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


have no fear?" he asked. "You are a
young girl, alone, save for me, in a
desolate place. For all you know, my
mates and 1 may be a band OF brig
ands"
"Bacdeker doesn't mention the ex-
istencc Of brigands In these days
among the Rhaetian Alps" replied
Virginia, with quaint dryness. "Ive
always found him trustworthy. Be-
sides, I've great faith in the chlvalry
OF Rhaetian men, and If you knew how
hungry l am you wouldn't keep me
waiting for talk of brigands. Bread
and butter are far more to the point"
Even search for the rare edelmann
may waltz"
eyes; the edelmann may walton
me-" The last two words she dared
cut to whisper.
''You must pardon my going first"
E,id the man with the bare brown
knees. "The way Is too narrow for
politeness."
"Yet I wish that the peasants at
home had such courteous manners as
yours" Virginia patronized him pret-
tily. "You Rhaetians need not go to
"The mountains teach us something,
maybe"
Something of their greatness, which
we should all do well to learn. But
have you never lived in a town."
"a man Of my sort exists IN town;
he lives in the mountains" With this
diplomatic response the tall figure
swung round a corner formed by a
bowlder of rock, and Virginia gave a
little cry Of surprise. The hut Of
which the chamois hunter had spoken
| was revealed by the turn, and 1t was
of an unexpected and striking descrip-
ton. Instead Of the humble erection
OF stones and wood which she had
counted on, the rocky side Of the
| mountain itself had been coaxed to
give her sons n shelter.
A doorway and large square Openings
for windows had been cut in the red
Veined, purpllsh brown porphyry, while
heavy slab Of oak and wooden frames
filled full of glittering bottle glass pro-
tected such rooms as might have been
followed out within from storm or
cold
Even had Virginia been ignorant Of
been wise enough to guess that here
was no semmhutte, or ordinary abode of
| common peasants who hunt the cham
ois for q precarious livelihood. The
work OF hewing out in the solid rock
habitatlon such as this must have
cost more than most Rhaetian chamois
hunters would save in many a year.
But her wisdom also counseled her to
express no further surprise after her
| first exclamation.
"My mates are away for the time,
though they may come back by and
by" the man explained, holding the
heavy oaken door that she might pass
into the room within, and, though she
was not invited to further exploration,
she was able to see by the several
doorways cut in the rock walls that
this was not the sole accommodation
the strange house could boast
On the rock floor rugs OF deer and
chamols skin were spread. In rack
of oak ornamented with splendid ant
lers and studded with the sharp point
ed horns Of the chamois were suspend
ed guns of modern make and brightly
polished, formidable hunting knives.
been carved with admirable skill, and
| the half dozen chairs were oddly fash
ioned of stags' antlers shaped to hold
fur cushioned wooden seats. A carved
dresser of black oak held a store OF tho
coarse blue red and green china made
by peasants in the valley below,
| through which Virginia had driven yes
terday, and these bright colored dishes
were eked out with platters and great
| tankards Of old pewter, while In the
deep fireplace a gypsy kettle swung
over bed of fragrant pine wood en-
| bers.
This is delightful place-fit for n
king or even for an emperor" said
| Virginia when the bare kneed chamois
| hunter had offered her chair near the
| fire and crossed the room to open the
| closed cupboard under the dresser
| shelves
lie was STOPPING as she spoke, but
| at her last words looked around over
| his shoulder
I'VE mountain men aren't afraid of q
| little work--when it's for our own com
| fort" he replied, land most OF the
things you see here are homemade dur
ing the long winters"
Then you are all very clever indeed
But this place Is interesting. Tell me.
has the emperor ever been your guest
here? I've read-let me see, could 1t
have been in the guidebook or in some
| paper?-that he comes occasionally to
this northern range OF mountains"
ooh, yes; the emperor has been at our