San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-17

tibAN
was buried at the church at laeken,
Just outside the capital.
That evening saw the King and
could not refrain from mentioning
something that aroused my interest
during the funeral. The top of
Leopold's head, as | well knew,
was bald. had seen him at many
important functions and never be-
fore had he worn a wig. but on
this occasion he was 80 plentifully
supplied with hair that but for his
beard | would not have recognized
him.
Il always wear a wig at fune-
rails" he explained, because |
must 90 bareheaded, and it may
rain. The wig is warm and water
proof, but also my beard some
times gets wet, for they do not
think it would do to wear my
beard-protectOr."
He often informed me that |
was now to become his official
mistress. and thrilled me with the
news that the splendid Wander
borght Palace, which formed part
of the royal grounds called lie
Domaine de la Couronne," awaited
my occupancy. resided there in
splendor. with a staff of my own
servants. but with them came the
cares ! had not known before.
On leaving his own palace to
visit me, the King would go straight
through the public gardens in
front of it TO a farm, at the end
of the royal grounds. A street
separated the farm from the Van
derborgft estate. Leopold was d
painful person, and even before
the Queens death had thoughtfully
built a bridge across the street,
so that now he could visit me with
out being seen.
There was a dollhouse a mile long
on the grounds and filled with mar
yelou, and swect-smelling flowers.
In this. on rainy days, the King
and ] walked. 1t was a delightful.
dreamy life. ] had everything my
heart desired, money was simply
showered on me. Servants saluted
me like royalty, diplomats sought
my favor to influence the King.
But | never meddled in diplomacy.
There, | may say, is a little secret.
Leopold several times told me that
! was the only woman he ever
had heard of who, with a chance
70 NEEDLE, neglected the opportun-
ity to make nuisance of herself.
Some of the most handsome.
wealthy and generally irresistible
young men Of Europe tried des-
perately to win my heart. This
was not because ] was the most
beautiful woman In the world, but
because to steal a Kings mistress
was high adventure, which would
make a hero of any man. Reso-
lutely ! rebuffed them all at the
very beginning, though sometimes
not without a heart pang. ! would
not be such a fool a. TO yield 10
these temptations and risk all that
fortune had tossed in my lap.
No, ! was not such a fool, but
"a bigger one, for ! risked it all for
a nobody - that gracelcSs scamp.
Durieux. ! had always dreaded
the possibility Of meeting him, and
when it did happen on the streets
Of Paris ! had d carefully pre-
pared speech in mind, and deliy-
cred IL 10 him. ! told him the
whole truth, warned him that he
was out Of my life forever, and to
see that he stayed out.
Now ! no longer loved Durieux.
J saw him just a, boz really was
AN irresponsible. worthless fraud
of man. Money was his god, and
yet he had never been able to make
amy. In spite Of that let him
take me 70 a restaurant and talk
10 me-aud ] paid the check. Fur
thermoIc, ! violated my rule. and
gave him some money. This was
rs fatal a. giving q taste Of blood
20 q tiger After that mistake ]
never had d moments peace, and
7. Tx. q fool. listened 20 him.
Thi. was stupid enough in Paris.
tu' when ha came 90 Bru-,el, and
Insisted ON seeing mr. ! let him
csN III my palace. Of course at
such times a. ! knew Leopold would
not drop in. ! might have known
t.at some servant would betray
na. and you viii wonder why !.
no watched uy step, 20 carefully,
nould do this insane thing.
The only explanation ig that
Dyrcuz. with al his faults. was
line first man in my life, the first
man 20 love ma. The first time
FL woman gives her heart 20 man
BIO can never quite take il all
back again. She may later learn
zoo aespisr H.m. may leave him for
much better one whom she really
loves. but somehow that first one
FOLDS - grin ON her heart that no
ono else viii ever have
So ] received Durieux in my
palace, and each time was furious
IT myself and al him for my folly,
and forbade him ever 10 come
again. Yet always there was one
more time until the inevitable hap
ptned.