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Princess Virginia By C. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON, Authors of "?Vir l.itfhtninif Conductor, '"Rom in.ii v In Search of ? Father," Etc. J* J? COPYRIGHT) 1907, BY McCLURE. PHILLIPS C> CO. ifcHAPTE? TILNd first mill Bocouil ? dressing gongs had sounded at Schloss Lyndnlborg on tiio evening of tho day after ESgou von Brelt stcin's visit to Iiis brother, and the grand tluohcsfl W08 beginning to won der uneaHlly what kept bop daughter when ringed (Ingot's tapped on tho panel of the door. "Come in!" she answered, and Vir ginia appeared, still In the white ten nis dress she had worn that afternoon. She stood for an Instant without speak ing, her faee so radiantly beautiful' that her mother thought It seemed Il lumined from a Imhi within. It had been on the lips of the grand duchess to scold tho girl for her tardi ness, Kineo to be Into was an unpardon able offense With an imperial majesty in the house. But ill that radiance the words died. "Virginia, what is it? You look?I scarcely know how you look. But you make mo feel that something has hap pened." Tho princess came slowly across the room, smiling Boftly, with an air of one who walks in sleep. Hardly con scious of what she did, she sank down In a big ??hair and sat resting her el bows Oil her knees, her chin uestllllg between her two palms, like a pink white rose in Its calyx. "You may go, Kniestlne," said the grand duchess to her maid. "I'll ring whon I want you again." The elaborate process of waving and dressing her still abundant hair had fortunately come t<> a successful end, and Kniest ine had just caused a dia mond star to rlso abovo her forehead. She was in a rohe de cluuuht'O, and the rest of her toilet could wait till curios ity was satisfied. Hut Virginia still sat dreaming, her happy eyes far away. The grand duch ess had to speak t w iee before the girl heard and started a little. "My daugh ter, have you nuytlllllg to tell U10?" TIlO princess roused herself. "Noth ing, mother, really, except that I'm tho happiest kI'I on earth." "Why, w hat has ho Bald?" "Not one word that anyone mightn't have listened to. Hut I know, lie does care. Ami I think ho will say some thing before we part." "There's only 0110 more day of Ids visit here after tonight." "One whole long, beautiful day to get her." "Hut, after all, dearest," argued her mother, "what do you expect? If In truth-you woro only Miss Mowbray, Itiarrlilgo between you and the emperor would be out of the question. You've never uone into tho subject of your feel lug* about this quite thoroughly with me, and 1 do wish 1 knew pre cisely what you hope for from 1dm, what you will consider the-the key stone of the situation." "Only for him to say that he loves me," Virginia confessed. "If I'm right, it I've brought something new Into his life, something which has shown him Vtnt his heart's as important as his head, then there will come a moment w hen he can keep silence no longer, w hen he'll be forced to say, 'I love you, dear, and because WO can't belong to encll other day is turned Into night fof lne." Then when that moment comes the tide of my fortune will be at its Hood. 1 shall tell him that I love him, too, and I shall tell him all the truth." ' You'll tell him who we really are?" "Yes, and why I've been masquer ading-- that it was because, ever since I was a little girl, he'd lieen tho one man In the world for me; because, when our marriage was suggested through Official channels, I made up my mind that 1 must win him first through love or live single all my d i.vs." "What If he should be vexed nt the deception and refuse to forgive you? V" l know, darling, we shall be In r rather curious position when every thing comes out, ns we have inndo all our friends hero under tho name of Mowbray. Of course the excuse for what we did is that our real position is n hundred times higher than tho one we assumed, and all those to whom WO'VO been Introduced would be delighted to know us in our own CharoCtOrS at the end. Hut Leopold is n man, not a romantic girl, as you are. IIu has always had a reputation for pride and austerity, for being Just before bo would let himself bo gener ous, and It may Im> that to one of Ids linturo a wild whim like yours"? "Yon think of him as lie was befor? wo mot, not as he is now, If you fancy he could be hard with a woman lie really loved," said Virginia eagerly. "IIo'll forgive me, dear. I've no fenr of him any more. Tonight I've no fear of anything. He loves me?and - I'm empress of tho world." "Many women would lie satisfied with Rhnetia," was tho practical re sponse which Jumped Into tho mind of tho grand duchess, but sho would throw no more cold water upon the rose flame of her daughter's exaltation. 