The Washington times., 1924-09-22

need for haste" and so on. The
duke had no intention whatever
of sending such messages to Bur-
gundy; he simply wished to strut
before his little court. Charles
most certainly would receive a
pompous and affirmative answer.
The poor duchess, torn by con.
tending emotions of mother love
and family pride. was flattered
by Burgundy's offer.
I'VE do not know the lady" she
said. Fame speaks well of her.
But the report may be false. She
may not be sufficiently endowed
with religious enthusiasm.
She will absorb that form,
Your Grace" answered.
Her Grace thought that she her.
self was religious and tried to i'm
press that belief on others; but
Max was her god. In truth, she
was jealous of any woman who
looked on him twice, and she kept
at the castle only the old and
harmless of the dangerous sex.
She would have refused Bur.
gundy's offer quickly enough IL
her heart had been permitted to
reply.
The effect OF the letter on Max
was tremendous. He realized its
political Importance, knowing full
well that IL he could add the rich
domain of Burgundy to the Haps.
burg prestige ne might easily
achieve the imperial throne. But
that was his lesser motive. Hymn.
bercourt's letters to me had ex-
tolied Mary'S beauty and gentle
ness. Every page had sung her
praises. These letters I had given
to Max, and there had sprung up
in his untouched heart a chivalric
admiration for the lady of Bur-
gundy. He loved an ideal.
Max kept Hymbercourt's letters,
and would hide himself on the bat.
Elements by the hour reading
them, dreaming the dreams Of
youth and worshiping at the feet
Of his iieal-fair Mary Of Bur-
gundy. his unknown lady-love.
Before the arrival Of the mes
senger from Duke Charles, Max
spoke little of the Burgundian
princess; but the message gave
her a touch Of reality, and he be-
gan to open his heart to me-his
only confidant.
Z There seemed to have been q re.
ciprocal idealization going on in
the far-off land OF Burgundy. NY
letters to HymbercOurt, in which
you may be sure Max's strength
and virtues lost nothing, fell into
the hands of Madame d'Hymber-
court, and thus came under the
eyes of Princess Mary That fair
little lady also built in her heart
an altar to an unknown god, II
hints in Hymbercourt's letters
were to be trusted. Her Hatdenly
emotions were probably far more
passive than Max's, though have
been told that a woman's heart
will go to great lengths for the
sake Of an ideal, Many q man,
doubtless, would fall short in the
estimation of his ladylove were 1t
not for those qualities with. which
she herself endows him.
Whatever the lady's sentiments
may have been, my faith in Hymn
bercourt's hints concerning them
were strengthened. by Mary's kind
ly letter and the diamond ring for
Max which came with her fathers
message to Syria. They were pal
pable facts, and young Max built
an altar III his holy Of holes, and
laid thepi tenderly upon 1t.
Duke Frederick, with my help,
composed letter in reply to Bur
gundy's message 1t required
many days OF work to bring 1t
to a form sufficient in dignity,
{ yet ample in assent. The mis-
sive must answer yes" so
emphatically as to leave no
room for doubt in Burgundy's
mind, yet 1t must show no eager.
ness on the part Of Styria. Duke
Frederick always spoke of him
self as Styria.)S Burgundy must
Be made to appreciate the honor
of this alliance; still the fact
must not be extensively thrust
upon him.
The letter was sent, and Charles
of Burgundy probably laughed at
Il. Duke Frederick appointed
commiss oners and fixed Constant
ais the place Of meeting. What
ever Duke CharleS's reasons for
making the offer Of marriage
may have been, they probably
ceased to exist soon afterward.
for he never even replied to Duke
Frederick's acceptance. For
months Castle Hapsburg was in
q ferment OF expectancy. A
watch stood from dawn tin dusk