Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-06-05

he grand duchess grew pale, Tor the
apple checked lady suddenly exhibited
these alarming signs of emotion while
laSSing Il window of the private dining
room Evidently some scene Of horror
S.Aia and Miss rOrtman had been
away for many hours.
II was the time for tea in England,
for coffee in Khactia. Frau Yorvan
had just brought in coffee for one,
with heart shaped sugared cakes
which would have appealed more
poiCuau;ly to the grand duchess appe-
t!tc If the absent ones had been with
l.,r 10 share them Naturally at the
good woman's outburst her magma
ton instantly pictured disaster to the
one she loved.
What, oh, what is it you sce?" she
imp,ored. her heart lcaping, then fall
ing. But for once the courtesy due
10 an honorcd guest was forgotten. and
the distracted Frau Yorvan fed from
the room without giving an answer.
Half para!yZcd with dread of what
SAIt might nav L " Stt. llc
ess tottrrcd to the window. Was there,
yes. there was procession coming
down the billy street that led to town
from the mountain. Oh. horror upon
horror! They We're perhaps bringing
Virginia down. injured or dead, her
beautiful face crushed out of recogni-
ton. Yet, no; there was Virginia her.
self, the central figure in the process
sion. Thank heaven! 1t could be moth
Ing worse than an accident to poor,
dear Miss Portman. But there was
Miss Portman, too, and very tall,
bronzed peasant man, loaded with
cloaks and rucksacks, headed the band,
while the girl and her ex-governess
followed after.
Cpspeakably relieved, yet still puz-
Zled and vaguely alarmed, the grand
duchess threw up the window over
looking the little village square. But
as she strove to attract the truants'
attention by waving her hand and
crying out a welcome or a question.
whichever should come first, the words
were arrested on her lips. What could
be the matter with Frau Yorvan?
The stout old landlady popped ont
through the door like Jack out Of his
box on very stiff spring. few to the
overloaded peasant and. almost rudely
elbowing Miss Portman aside, began
distractedly bobbing UP and down.
tearing Mt the bundle Of rucksacks and
cloaks. Her inarticulate cries ascend
ed like incense to the grand duchess ut
the open window, adding much to the
lady's intense bewilderment
What has that man been doing"
demanded the grand duchess in q
loud, firm voice, but nobody answered,
for the very good reason that nobody
heard. The attention of all those be-
low was entirely taken up with their
own concerns.
pray, mein frau, let him carry our
things indoors" Virginia was insist
ing. while the tall man stood among
the three women. motionless, but ap-
parently prey to conflicting emo
lions. II the grand duchess had not
been Obsessed with q certain idea
which was growing in her mind she
must have seen that his dark face be-
trayed a mingling of amusement, i'm
patience, annoyance and bOyish mis-
chief. He looked like a man who had
somehow stumbled into a false posi-
ton from which it would be difficult to
escape with dignity. yet which he half
enjoyed. Torn between a desire to
laugh and fly into a rage with the
Officious landlady, he frowned warn
ingly at Frau Yorvan, smiled Mt the
princess and divided his energies be-
tween quick. secret gestures intended
for the eyes Of the Rhaetian woman
and endeavors to unburden himself in
carried
With each instant the perturbation
Of the grand duchess grew. Why did
the man not speak out what he had to
say? Why did the landlady first strive
to seize the things from his back, then
suddenly shrink rs IL in fear, leaving
the tall fellow to his own devices? All,
but that was a terrible look he gave
her at last-the poor, good woman!
Perhaps he was brigand! And the
grand duchess remembered tales she
had read-tales of fearful deeds, even
in these modern days, done in wild
mountain Businesses and remote vii
lagos such rs Acknowledgement in
Rhaetia perhaps, but then there was
no reason why they should not hap
pen in Rhaetia Mt place like this.
And II there were not something evil,
something to be dreaded, about this
big, dark browed fellow, why had Frau
iYorvan uttered that exclamation Of
frantic dismay at sight Of him and
rushed like a mad woman out Of the
house?
1t occurred to the grand duchess that
the man must be some notorious des-
perado Of the mountains who had OBJ
tanned her daughters confidence or got
her and Miss Portman into his pow
er. But, she remembered. fortunately
some or all Of the mysterious gentle
men stopping at the inn had returned
and were at this moment assembled In
the room adjoining hers. The grand
duchess resolved that at the first sign
Of insolent behavior or threatening on
the part Of the luggage carrier these
noblemen should be promptly sum-
moned by her to the rescue Of her
daughter.
Her anxiety was even slightly allay-
ed at this point In her reflections by
the thought (for she had not quite
outgrown an innate love of romance)
that the emperor himself might go to
.Nirginia's assistance. His friends were
in the next room, having come down
from the mountain about noon, and
there seemed little doubt that he was
among them. II he had not already
looked out Of his window, drawn by
the landlady's excited voice, the grand
duchess resolved that In the circum-
stances It was her part as a mother to
make him look out. She had promised
to help Virginia. and she would help
her by promoting a romantic first en-