8he kissed (he girl on tho forehead, breathing a few words of motherly sympathy, but when the princess had flown off'to her own room to dress she shook her diamond starred head doubt fully. Virginia's plan sounded poetical and ns easy to carry out as to turn a kaleidoscope and form a charming new combination ?f color, or so It had seemed while the young voice plead ed, but when the happy face and radiant eyes no longer Illumined the path the way ahead seemed dark. To he sure, the princess had so far walked triumphantly along the high road 10 success, hut It was not always a good beginning which led to a good end, and the grand ducbess fett as stie rang for Ernestine that tier nerves WOUld be strained to the breaking point until matters were definitely settled for better or for worse. Virginia had never been lovelier than she was that night at dinner, and Bgon von Breltstclu'8 admiration for her beauty had In It a fascinating new In gredient, t'ntII yesterday ho had said to himself, "If she be not fair to me, what care I bow fair she be?" Hut n<>w there was a vague Idea that she might, after all, l>e for him, and be took enormous pleasure In tho thought that he was falling In love with a girl who had captured tho emperor's heart. Bgon glanced very often at Leopold, contrasting his sovereign's appearance unfavorably wHh his own. The em peror was thin and dark, with a grave east of feature, while Egon's face kept the color ami youthfulness of the early twenties. He was older than Leopold, but ? he looked a boy. Alma-Tadema would have wreathed him with vine leaves, draiied him with tiger skins and set him down on a marble bench n gal list a burning sapphire sky, where ho would have appeared more suitably clad than In the stiff blue and silver uniform of a crack lthnctian regiment. Leopold, on the contrary, would nev er be painted except as a soldier, and it seemed to Bgon that no normal pclrl could help thinking him a far hand somer fellow than the emperor. For the moment, of course, Miss Mowbray (lid not notice him because his impe rial majesty loomed large In the fore ground of her Imagination, but the chancellor bail evidently a plan in bis head for removing that stately obsta cle into the dim perspective. Rgon had not her,rd Miss Mowbray spoken of ns nn heiress. Therefore, even had there been no emperor In tlie way, lie would not have worshiped at the shrine. Hut now behold the shrine, attractive before, newly and alluring ly decked! Egon wondered much over Ills half brother's apparently Impulsive offer and the contradictory command, which had a little later enjoined watt ing. He was delighted, however, that be had not been forbidden to make him self agreeable, and his idea was as so.in as dinner should lie over to And a place at Miss Mowbrny's side before any other man should have time to take It. Hut, unluckily for this plan. Huron von Lyndnl detained him for a few moments with praise of a new remedy which might cure the chan cellor's gout, and when he escaped from his host to loo.; for Miss Mow bray In the white drawing room she was not there. From tho music room adjoining, how ever, came sounds which drew bftn toward the door. He knew Mtss Mow bray's soft, coaxing touch on the pt aim. She was there "playing In a whisper," as he had heard ber call It Perhaps she was going to sing, as she had done once or twice liefere, and would need some one to turn the pages of her music. Egon thought that he would much like to lie the some one and was In the act of parting the white velvet portieres that covered the door way when his hostess smilingly beok ?ned him away. "The emperor has Just asked Miss ! Mowbray to teach him some old fash ioned Scotch or English air (I'm afraid I don't quite know the difference) call- \ ed 'Annie Laurie,' " the bnroness ex plained. "He was charmed with It when she sang tho other evening, and I've been assuring htm ttiat the song would exactly suit his voice. We mustn't disturb them while the lesson : Is going on. Tell me?I've hardly bad a moment to ask you?how did you ' find the chancellor?" Chained to a forced allegiance, Bgon mechanically answered the questions of tho baroness without making absurd mistakes, the while bis ears burned to hear what was going on behind the white curtains. Everybody knew of the music les son now and chatted In tones of tact ful monotony, never speaking too loudly to disturb the singers, never too cautiously, lest