Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-04-07

! pose 1 can bear It, I may as well ac-
custom myself to loneliness, as l am
obliged to spend my remaining years
on this spot. But am not at all sure
the duchess would approve
"You mean Lady Mowbray. She
wouldn't mind. She knows I've q good
head and-physically-a good heart.
Besides, l shall have only myself to
look after, and one really doesn't need
chaperon in going to make an early
call on mountain view"
Dearest princess, I'm not SO sure Of
that in regard to this mountain view"
Miss Mowbray, please, you're very
| subtle. But really haven't come out
| to look for the mountain view you re-
fer to. You needn't think 1t. l don't
know where his lair is, but it's prob
ably miles from here, and II l knew l
wouldn't hunt him there. That would
be un peu trop fort, and, anyway, I'm
inclined to believe that mother Is right
| about those dresses. shall have such
nice ones at Kronburg So you see
you can conscientiously give me your
blessing and let me CO."
"My dear, as If I could have sus-
pected you would search for him! You
are in Rhaetia not to pursue, but to
give an emperor who wishes to have
certain princess for his cOnsOrt a
chance to fall in love with herself"
"If he will-if it can be so. But
what do Helen Mowbray and Letitia
Manchester know about the love affairs
Of emperors and princesses? Au re-
voir, dear friend; I'm going. BY and
by, II you have courage to lift your
eyes, you'll see me waving handker-
chief flag at the rock corner up there" ."
Virginia took the alpenstock which she
had laid down and began picking her
way daintily, yet pluckily. toward the
col which she had named us her goal.
There was another route to it, leading
on to the highest peak Of the Schnee-
horn, only to be dared by experienced
climbers, but the way by which the
girl and her companion had set out
from Alleheiigen nearly four hours
ago was merely fatiguing, never dan
gerous. and Virginia knew that Miss
Portman was safe and not half as
much frightened as she pretended.
They had started at s, just as the
September sun had begun to draw the
night chill out of the keen mountain
| air, and now 1t was close upon l..
The princess was hungry.
In Nordeck, the frontier town Of
| Rhaetia as you come in from Ger
many, she had bought rucksacks for
herself and Miss Portman, to be used
upon Just such mountain excursions
as this, and today the brown canvas
| bags were being tested for the first
| time. Each rucksack stored an ade-
quate luncheon for its bearer, while on
top, secured by straps passed across
the shoulders, lay folded wrap to be
used in case of rain.
Virginia's burden grew heavy as she
mounted, though ut first its weight had
seemed tritling. When she had waved
her handkerchief at the turning and
passed out of Miss Portman's sight 1t
occurred to her that 1t would be clever
| to tighten the rucksack and satisfy her
appetite at the same time.
The one difficulty was that In her
present position she could not safely
unstrap the bag from her shoulders.
open 1t, take out the parcel Of luncheon
and strap it on again. The way was
| too narrow and the rocks too slippery
to attempt such liberties. At short
distance, however, and only little out
of the path to the col she could see Il
small green plateau, the very place for
a rest. But could she reach 1t? The