Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-03-19

geSted Virginia. Il love milk. ana
could scarcely count the cows, they
were so many, as came up the noun
tain from Alleheiligen."
ITS true there are plenty Of COW;
about" replied her host. land could
easily catch one. But if / fetch the
beast here can you milk it?"
Dear me, no. Surely you, great
strong man, would never stand by and
let weak girl do that? Oh, | almost
wish hadn't thought of the milk il
I'm not to have it. long for it SO
muchD'
"You shall have the milk. lady" re-
turned the chamois hunter. "I"-
"How good you arer' exclaimed the
princess. ut will be more than nice of
you. Butt don't want you to think
that I'm giving you all this trouble
for nothing. Here's something just to
show that appreciate it and to re-
member me BY"
She would not look up, though she
longed to see what expression the
dark face wore, but kept her eyes
upon her hand. from which she slowly
withdrew ring. 1t fitted tightly, for
she had had it made years ago, before
her slender fingers had finished grow
ing. When at last she had pulled of
the jeweled circlet of gold she held it
up temptingly.
"What I have done and anything
may yet do is a pleasure" said the
hunter. But, after ALL you have learn
ed little of Rhaetia if you think that
we mountain men ever take payment
from those to whom we've been able
to show hospitality"
"Ah. but I'm not talking of pay
ment," pleaded the princess. Il wish
only to be sure that you mayn't forget
the first woman who, you tell me, has
ever entered this door"
The young man looked at the door.
not at the girl. ut is impossible that
| should forget" said he, almost stif1y
Still, it will hurt me if you refuse
my ring" went on Virginia. please
at least come and see what it's like"
He obeyed, and as she still held up
the ring he took it from her that he
might examine it more closely.
"The crest of Rhaetiaw he exclaim-
ed as his eyes fell upon a shield of
black and green enamel set with small
but exceedingly brilliant white dia-
monds. "How curious! I've been
wondering that you should speak our
language so well"-
"It's not curious at all really, but
very simple" said Virginia. "Now,"
with a faint tremor in her voice
press the spring on the left side of
the shield, and when you've seen
what's underneath think you'll feel
that you can't Loyalty refuse to accept
my little Offering"
The bronze forefnger found a pins
point protuberance of gold, and, press
ing sharply, the shield flew up to re-
veal tiny but exquisitely painted
miniature of Leopold l. of Rhaetia.
The chamois hunter stared at it and
did not speak, but the blood came up
to his brown forehead
you're surprlsed?" asked Virginia.
81 am surprised, because I'd been
led to suppose that you thought poorly
of our emperor"
Poorly! Now, what could have
given you that impression"
"Why, you made fun of his opinion
of women"
"Who am l, pray, to make fun Of
an emperor's opinion, even in a mat
ter he would consider so unimportant?
On the contrary. confess that l, like
most other girls l know, am deeply
Interested in your great Leopold if
only because I-we-would be charita-
bly, minded and teach him better AS
for the ring, they sell things more or
less of this sort in several of the
Rhaetian cities I've passed through on
my way here. Didn't you know that?"
"No, lady have never seen one
like it,"
"And, as for my knowledge of Rhae-
tan, I've always been interested in
the study of languages. Languages
are fascinating to conquer, and then
the literature Of your country is so
splendid one must be able to read it
at first hand. Now, you'll have to say
Yes to the ring, won't you, and keep
it for your emperor's sake, if not for
miner
"May I not keep it for yours as
well?"
Eyes, if you please. And-about the
milkT
The chamois hunter caught up a
gaudy jug and without further words
went out When he had gone the
princess rose, and, taking the knife he
had used to cut the bread and ham,
she kissed the handle on the place
where his fingers had grasped it.
You're a very silly girl. Virginia, my
DEAR she said But, oh, how you do
love him. How he is worth loving,
and-what a glorious hour you're hav-
ing!
For ten minutes she sat alone, per-
haps more. Then the door was flung
open and her host flung himself in,
no longer with the gay air which had
H. -, l.