The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-31
e5ClApTER FOUp


that swept through her veins because
he did not share it, for to her. though
this meeting was an epoch, to him ii
was no more than q trivial incident
She would have keyed his emotions to
hers if she could. but since she had
had years of preparation. he single
moment, perhaps she might have been
consoled for the disparity could she
have read his eyes. They said. if she
had known. us 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. yet she was powerless to
profit by them. Like a 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 rcsourceful. 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 it was the emperor who spoke
before Virginia's savoir faire came
back.
81 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 Leopolds. 1t
was not the meter Of 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 ne
would be answered, keeping up the
play.
'I am hurt only in the pride that
comes before fall she replied, fore
ing laugh. Thank you many times
for saving me-"
81 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 should have lost my
ife," 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.
no tourist that ! know Of has found II
tempting"
virginsa's eyes lit with a sudden
spark. ,,',he spirit monitor-that match
making monitor-came back and dared
her to frolic, such fro!ic, she
thought, as no girl on earth had ever
had or would have after her. And she
could show this grave soldier-hero of
hers something new In life-something
quite new-which it would not harm
him to know. Then, let come what
would out Of this adventure, at worst
she should always have an Olympiar
episode to remem ber.
Until / came?" she caught up his
words, standing carefully on the spot
where he had placed her. But l am
no tourist I am an explorer"
He lifted level, dark eyebrows, smil-
ing family, and when he smiled half
his austerity was gone.
So beautiful q girl as this need net
rise beyond agreeable commonplaces OF
mind and speech to please man. In
deed, this particular chamois hunter
expected no more than good looks, q
good heart and nice manner from
women. Yet this beauty bade fair, it
seemed, to hold surprises in reserve.
'I have brought down noble game
today" he said to himself, and aloud:
ST know the Schneehorn we'll and love
It we'll. Still | can't see what rewards
it has for the explorer-unless, gna'
fraulein, you are climber or geolo-
gist."
"I'm neither, yet tiliIt I have seen
something, a most rare thing, I've
wanted all my life to see."
The young mans face confessed curl
osity. Indeed. A rare thing that
lives here on the mountain
II am not sure if it lives here.
should like to find out" replied the girl
Might one inquire the name of this
rare thing" asked the chamois hunter
perhaps if knew it might turn out
that I could help you in the search
But, first, If you'd let me lead you tc
The plateau. where l think you were
going. Here your head might still
grow a little giddy, and it's not well
to keep you standing. gna' fraulein. on
such spot. You've passed all the
worst now. The rest is easy
She gave him her hand. pleasing her
self by fancy ins the act kind OF allie
CORY, as she let MIN lead her to safe
and pleasant places on higher, SUE