Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-04-14

nave read his eyes. 1hey said, III she
had known, rs the sky raining god
desses today?"
Now, what were to be her first words
to him? Dimly she felt that if she
were to profit by this wonderful chance
to know the man and not the emperor
this chance which might be lost in a
few moments unless her wit befriend-
ed her-those words should be beyond
the common. She should be able to
marshal her sentences as general
marshals his battalions, with plan Of
campaign for each.
A spirit monitor "a matchmaking
monitor-whispered these wise advices
in her ear, vet she was powerless to
profit by them. Like q schoolgirl about
to be examined for scholarship, know
ing that all the future might depend
upon an hour Of the present, the dire
need to be resourceful, to be brilliant,
left her dumb.
How many times had she not thought
of her first conversation with Leopold
of Rhaetia, planning the first words,
the first looks, which must make him
know that she was different from any
other girl he had ever met! Yet here
she stood, speechless, epigrams turning
tail and racing away from her like a
troop Of playful colts refusing to be
caught.
And so 1t was the emperor who spoke
before Virginias savoir faire came
back.
Il hope you're not hurt?" asked the
chamOis hunter in the patois dear to
the heart OF Rhaetian mountain folk
She had been glad before, now she
was thankful, that she had spent many
weeks and months in loving study of
the tongue which was Leopold's. L
was not the meter of a chamois hunt
er to speak English, though the en-
peror was said to know the language
well, and she rejoiced in her ability to
answer the chamois hunter as he
would be answered, keeping up the
play.
Il am hurt only in the prize that
comes before fall" she replied, fore
ing laugh. Thank you many times
for saving me-"
Il feared that frightened you and
made you lose your footing" the cham
ois hunter answered.
81 think, on the contrary, if it hadn't
been for you l should have lost my
life," said Virginia. There should be
a sign put up on that tempting pla-
teau. All Except Suicides Beware.
The necessity never occurred to us,
my mates and me-" returned the man
In the gray coat passemoiled with
green. Until you came. gna' fraulein,
10 tourist that know of has found 1t
tempting"
Vi.giua's eyes lit with a sudden
spark The spirit monitor-that match
maxim. monitor-came back and dared
her to frolic. such Il froic, she
thought. as no girl on earth had ever
had or would have after her. And she
ould show this grave Soldier-hero of
he's something new il life-something
title neT-which it would not harm
lin 10 know. Thcn, let come what
ould out of this adventure, ut worst
she should always have an Olympian
episode to remember.
Until came:" she caught up his
words. standing carefully on the spot
where he had placed her. But / am
no tourist / am an explorer"
He lifted level, dark eyebrows, smil-
ing family, and when he smiled half
his austerity was gone.
So beautiful girl as this need not
rise beyond agreeable commonplaces OF
mind and speech to please man. In
deed, this particular chamOis hunter
expected no more than good looks,
good heart and nice manner from
women. Yet this beauty bade fair, 1t
seemed, to hold surprises in reserve.
Il have brought down noble game
today he said to himself, and aloud:
81 know the Schneehorn well and love
1t we'll. Still can't see what rewards
it has for the explorer-unless, gna'
fraulein, you are a climber or a geolO-
gist."
'Im neither, yet think have seen
something, most rare thing, I've
wanted all my life to see."
The young mans face confessed curl
osity. Indeed. 4 rare thing that
lives here on the mountain"
81 am not sure If 1t lives mere. ]
should like to find out" replied the girl
Might one inquire the name of this
rare thing" asked the chamOis hunter
Perhaps if l knew it might turn out
that l could help you in the search
But, first, if you'd let me lead you to
the plateau, where l think you were
going. Here your head might still
grow little giddy, and it's not wei
to keep you standing, gna' frau!ein, OF
such spot. You've passed all the
worst now. The rest is easy"
She gave him her hand pleasing her
self by fancying the act kind of allie
CORY, as she let him lead her to saf.
and pleasant places on higher, sun
nier level.
"Perhapsthe rare thing grows here,
the chamois hunter went on, looking
about the green plateau with new in
terest.
II think not" Virginia answered.
shaking her head. ut would thrive
better nearer the mountain top in
more hidden place than this. 1t does
not love tourists"
Nor do l, in truth" smiled the
chamois hunter.
You took me for one."
Pardon. gna' fraulein-not the kind
of tourist we both mean"
THANK YOU"
..,., ha..o caid if I rninht