Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-05-29


Js:sss
"A draft Of our RhOcttdn beer Tlu do
you more good than anything"
should have been on my manners In.
stead Of on such faroif things as en-
perors and their love affairs"
| lie began hewing ut the big loaf rs
IL 1t were an enemy to be conquered.
And there were few In Rhaetia who
had ever seen those dark eyes SO
bright
81 like ham and bread cut thin.
please" said the princess There;
that's better I'll sit here If you'll
bring the things to me. for find that
I'm tired. and you are very kind"
"A draft of our Rhaetian beer will
DO you more good than anything" suG-
gested the hunter. taking up the plate
of bread and ham he had tried hard to
cut according to her taste, placing 1t In
her lap and going back to draw n tank
ard OF foaminG amber liquid from a
quaint hogshead in a corner
| But Virginia waved the froth crown
ed pewter away with a smile and n
pretty gesture. MY head has already
proved not strong enough for your
mountains. I'm sure 1t isn't strong
enough for your beer. Have you some
| nice cold water"'
The young man laughed and shrug-
Ced his shoulders. our water here Is
| ~ only for fhn CT 10 90 no -
he explained. ITO us flats no great
| der; sution. as we're all true Rhae-
tians fJr our beer But now on your
account I'm sorry"
Perhaps you have some milk" sug-
| gested Virginia. Il love milk. And |
| could scarcely count the cows. they
| were so many. as came up the noun
tain from Alleheiligen."
ITS true there are plenty OF cows
about" replied her host. "and could
easily catch one. But If fetch the
beast here can you milk IT."
Dear me- no. Surely you. a great
strong man. would never stand by and
let Il weak girl do that? Oh. ! almost
w ASh tIcuSut va tllC IL
I'm not TO have 1t. long for 1t so
much"'
''You shall have the milk. lady" re-
turned the chamois hunter. y
How good you are" exclaimed the
princess. 1T will he 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 1t aad 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 II ring 1t fitted tightly. for
she had had 1t 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 l have done and anything
may yet do is pleasure" said the
| hunter. But. after all. you have learn
ed little Of Rhaetia II 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 II 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 ut the door.
not at the girl 1T is impossible that
I should forget" said he. almost stiffiy.
still. it will hurt me IL you refuse
my ring" went on Virginia. please
ct least come and see what it's like"
He obeyed. and rs she still held up
the ring he took 1t from her that he
might examine 1t more closely.
1.-THE crest Of Rhaetiaw he exclaim-
ed rs 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 ut all really, but
very simple" said Virginia. Now"
| with faint tremor In her voice
press the spring on the left side Of
the shield. and when you've seen
what's underneath l think you'll feel
that you can't Loyalty refuse to accept
| my little Offering"
The bronze forefnger found n pins
point protuberance Of gold. and, press
ing sharply. the shield flew up to re-
veal n tiny but exquisitely painted
miniature Of Leopold |. of Rhaetia.
The chamois hunter stared at 1t and
did not speak. but the blood came up
to his brown forehead.
You're surprised?" asked Virginia.
Il 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. l confess that I, like
most other girls l know, am deeply
interested In your great Leopold IL
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 I'm several OF the
Rhaetian cities I've PASSED through on
my way here. Didn't yon know that?"
mo. lady. l have never seen one
like it."
And. as for my knowledge Of Rhine.
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
1t for your emperor's sake. IL not for
mine"
MAY not keep 1t for yours as
well?"
"ies. II you please. And-about the
milk?"
1,bo cho hup<ar >a.-Ik