New-York tribune., 1899-07-23
TALES OF VICTOR EMANUEL
THE HUNTING KING INCOGNITO ANON"
HIS PEASANTS.

stories Of Victor Emanuel Whlcn nave ho'
become current outside the peninsula. ne hu''
down his game with the perseverance ana sa-
gacty of "A good hound. and often Ieit idii w, "
mind him invited guests. equerrieS' oeate'S a
| Keepers ON one occasion of the KIND ne lounu
himself on entirely unknown ground anu nr
climbed down the mountain side 10 nut ~ don
the names of the surrounding peaks anu W iiaS ,
a drink of goats milk. To the oid daine "n1
mad" him welcome and gave MN DOM ui'"" "
Cannot do anything for you. good woman
cba answered. ''Yes indeed: you have "A gun
Maybe you could rid me of the polecat tha' eats
Imy chickens and even killed my cat. ar 80
and nothing else?" asked the King i see
no one about the house Are you quite alone
here"
she REPLIED sadly: There was the grandson
the only one of all Of them left with me-ahd tHe
King took even him away. All the young iei
lows are taken for soldiers now some teli 'iie m
'tis not all the fault of the King ana 'ha' nv
forced to do it, But it is sorely hard on lone
folk. like me- . ,. . -.
"Oh that can't tell you, she said, out r,
have a letter from him in my pocket me
schOolmasterl read IL for me next SUNDAY WHEN
| | go to mass Perhaps. now. you coulu eve"
make out the regiment from II .
The old woman produced the letter ana lur
bIed tilI she tore open the envelope with her toll
blunted fingers, and she stared hard at the Shee'
| of paper. which His Majesty conned 10 So','e N
purpose for he gave all requisite particulars "
one Of his officers with orders tnat, When louiiu
! the recruit should be sent back with his dls-
charge to the old grandmother and the mountain
farm. Moreover he shot the rama thdt had
| killed cat and poultry and the good woman gave
him threepcnCe- -halfpenny for his trouD!e Desiue'
many thanks and blessings.
A year later the King passed that way. and
| was again alone The youth and the grand
/ mother were at work in their potato patch ana
| the ex-soldier in great astOnishment. saluted
Being agitated he struck his temple with ms
earthly hand again and again. saying, It's the
/ King Granne. it's the King.
/ WI gTanddfn.
/ tily its only the old vagabond gave my halt-
pence to for killing tha pOecat It's II caccId-
/ tore (spOrt Sman or pOacher), that was telling
! you about Are you crazy. lad?'-for the CON
script continued his frantic salutng
Laughing the King looked across the fence or
loose stones till the crOne began roughly to
/ shake her boy by the shoulder and to call him
hard names. Then in mercy, le rof chasseur tas
/ he is called his monument in Aostd) VOlun-
| teered some explanations The grandmother
was a trihe abashed for a moment. but when
she brought out a jug of milk the trio made
merry together.
Another day near the Val de Cogne. accom-
! panied by of his generals (who was as en-
| thusiastic a sportsman as HIMSELF Victor
/ Emanuel tired and thirsty. begged for "a bow!
Of milk" at a cottage door. The houSeWHe
thought they were two professional chainos
/ hunters and ha wing a weight on her mind, TOOK
the opportunity of unburdenng herself of il -.
! Tell me. kind gentlemen, she began, is IL
| true what hear? The neighbOrs are sayinS
that the King is coming. Now. must find out
| when he'll be near. for my girl is very pretty.
| I'll put her under lock and key. You may nave
heard of her for she's the finest girl IN the val
! lev. They tell me that the Kings a terribly III
| conducted man. that tries to turn the mead oil
every nice girl he sees. Could you not give me a
hint Of his coming, that | might smut up the
! CThis ought to have been a capital sermon to
/ the Re galantuOmOD -
| A third story shows him in a better light. He
chose once TO start before the rest OF the shoot
! ing party and was stopped short by a Drawing
/ mountain torrent Victor Emanuel not
| tall; but even if ne were able TO wade across,
! and not he drowned. he would have been What
! i'm ireland is called "drownded." and 1t IS no
! help to days shooting to begin it soaked 10
| the skin A tall man happened TO pass him:
you've got to carry me over, remarked the
Well comrade. it would take good deal to
make me do that" said the big man. y ou
! may not he very long. but your broad anu
on come; what will you do the job for?"
| asked the King. slightly rufiied by the aiiusion
to his sore pOint-his bulk.
Not one sou under hundred five francs),"
he replied: "and ! warn YOU if YOU hdgei I'll
drop you. if it should be in the middle Of
the stream"
Done" cried the King. But in md-channel
a fear seized him that his pointer was not fol-
lowing and he twisted round to have a look.
"Bourreau, You shall pay for this" growled
the porter but he did not drop the burden
Now" said he. depositing his King on the
bank. you must pay me. not 100 sous, but 200.
Don't you know you risked both our lives with
your fidgeting?"
The King humbly pleaded that he wanted to
see if his dog was safe over the water. and he
recognized the right to a double fee paying his
ten francs cheerfully. adding. rs there nothing
else | do for yOu?" The big man pondered.
and scratched his head to aid reflection. At
last he said: The thing am long wishing for
is a donkey If | had donkey I'd be as happy
az a king I'd sell my little crops in Turin
then They tell me that there's a splendid
market there for cabbages and every sort Of
garden stuff"
But it's long way to Turin" the King OBJ
jected. Would not a horse better serve your
turn"