they should seem to listen. Once, and then again, the creamy mezzo soprnno and tho rich tenor that was almost a baritone snug conscientiously througb the verses of "Aunle Laurie" from begin Hing to end. Then a few desultory chords were struck on the piano, and at last there was silence behind the whlto curtains In the music room. Were tho two still there? To Inter rupt such a tete a-tete mod out of tho question, tint not to know what was happening Kgon found too bard to bear, and the arrival of a telegram for Lady Mowbray oamo as opportunely I ns If Providence had had bis special needs In mind. Evidently it was not a pleasant tele gram, for as she read It tho Dresden chlnp lady showed plainly that she was disconcerted. Her pretty face lost its color; her eyes dilated n? If (die had "Playing In a vhlspcr." tasted a drop of belladonna on sugar; siio patted her lips with her lace hand kerchief and finally rose from her chair, looking dazed and distressed. "I've had rather had news," she ad mitted to Baroness von Lyndal, who was all solicitude?"oh, nothing really serious, I trust, hut still disquieting. It is from a dear friend. I think I had | better go to my room and talk things over With Helen. Would you he kind enough to tell her when she comes In that she's to follow me there? Don't send for her till then; it's not neces sary. Hut I shall want her by and by." It was clear that Lady Mowbray did not wish her daughter to be disturbed. Still, Kgou von Breltstoln thought ho might fairly let his anxiety run away With him, As the baroness accompa nied her guest to the door ho took it Upon himself to search for Miss Monv bray, for now if the emperor should curse him for a spoil-sport lie would have the liest of excuses. Lady Mow bray was In need of her daughter. He lifted the white curtains and peep ed through a small antechamber into the music room beyond. It was empty, ! but one of the long windows leading Into the rose garden was wide open. The month of September was dying, and away In the lthaetlan mountains winter had begun. Yet In the lap of the low country summer lingered. The air was soft and sweet with the per fume of roses?roses living and roses dead in a potpourri of scattered petals on the gross. It was a garden for lov ers and a night for lovers. Egon went to tho open window and looked out, lint dared not let his feet take the direction of ids eyes, though he was sure that somewhere in the garden Miss Mowbray and the emper or wero to be found. "They will come in again this way," he said to himself, "for they will want people to think they have never left the music room, and for that very rea son they won't stop too long. They must have some regard for the conven tions. If I wait"? He did not finish the sentence in his mind. Nevertheless ho examined the resources of the window niche with a critical eye. There was a deep inelosure between tho window frame and tho long, straight curtains of olive green satin which matched the decoration of the i music room. By drawing the curtains a few inches farther forward one could make a screen which would hide one from observation by any person In the room or outside in the garden. So Egon did draw the curtain, and, framed In his shelter like a saint in a niche, he stood peering into the silver night. The moon was rising over the lake, and long, pale rays of level light were stealing up the paths like tho fingers of a blind child that caress gropingly the features of a beloved face. Egon could not see tlie whole gor den or oil the paths among the roses. Rut If the emperor and Iiis companion came back by the way they had gone he would know presently whether they walked In the attitude of friends or lovers. It was so necessary for his plans to know this that he thought It wortli while to exercise a little pa tience in waiting. Of course. If they wero lovers, goodby to his hopes, and he would never have so good a chance as this to niako sure. All things In the garden that were not white were gray as a dove's wings. Even the shndows wore not black, and tho sky was gray, with the soft gray of velvet under a crust of dia monds which flashed as tho spangles on a woman's fan flash when it trem bles in her hand. White moths, happily Ignorant that summer would come no more for them, drifted out from (he shadows llko roso petals blown by the Roft wind. On a trellis a crowding sisterhood of palo roses drooped their heads downward In memento morl. It was a silver night, a night of enchantment. Leopold had meant to toko Virginia out only to see tho moon rise over the water, turning tho great smooth sheet of