Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-05-22

~, hook says are unsafe for anna
tcUrs. I:ut what an excellent cnSrav
inG that is over tho fireplace, with til,
ClaNloiS horns above il, Isn't that q
portrait of your emperor when he was
hoy:"
The landladys eyes dartcd to the
picture. "Ach. | had meant to carry il
away" ..lc nEl,rcd
Ihr -irI'~ quick ears caught the
words ~@hy should you carry it
away: Don't You love the emperor
that You would put his face out OF
sight"
Not love UnSrr Leo" cried the old
woman. Mortified. Why. We worship
him. gracious frauleln. We would die
for him any day, all of us mountain
people-and. yes. all Khaetians. | be
,icyc. could not let you so back TO
Your own land with the idea that we
do not love the nobleSt emperor coun-
try ever had As for what said
about the portrait, | didn't know that
| spoke aloud, | am SO used to mum
Jim ~ H. Stil SllICc 1 DtSlu W 6lOh
deaf aud Old But OF course | wished
it put away only because 1t is such 4
/ poor thing. 1t does Unser Leo no sort
Of justice. You-you would not recog-
nize him from that picture if you We're
to see him now"
! With this excuse Frau Yoryan hur-
ried ont TO fetch another dish, which
she said must be ready: TO cool her
hot face and TO scold herself for her
stupidity all the way downstairs.
She was gone some time. and the
girl, who had no doubt unwittingly
occasioned the old womans uneasiness,
took advantage Of her absence to
lauSh-excited. happy laughter.
Poor, transparent old dear! So
pleased and proud of her great secret,
which she thinks she's keeping SO
well" she exclaimed. I'm sure she
doesn't dream that she's rs easy to
read as book with big, big print
She's in n sad fright now lest we In
convenient foreigners should chance
upon her grand gentlemen tomorrow,
recognize one of them from the por-
trait and spoil his precious incognito."
''Then-you think that he is really
herein this out Of the way aerie"
half whispered the grand duchess.
II feel sure he is" answered Prin-
cess Virginia.
For moment there was silence.
Then said the grand duchess. with an
air Of resignation, We'll. suppose we
should be glad. since we have come to
Rhaetia for the purpose Of Dear me!
can scarcely bring myself to say It."
You may say 1t, since our dear old
lamb Of Letltia knows all about 1t
and Is in with u.s." returned Virginia
"But-but / truly didn't expect to find
him here. One knows he comes some
times-it'S been in the papers-but this
time they had 1t that he'd gone to make
a weeks visit to poor old General Won
Borslok at the baths of Melina, and
thought before we went to Kronburg
with all our pretty letters Of introduc-
ton. as he was away from the palace
there, 1t would be idyllic to use up the
| time with a visit to Alleheiligen. l
don't want you and Ietitia to think
that l was just making catspaws Of
you both and forcing you without
knowing to help Inc unearth him in his
lair. Still. as he is here
perhaps he isn't" suggested the
grand duchess. Il don't see that you
have much ground for fancying So"
'Oh. generalw echoed Virginia scorn-
fully. Its instinct that 80 upon. not
ground-that wOman's face when she
saw foreign tourists at her door out of
season when she had a right to think
she was safe from invasion: her STAN
mering about the best rooms being TAX
en-; her wish to get rid Of US; her dis
tress that she couldn't possibly do SO
without making matters worse: the
way she talks Of her -four gentlemen
her horror Mt my leze majesty: her con-
fusion about the portraits: her wish to
impress It upon US that Unser Leo is
quite changed. Instinct ought to be
ashamed IL it couldn't play detective
rs far as that. But-of course we may
not see him. If she can help 1t. we
won't. He won't like being run to
earth by tourists when he is amusing
himself. and perhaps the trusty land
lady will send the intelligent young
guide whom l refused to warn him, so
that IL he chooses he can keep out Of
the way"
II almost hope she may send" said
the grand duchess. Il don't think
| Providence Wills meeting here. You
have brought no pretty dresses. l
should like him to see you first when
you look your best. since to your mind
so much depends upon his feelings In
this matter"
"Our first meeting is-on the knees
\ OF the gods" murmured Virginia.
And then Frau Yorvanscame into the
room with a souf1ie