Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-30

pleased to accept something of our best?" #t
 '.If you please. then I. too, shall be pleased she said. Guiltily she re- membered Miss Portman, but the dear Ietitia could not be considered now. If she were alarmed, she should be well consoled later.
 ''I and some friends of mine have a "a sort of hut round the corner from this plateau and a short distance on," announced the chamois hunter. with a gesture that gave the direction. NO woman has ever been our guest, but I invite you to visit it and lunch there, or. if you prefer, remain here and in few minutes I will bring such food as we can offer. At best it's not much to boast of. We chamois hunters are poor men, living roughly"
 The princess smiled, imprisoning each new thought of mischief which flew into her mind like trapped bird. I've heard you're rich In hospitality" she said. ''I'll go with you to your hut, for it will be chance to prove the saying"
 The eyes of the hunter-dark, bril- liant and keen as the eagles to which she compared him-pierced hers. You 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 I may be band of brig ands."
 ''Baedeker doesn't mention the ex- tstence of brigands in these days among the Rhaetian Abs" replied Virginia, with quaint dryness. i've always found him trustworthy Be sides, I've great faith in the chivalry of Rhaetian men, and If you knew how hungry I 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"
 ''Yes; the edelmann may walton me" The last two words she dared but to whisper.
 You must pardon my going first" said 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 court, I see, for lessons in behavior"
 ''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 powder 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 it was of an unexpected and striking descrip- tion. Instead of the humble erection of stones and wood which she had counted on, the rocky side of the give her sons a shelter.
 A doorway and large square openings for windows had been cut in the red veined, purplish brown porphyry, while heavy slab of oak and wooden frames filled full of glittering bottle glass pro- tected such rooms as might have been hollowed out within from storm or cold.
 Even had Virginia been ignorant of her hosts identity she would have been wise enough to guess that here was no semmhutte. or ordinary abode of common peasants who hunt the cham ois for a precarious livelihood. The work of hewing out in the solid rock a habitatiOn 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 10 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 chamois skin were spread. In a rack of oak ornamented with splendid ant Iers and studded with the sharp point ed horns of the chamois were suspend ed guns of modern make and brightly polished. formidable hunting knives The table in the center of the room had seen carved with admirable skill. and fhe half dozen chairs were oddly fash toned of stags' antlers shaped to hold fur cushioned wooden seats. A carved dresser of black oak held store of the coarse blue red and green china made by peasants iD tbe valley below through which Virginia had driven yes . terday. and these bright coIOred dishes 1. were eked out with plstters and great tsnkaris of old pewter. while in the deep fireplace a gypsy kettle swung oyer a he'd of fragrant pine wood em bers. This is a delightful place-ft for king or even for an emperor said when the bare kneed chsmOis hunter had offered her q chair near the fire and crossed the room to open the closed cupboard under the dresser shelves
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