Oxford Democrat., 1908-04-21


of the hands.
The grand duchess grew pale, for the
! apple checked lady suddenly exhibited
| these alarming signs Of emotion while
passing window Of the private dining
room. Evidently some scene of horror
was being enacted outside, and Vir
ginia and Miss Portman had been
away for many hours.
1t was the time for tea in England
for coffee in Rhaetia. Frau Yorvan
had just brought in coffee for one
with heart shaped sugared cakes
which would have appealed more
poignantly to the grand duchess appe'
tite if the absent ones had been with
her to share them. Naturally at the
good woman's outburst her imagina.
tion instantly pictured disaster to the
one she loved.
What, oh, what is it you see?' she
implored, her heart leaping, then fall
ing But for once the courtesy due
to an honored guest was forgotten, and
the distracted Frau Yorvan fled from
the room without giving an answer.
Half paralyzed with dread of what
she might have to see, the grand duch-
ess tottered to the window. Was there,
yes, there was procession coming
down the hilly street that led to town
from the mountain. Oh, horror upon
horror. They were 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.
UnSpeakably relieved, yet still puz.
zled and vaguely alarmed, the grand
duchess threw up the window over
looking the little village square. But
rs she Strove To attract the truantS'
attention by waving her hand and
crying out welcome or question,
whichever should come first, the words
were arrested on her lips. What could
lie the matter with Frau Yorvan?
The stout old landlady popped out
through the door like Jack out of his
box on very stiff spring. flew to the
InI nd la1x
elbowing Miss Portman aside. began
diStractedly bobbing up and down.
tearing at the bundle Of rucksacks and
cloaks. Her inarticulate cries ascend
ed like incense to the grand duchess at
the open window. adding much to the
lady's intense bewilderment.
"What has that man been doing?"
demanded the grand duchess in a
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
ins. while the tall man stood among
NE three women, motionless. but ap-
l"ently prey to conflicting emo
ions. If the grand duchess had not
zen ohsessed with certain idea
which was growing in her mind she
must have seen that his dark face be-
"ayed mingling of amusement i'm
.ience. annoyance and boyish mis-
lief. He locked like man who had
| JM2how stuGLled into Il false posi-
i>n from which il would be difficult to
, cape wiki dignity, yet which he half
| ioyei. Tom between desire to
| ialgh and fly into Il rage with the
| o-..cious landlady. he frowned warm
| iayly at Frau YOVan. smiled at the
| D incess and divided his energies be-
| tween quick. secret gestures intended
| for the eyes of the Rhaetian woman
| AMI endeavOrs to unburden himself in
his own time and way of the load he
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 as If in fear, leaving
the tall fellow to his own devices? All,
but that was terrible look he gave
her at last-the poor, good woman!
| Perhaps he was q 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 as Acknowledgements III
Rhaetia perhaps, but then there was
no reason why they should not hap
pen in Rhaetia at a place like this.
| And If there were not something evil,
something to be dreaded, about TINS
big. dark browed fellow, why had Frau
Yoryan uttered that exclamation OF
frantic dismay at sight Of him and
rushed like mad woman out OF the
house?
It occurred to the grand duchess thai
the man must be some notorious des
perado of the mountains who had oD
tanned her daughters confidence or go
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 IL
the room adjoining hers. The grano
duchess resolved that ut the first siSl
of insolent behavior or threatening OF
the part Of the luggage carrier these
noblemen should be promptly sum
moned by her to the rescue OF hel
daughter.
Her anxiety was even slightly allay
ed at this point in her reflections D!
the thought for she had not quite
outgrown an innate love Of romance
that the emperor himself might go t.
yirginia's assistance. His friends wer'
In the next room, having come dowl
J from the mountain about noon, ant
there seemed little doubt that he wal
lsmong Them If he had not alread!
looked out of his window, drawn b.
the landlady's excited voice, the grant
duchess resolved that in the circum
stances it was her part as Il mother Il
make him look out. She had promised
to help Virginia. and she would he'll
her by promoting romantic first en-
counter.