The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-06-03

pulSing OF the blood in her fingers as
lie took her hand and lifted her to her
feet. There was shame in this tempest
thht swept through her veins because
he did not share ii, for to her, though
THIS meeting was an epoch, to him it
was no more than n trivial incident
She would have keyed his emotions to
hers IL she could, but since she had
had years of preparation. he Il single
moment, perhaps she might have been
consolcd for the disparity could she
have read his eyes. They said, if she
had known, "Is the sky raining god.
desscs today?"
Now, what were to be her first words
to him? Dimly she felt that il she
were TO profit by this wonderful chance
to know the man and not the emperor
this chance which might be lost In q
few moments unless her wit befriend-
cd her-those words should be beyond
the common. She should be able to
marshal her sentences as general
marshals his battalions, with n plan of
campaign for each.
"A spirit monitor "a matchmaking
montor-whispcred these wise advices
In her ear, yet she was powerless to
profit by them. Like n schoolgirl about
to be examined for a 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 RhactiA, 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, speechlcss, 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
II hope you're not hurt2" 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 rcjoiced in her ability to
answer the chamoiS hunter as he
would be answered, keeping up the
play
Il am hurt only in the pride that
comes before n fall" she replied, fore
ing a laugh. THANK you many times
for saving me"
81 fpnrn1 ~,
made you lose your footing" the cham
OILS hunter answered
81 think, on the contrary, II 1t hadn't
been for you l should have lost my
life said Virginia There should be
sign put up on that tempting pla-
tcau, All Except Suicides Beware"
"Thc necessity never occurred to us,
my mates and me-" returned the man
In the gray coat passcmoiled with
green. Until you came, gna' fraulein,
no tourist that know of has found it
tempting"
Nirginia's eyes lit with a sudden
spark. The spirit montor-that match
making monitor-came back and dared
her to frolic, such frolic, she
thought, as no girl on earth had ever
could show this grave soldler-hero of
hers something new In life-somethlng
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 OlSmpian
episode to remember.
Until / Gamer she caught up his
words, standing carefully on the spot
where he had placed her But l am
no tourist l am an explorer"
lilo lifted level, dark eyebrows, smfl-
ing family, and when he smiled half
his austcrity was gone.
) So beautiful girl as this need not
rise beyond agreeable commonplaces of
mind and speech TO please a man. In
deed, this particular chamois hunter
expected no more than good looks, a
good heart and n 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:
II know the Schneehorn we'll and love
1t we'll. Still can't see what rewards
1t has for the explorer-unless, gna'
fraulein, you are climber or a geolo-
gist."
I'm neither, yet think 1 have seen
something, 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 mountainr"
~ am not sure If 1t lives here. 1
should like to find out" replied the girl
Might one inquire the name OF this
rare thingW asked the chamoIs hunter.