
moniously: Pardon, your imperial majesty
may not enter to his imperial majesty without
being announced"
AS Elizabeth, simple Bavarian princess, pro-
| tested that she would pass, high officer cor
| roborated the dunkey's words. Ashamed,
| wounded. angry. she was forced to wait feel
Ing the smiles of the courtiers behind her
back, until word came that the emperor would
! receive her. Bitterly she complained to him.
but Francis Joseph declared that etiquette
| must be observed.
Scarcely seventeen, Elizabeth had no ex-
| perience to struggle against a hundred con-
sp1rac1es OF the court suggested by the brutal
diplomacy Of her m0therin-law
This relentless woman had desired her son