Jet Into a silver shield, for there had been clouds or spurts of rain on other nights, and he had said to him self that never ngaln perhaps would they two stand together under the WhltO spell of flie moon. He had meant to keep her for five minutes, or ten nt the most, and then to bring her back, but they had walked down to the path which girdled the cliff obove the hike. The moon touched her gold en hair and her pure face like a bene diction. He dared not look nt her thus for long, ond when there came a Slid den quick rustling In the gras* at their feet ho boot down, glad of any change in the current of his thoughts. Home tiny winged thing of the night sought a lodging In a lndl shaped flow er Whose blue color the moon hod drunk, and as Leopold stooped the some impulse made Virginia bend. He stretched out ids hand to gather the low growing branch of blossoms. which be wouul give the girl ns" a souvenir of this hour, and their fingers met. Lake and garden swam before tho eyes of tho princess as the em peror's hand closed over hers. Her great moment had come, yet now that It was here, womanlike, she wished It away, not gone forever?oh. no-hut waiting just round the corner of the future. "The flowers are yours 1 -rive them to you," she laughed, as If she fancied It was in eagerness to grasp the dis puted spray that he had pressed her fingers. "You are the one flower 1 wnnl (lower of all the world," ho answered in a choked voice, speaking words he had not meant to speak. But lh? i< e harriers that held back tho torrent of which he had {old her had melted long ago and now had been swept away. Other barriers which ho bad built up In their place?his con viel ions, Ids duly as a man at the head of a nation were gone too. "I love you." he stam mered. "I love you far better than my life, which you saved. I've loved you ever since our first hour together on Hie mountain, but every day my love has grown a thousandfold until now It's greater and higher than any mountain. I can light against myself no longer-. I thought I was strong, but this love Is stronger than I am. Say that you care for mo ? only say that." "I do care," Virginia whispered. She had prayed for this, lived for (Ids, and she was drowning in happiness. Vet she had pictured a different scene, a scene of storm and stress. Si, had heard In fancy broket! words Of sor row and noble renunciation on his lips, and in anticipating his Buffering she had felt the joy her revelation would give. "I care?so much, so much! I low hard it will lie to part!" "If you care, then, we shall not be parted," said Leopold. The princess looked up at him In wonder, holding back as he would ' have caught her in his arms, What could he mean? What plan was in his mind that, believing her to he Helen Mowbray, yet made It possible for him to reassure her so? "I don't understand," she faltered. "You are tho emperor, and I am no more than"? "You are my wife if you love me." In the shook of her ecstatic surprise she was helpless to resist him longer, and he held her close and passionately, his lips on her hair, her lace crushed against his heart. She could hear It j heating, feel it throb under her check. His wife? Then he loved her enough for that. Yet how was it possible for him to stand ready for her sake to override the laws of his own land? "My darling my wife!" ho said again. "To think that you love me!" "I have loved you from the first," the princess confessed, "but I was afraid you would feel, even if you cared, that we must say goodby. Now"? And In an instant the whole truth would hove been out, hut tlie word "goodby" stabbed him, and he could not let It pass. "We shall not say goodby, not for an hour," he cried. "After (his 1 j COUld not lose you. There's nothing to prevent my being your husband, you my wife. Would to Cod you were of royal blood and you should be my em press -the fairest empress (hat poet or historian over saw but we're pris e: ers of fate, you and I. We must lake the goods the gods provide. My god dess you will always be, but (he em press of Rhaotln even my love isn't powerful enough to make you. 11 I am to you only half what you are to me you'll be satisfied with the empire of my heart." Suddenly the warm blood of Vir ginia's veins grew chill. Fl was as if a wind had blown up front the dark depths of the lake to strike like Ice i:: to her soul. An Instant more and ho would have known (hat she was a princess of the blood, and through his whole life she could have gone on wor shiping him because he had boon ready (o break down all barriers for her love before he guessed (here need ho none to