Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-27

IL ~
E|NlM- high on the mountain
MW II side were perched. the
e4ex--------N simple inn and the
group of brown chalets clustering
round the big church. with its dubious
oriental Splrs. that they caught the IL
red rays of sunset and 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
travelling carriages toiled up the steep
winding road that led to the highest
hamlet of the Rhaetian Alps, and
girl walking beside the foremost driv
er minded, as he was, to save the
jaded horses looked up to see Allie
heiligen glittering like a necklet oil
gems on the brown throat of the noun
tain. Each window was a 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
where the sun touched it, blue where
the shadows lay.
The driver assured the young Eng
fish 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 it,
Her extra weight would be but as
that of 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-
sions, but the girl still smilingly 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.
She was plainly dressed in gray,
uAu NV ShOh uuSN. dLAs
though her skirt and short jacket We're
well made and her neat little hat jaun-
ty and becoming-almost dangerously
becoming-She was not half as grand |
In appearance as some of the ladies
who drove up with him in 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
1t was remarkable that she could speak .
Rhaetian so prettily. She had learned |
1t, she said, when he respectfully VEN !
tured question. because since she |
was a child she had taken an interest .
In Rhaetian history and literature. /
And this seemed strange TO him-that /
so dainty Il lady should have learned .
such a language for pleasure, because .
the people of most countries found it
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
Rhaetian poetry.
This was the last touch. This won
him wholly. and without stopping fur
Their TO analyze or account for his ad-
miration the driver OF the first car
rage found himself bestowing conf
dences upon his gracious companion
as they slowly tramped up the winding
road. the reins lOoped over his arm.
He told her OF his life-hOw he had
not always lived down there in the
valley and driven tourists for living.