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

-N~~N
red rays of sunset ami held them flash
ing on FURNISHED copper roof plates
and jeweling small, bright window
panes long after the green valley be-
low was curtained with shadow.
One September evening two dusty
Nav ling carriages toiled up the steep,
Vi in ling road that led to the highest
hamlet of the Rhaetian Alps, and q
girl walking beside the foremost driv-
| er minded, as he was, to save the
heiigen glittering like necklet of
gems on the brown throat Of the noun
tain. Each window was great, sep
arate ruby set in gold; the copper bulb
that crowned the church steeple was a
burning carbuncle, while above the
flashing band Of gorgeous color the
mountain reared its head, facing west
ward, its steadfast features carved in
stone, the brow snow capped and rosy
| where the sun touched it, blue where
the shadows lay.
The driver assured the young Eng
iish lady, whom he much admired for
her pluck as well as beauty, that she
had far better return to the carriage;
that indeed she need not have left 1t.
| Her extra weight would be but as
that of u feather to the horses, which
were used to carrying far heavier loads
| than that of today up the steep noun
| tain road to Alleheiligen In the "high'
season of July and August, when many
| tourists from all countries came to rest
| for night and see the wonderful view.
He even grew voluble in his persua-
slons, but the girl still smilingy In
sisted that she liked walking, and the
| brown faced fellow with the soft green
hat and curly cock feather admired
| her the more for her firmness and en-
durance.
Size was plainly dressed in grl.'
| which did not show the dust, anu,
though her skirt and short jacket were
| well made and her neat little hat jaun-
| ty and becoming-almost dangerously
| lecoming-she was not half rs grand
| III appearance as some OF the ladies'
who drove up with him i'll July and
| August. Still, the man said to himself.
| there was an air about her-no; he
could not describe it even to himself
| but it meant distinction. And then, as
she was English, it was as pleasing as
it was remarkable that she could speak
4 A learned
1t. she said, when he respectfully Ven
| tured question, because since she
| was child she had taken an interest
in Rhaetian history and literature.
And this seemed strange to hlm-that
so dainty lady should have learned
| such language for pleasure, because
the people of most countries found IL
| excessively difficult as difficult as
| Hungarian and just enough like Ger
man to make it even more difficult
| perhaps. But this English girl said
| she had picked it up easily, and the
young mans heart warmed to her
| when she praised Rhaetian music and
Ghact;an poetry.
This was the last touch. This won
him wholly, and without stopping fur-
| her to analyZe or account FOR MS al
| nirat;on the driver of the first car
| :ia.sa found himself bestowing conf
ei.ces upon his gracious companion
| they slowly t:ampcd up the winding
| oat'. ;hc rcins looped over his arm.
I-c told her of his life-how he had
| -. a:ways lived down there i'll the
ALLEY ami driven tourists for living
Before he fell in love and married a
valley girl and had Il young family to
rear his house had been aloft in ALE
beiligen. He was born on the noun
tain side. His mother still lived III the
village. 1t was she who kept the inn-
ach. but a good woman and cook tC
the kings taste, or, rather, the emper
or's taste, if 1t was her own son who
said it,.
He was glad that the English ladies
would be staying with her for q few
days at this season. She would make
them comfortable, more comfortable
than would be possible at a crowded
time. and then. besides, after the sea
son was over and the strangers had
been frightened away by the first fur
ry of snow, the poor mother grew
lonely and tired of idleness. oh, yes
she STAYED the winter through. 1t was
home to her. There We're not many
neighbors then, it was true, yet she
would not he happy to go away. Noun
tain folk never really learned to love
the valleys.
} What. The ladies had not written tC
the inn In advance? All, well. tina,
would not matter at this season. There
would be rooms and to spare. The la
dies could take their choice, and the
mother would have pleasant sur
prise. Glad he was that he chancet
TO be the one to bring it.
Those who knew Frau Yorvan know
that her larder was never empty OF
good things and that her linen wa:
aired and scented with the dried Law
ender blossoms gathered down below
Indeed, she had need to be ever II
readiness fOr distinguished guests. be
cause sometimes But the eloquen
tongue Of Alois Yorvan was suddenl!
silent, like the clapper Of churcf
bell which the ringers have ceased Il
! pull, and his sunburnt face grew
sheepish.
Because smetimesY" echoed tn
/ girl in her pretty Rhaetian. "Wha
, happens sometimes that your mothe
{ must ever be expectingT
! "Oh," the man stammered, ittl
} foolishly, II was but going t9ssay tina
she has sometimes to entertain peopl
Of the high nobility Of different ma
tlons. Alleheiligen, though small,
rather celebrated, you know"
Has your emperor been here? ask
ed the young lady.
1T may be-" answered Alois jaur
tily; lit may be. Our emperor has bee
to mOstplaces."
His companion smiled and put II
, more questions.
4 Slowly they climbed on, the two cal
riages, containing the English girl