The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-24

mother would have q pleasant sur
prise. Glad he was that he CHANGED
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 was
aired and scented with the dried Law
ender blossoms gathered down below.
Indeed, she had need to be ever In
readiness for distinguished guests, be-
cause sometimes But the eloquent
tongue of Alois Yorvan was suddenly
silent. like the clapper Of church
bell which the ringers have ceased to
pull. and his sunburnt face grew
shecpish.
Because sometimes?" echoed the
girl in her pretty Rhaetian. What
happens sometimes that your mother
must ever be expecting?
"Oh," the man stammered. little
fooishy, q was but going to say that
she has sometimes to entertain people
OF the high nobility of different ma
tions. Alleheiligcn. though small, IS
rather celebrated, you know"
HAS your emperor been here?" ask
ed IT,. young lady.
at may be-" answered Alois jaun-
tily; lit may be. Our emperor has been
to most places"
His companion smiled and put no
more questions.
Slowly they climbed or, the two car
riages, containing the English girls
mother. q middle aged 10 .ipanon.
French maid and q reasonable supply
Of luggage. toiling up betinl the h;r-
ness jingling with faint sound ~ Of
fairy bells.
Then at last they came to the ian. !
quaint house. half Of stone. half OF rich
brown shingles. a huge picture crowd
ed with saints Of special Importance
to Aleheiligen painted in once crude.
now faded, colors on a swinging sign.
a characteristic yodeling cry from
Alois sent forth before the highest turn
Of the road was reached brought an
apple checked and white capped old
woman to the door. Then 1t was the
youngest Of the travellers who asked.
with pleasant greeting in Rhaetian.
for the best suit Of rooms which Frau
Yorvan could give.
But, to the girls astonishment. the
landlady showed none Of the delight
her son had predicted. Surprised she
certainly was, even startled and GER
tainIy embarrassed. For an instant She
seemed to hesitate before replying;
then her emotion was partly explained
by her words. Unfortunately her best
rooms were engaged-four Of the bed
rooms with the choicest view and the
one private sitting room the inn pos
sessed. But If the ladies would put up
with the second best she would gladly
accommodate them. Was it but for the
uight? Oh. for several nights! (Again
the apple face looked dubious.) Well
If the ladies would grnciously enter
and choose from what she had to offer
she would be honored.
They did enter and presently wrote
their names as Lady Mowbray, Miss
Mowbray, Miss Manchester and maid.
An hour later when the newcomers
mother, daughter and dame de compa-
gnle-sat down to hot supper In a
bedchamber hastily but skillfully
transformed into q private dining room
the youngest Of the three remarked to
Frau Yorvan upon the peaceful still
ness Of her house.
"One would think there wasn't q
soul about the place except ourselves
said she, yet you've told US you have
other guests"
1.-THE gentlemen who are stopping
here are away all day long in the
mountains" explained Frau Yorvan.
'It is now the time .or chamois hunt
ing, and it is for that and also the
climbing Of q strange group Of ROCKS
called the Bunch of Needles. only to
be doue by great experts, that they
come to me-"
"They are out late this evening.
Aren't you beginning to be a little
anxious about them II they go to such
dangerous places?"
"Oh, tonight, gracious fraulein, they
will not return ut ALL" said the land
lady, warming impulsively to the sub
ject. "They often stop at a kind of
hut they have near the top Of the
mountain to begin some climb they
may wish to undertake very early.
They are much closer to 1t there, you
see, and it saves their wasting several
hours on the way. They are constant
ly In the habit Of stopping at the hut
in fine weather. But they are very
considerate. They always let me
know their plans beforehand"
IF they're away so much l think 1t
a little selfish in them to keep your
one private sitting room when yor
might need it for Others" remarked
the girl.
"Oh, but gracious fraulein, you must
not say that cried the old woman,
looking as much shocked as If her
young guest had broken one Of the
commandments.
The girl laughed. why notT she
inquired. Are the gentlemen OF such
Importance that they mustn't be crit
icised by strangers
Frau Yorvan was embarrassed.
."They are excellent patrons Of mine,
gracious frauIein; that Is all | meant"
said she. II cannot bear that unjust
things should be thought of such-good