break. Now her warm im pulse of gratitude wns fro/en by tho biting blast of disillusionment, but still there was hope left. It might he that she misunderstood him. She would not judge him yet. "The empire of your heart!" she echoed. "If that wen* mine I should bo richer than with all the treasure i of the earth. If you were Leo, the chamois hunter, I would love you as 1 love you now, because In yourself you aro the one man for me, and I'd go with you to the end of the world as your wife. Hut you're not the chamois hunter; you are tho man I love, yet yon are tho emperor. Being (he em peror, had you talked of a hopeless lovo and a promise not to forgot, hav ing nothing else to give me because of your high destiny and my humbler one, I could still have been happy. Yet you speak of more than that. You speak of something I can't understand. It aeems to me that what a royal man offers the woman he loves should be all or nothing." "I do offer you all," said Leopold, "all myself, my life, the heart and soul of me all (hat's my own to give. The rest belongs to RllQOtln." "Then what do you mean by" "Don't you understand, my Bwoet, that I've asked you to he my wife? What can a man ask more of a wom an?" "Your wife, but not the empress, How can the two bo apart?" lie tried to take her once more In his arms, but when ho saw that she would not have It so be hold his love In check nnd waMed. He was sure that ho would not need to wait long, fAf ???t only had he laid his love at her feet, but bad pledged himself lo a tre mendous sacriflce on love's altar. The step which In a moment of pas. slon be had now resolved lOtakO would create dissension among his people, alienate one who had been h!s Second father, rouse ?nginhd, America and Qormnny to anger because of tho prin cess whose name minor had already coupled wltll his and ralso in every di rection a storm of disapproval. When this girl whom ho loved realized the Immensity <>f the concession he was , making because of his reverent love for her Bho would give her lifo to him now mid forever. Tenderly lie took her hand and lifted il io hla lip-. Then when Bho did not draw it nwny, because lie was to have his chance of explanation, he held It between both his own as he talked on. "Dearesl one." he said, "when I flrst know I loved you loved you as I ; didn't dream I could love a woman? j for your Bake and my own, I would ! have avoided meeting you too often. I This I tell you frankly. I didn't see how in honor such a love could end ex cept in despair for me and sorrow even for you if you should como to care. Had you and I.ady Mowbray stayed on at the hotel in Kronnurg I think I could have held to my resolve. But when Hnroncss von Lyndal suggested your coming here my heart leaped up. I sai l in my mind: 'At least I shall linvo tho joy of seeing her every day for a lime without doing anything to darken her future. Afterward, when she l as gone out of my life, I shall have that radiance to remember. And so no harm will lie done in the end, except thai I shall have to pay by suf fering;' S?ll I had no thought of the future without a parting. I felt that ln? evltnble. And the suffering came hand in hand with (lie joy, for not a night here ' yndnlbsrg have I slept. If I bad been weak I should have groaned | I aloud in the agony of renunciation. "My rooms open on t\ lawn. More than onco I've come out into the dark ness when all the household was sleep ing. Sometimes I have walked to this "Ncvcrt" *7ic exclaimed. very spot where you and I stand now ?-heart to heart for the first time, my darling asking myself whether there were any way out of labyrinth. It was not until 1 brought you here and saw you by my side, with the moon rays for a crown, that a hash of blind lug i> .lit. seemed to pierce the clouds. Sud lenly I saw all things clearly, and, though there will be difficulties, 1 COUIlt them as overcome." "Still you haven't answered my ques tion," said Virginia In a low, strained Voice. ? "I'm coming to that now. It was best, that you should know first all \ Hint's been troubling my heart and brain during these few bittersweet , days which have taught mo so much, j You know men who have their place at the bond of great nations can't think fust of themselves or even of those they love better than themselves. If III h ipo to snatch at personal happl no 3 they must take the one way open to them and he thankful. "Don't do me the horrible injustice to believer that I wouldn't be proud to show you to my subjects as their em press, but instead I can offer only what men of royal blood for hundreds of years have offered to