The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-03-27

used in case of rain.
virsinia's burden grew heavy as she
mounted, though at first its weight had
seemed tri6ing. When she had waved
her handkerchief at the turning and
passed out of Miss Portman's sight it
occurred to her that it would be clever
to tighten the rucksack and satisfy her
appetite at the same time.
The one difficulty was that in her
present position she could not safely
unstrap the bag from her shoulders.
open it, take out the parcel OF luncheon
and strap it on again. The way was
too narrow and the rocks too slippery
to attempt such liberties. At a short
distance, however. and only little out
of the path to the col she could see
small green plateau. the very place for
n rest. But could she reach it? The
girl stood still and looked wistfully
across.
The place could be gained only by
scramble over ledge Of formidable
rocks and climbing in good earnest
here and there. yet if the thing could
be done at all it could be done in ten
minutes. and to come back would be
comparatively easy. Virginia was
tempted.
"The dear Letitia will be eating her
own lunch by this time and won't miss
me if my half hour is long one" she
thought. And. anyway. said half
an hour or so. That means almost any
thing when it comes to an argument
Another moment and the girl had
started. She was brave at first. but
when she had gone halfway-a way
which was longer and far more diff
ficult than she had fancied-she was
conscious Of a certain sinking Of the
heart. She even felt some nualms OF
sympathy with the sentiments and in
tentions Miss Portman had expressed
and heartily wished herself back by
that good lady's side. but it was against
her principles to be conquered. especial
ly when being conquered meant turn
ing coward or something like it, and
she scrambled on obstinately, her
cheeks burning. her heart humping
and her lips pressed together.
What grim. remorseless giant the
mountain was. and what mere creep
ing fly upon its vast shoulder she. Lit
tie cared the old mountain that she
was q royal princess and that the en-
peror who ruled the land Of which 1t
was part had the intention of marry
ing her. 1t would thwart that I'M
Derial intention without Il qualm nor
turn a pebble if the poor little princess
toppled over its cruel shoulder and fell
in 4 small. crushed heap without ever
having looked upon the face of the
Rhaetian emperor.
Then there came a later moment
when, like Miss portman, whom she so
recently laughed to scorn. the princess
felt that she could neither SO on nor 80
back She was horribly homesick. she
wanted her mother and the garden at
Hampton Court and would hardly have
thrown a glance Of interest at Leo
pold If he had appeared before her
eyes. There were tears in those eyes,
and she was hating the mountain and
all Rhaetia with her whole strength
when from the mysterious distance
around the corner Of the plateau there
came the sound Of q mans voice cheer
fully yodeling.
Never had Il sound been so welcome
or seemed so sweet. 1t was to Eir-
ginia as the voice of an angel. Help"
she called-"help." first in English and
then, on second thought, in Rhaetian.
The yodeling abruptly stopped, and
man appeared round a corner of rock
beyond the green plateau. The sun
shone in his eyes, and he shaded them
with his hand to look up at her. Vir-
glnia stared hopefully, expectandy. A
glance photographed tall figure IN
gray coat passemoiled with green.
soft green cap Of felt, short trousers,
bare knees, knitted stockings, nailed
boots; thank heaven, no tourist, but
evidently mountain man, guide OF
chamois hunter perhaps at all
events. one capable Of coming to her
rescue. These things she saw and
thought in flash, and then the brown
hand that had shaded his eyes dropped.
She caught sight Of his face.
1t was the emperor.
4 moment ago she had felt that she
could look at him with Indifference
and would thousand times over pre-
fer q glimpse Of the dear old house at
Hampton Court, with an easy way to
reach it, but now everything was
changed There was no longer any
danger. He was there. He was coin
ing to help her. A power higher than
his had arranged this as their first en-
counter and would not have taken the
trouble to bring him to her here II
the meeting were to end in ignominy
or disaster.
He had run across the plateau. Now
the nailed boots were ringing on rock.
She could gaze down upon his head,
he was so close to her BE was look
ing I'D. What a noble face 1t was
better than all the pictures! And the
eyes
Virginia was suddenly and wildly
happy. She could have sung for joy,
al1pyIyD 11pIyD'
W. e