women whom they honored as well us loved. You must have heard even in England of what Is called a morganatic marriage. II is that I olfer you." Willi a cry of pain?tho cruel pain of Wounded, disappointed love?the prin cess tore her hand from his. ? Never!" she exclaimed. "It's an in I suit." "An insult? No, a thousand times no. I see that even now you don't under stand." "I 111 Ink that I understand very well, loo well," said Virginia brokenly. Tho beautiful fairy palace of happiness that she had watched as It grew lay shat tered, destroyed, in tho moment which ought to have seen its triumphant coni ; pletlon. "I tell you that you canuot under stand or you wouldn't say?you wouldn't dare to say, my love?that I'd insulted you. Don't you see, don't you .iv., that you would lie my wife in 1,10 sight of all men as well as In tho t Iglll Of God." "Your wife, you call it!" The prin cess gave a hnrsll little laugh which hurt as tears could not hurt. "You Seem to have strange ideas of that word, which has always been sacred to me. A morganatic marriage! That Is a mere pretense, a hypocrisy. I would be 'your wife,' you say. I would give you all my lovo, all my life. You In return would glvo me?your left hand. And you know well that in a country which tolerates such a one Sided travesty of marriage the laws would hold you freo to marry another W0inan?a royal woman, whom you could make an empress? ns freo as if I had no existence." "Great hen von, that you should speak sol" ho broke out. "What if the law did hold me free? Can you dream?do > on put mo so low as to dream that my heart would hold mo free? My soul would bo bound to you forever." "So you may bellevo now. But the knowledge (hat you could change would be death to me?a death to die dally. Yes, I tell you again, It was an Insult to offer a lot so inlserahle, so contemptible, to a woman you profess to love. How could you do it? If only you bad never spoken tlie hateful words -If only you had left nie the ideal I bad of you?noble, glorious, above the whole world of men! But, after all, you are selfish, cruel. If von had said, 'I love you, yet wo must port, for duty stands between us,' I could? But, no; I can never tell you now what 1 could have answered If you had said that Instead of breaking my heart." Under the Ore of her reproach he stood still, his Hps tight, Ids shoulders braced, as If ho held his breast open for tho knife. "Hy heaven, it Is you who are cruel!" he said Jit last. "How can 1 make you see your Injustice?" "In no way. There's nothing more to be said between us two after this except good by." "It shall not ho goodby." "It must. I wish II." He bad caught her dress, as sho turn ed to go, but HOW be released her. "You wish It? It's not true that you love me, then?" "It was true. Everything?every thing In my whole life?Is changed from this hour. II would ho better If I'd never seen you. Goodby." (Continued.) CHARLESTON AND WESTERN CARO LINA RAILROAD. Arrival and Departure of Trains, Laurens, South Carolina. EFFECTIVE JUNE 16, 1908. WEST BOUND. No. 1. Leave Augusta.10:10 a m No. I. Leave Laurens.2::V2 p m No. 1. Arrive Spartanburg.. 1 :().r> p m No. 6. Leave Greenwood.... 6:60 n m No. 6. Leave Laurens.7:66 a ni No. f>. Arrive Spartanburg., 9.30 a in No. 63. Leave Greenville.12:20 p m No. 53. Arrive Laurens. 1 :4C p in No.*S(i. Leave Greenvillo .... 1:30 p m No.*8(5. Arrive Laurons. 6:25 p m SOUTH BOUND. No. 2. Leave Spartanburg . . .12:20 p m No. 2. Leave Laurens. 2:32 p m No. 2. Arrive Augusta. <>:ir> p in No. 6. Leave Spartanburg ... .r):nu p m No. Ii. Leave Laurens. 6:35 p m No. (5. Arrive Greenwood .... 7:60 p m No.'"87. Leave Laurens. X:lo a m No."87. Arrive Greenville_10:20 a in No. f>2. Leave Laurens. ?. :"? p m No. .r>2. Arrive Greenville .... 4:00 p in Trains *8(> and '87 daily except Sunday. Tri-weekly through Pullman Parlor Car service between Augusta and Asho ville on trains Nos. 1 and 2; North bound, Tuesdays, Sat urdays; Sout hbound Mondays, Wednesdays and Priduyfi. C. II. CASQUE, Agent, Laurens, S. ('. G. T. BUY AN, Gen. Agt., Greenville, S. C. A.W. ANDERSON, Gen. Runt. ERNEST WILLIAMS, G.P.A., Augusta, (la. killtheccues^ i and CURE the LUMG?S w,th BrB King's New Discovery for J33t*.\ and all throat and lung troubles. I GUARANTEED ATlSFACXO?Yj MONEY REl'UHBFD. Henry Clay Flour the best. You can always lind good Corn, Oats, Hay, Bran, best Cotton Seed Meal, fresh water-ground Meal, good stock of Molasses and Syrup, Green and Roasted Coffee, Tobacco of all grades, Heel Sweep and other Farm Hard ware and Implements, and don't forget-all at LOWEST PRICES, J. H. Sullivan