Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-04-14

OF much good to n man as a real COM
paniOn' Pm ready to unsay IT.
"I'm glad Then you shall come
with me and help me, and you shall
help my friend, who Is so good and
so strongminded that perhaps she
may make you think even better of
our Sex. If you will you shall be our
guide down to Alleheiigen, where
we've been staying ut the inn since
last night. Resides all that. II you
wish to be very Gooi you may carry
our cloaks and rucksacks. which seem
so heavy to us, but will be no,hing for
your strong shoulders"
The face Of the channels hunter
changed and changed again with such
amused appreciation of her demands
that Virginia turned her head away
lest she should largh ard thus let
him guess that she held the key to the
inner situation.
His willingness to become COW.
herd and now n beast of burden for
the foreign lady lie had seen and her
| friend whom he had not seen was in
| dubitably genuine. He was pleased
with the adventure, II lot rs pleased
as his initiated companion. For the
next few hours the hunter was free,
1t seemed. He said that he had been
out since early Gavin and had had
| good luck. Later he had returned to
the hut for meal and rest. while
his friends went down to the village
on business which concerned them all.
! AS they had not come back. they We're
probably amusing themselves, and
when he had given the ladies all the
| assistance In his power he would join
| them.
The way down was easy to Virginia,
with his hand to help her when 1t was
| needed. and she had never been so
happy in her twenty years. But, after
| all. she asked herself rs they neared
| the place where she had left Miss
Poptman. what had she accomplish
ed? What impression was she leav-
Ing? Would this radiant morning of
adventure DO her good or harm with
Leopold when Miss MOwbray should
| meet him later in some conventional
way through letters OF Introduction to
| court dignitaries ut Kronburg?
While she wondered his voice broke
into her questionings.
Il hope. gna' fraulein," the chamois
hunter was saying. almost shyly and
off hot
away from our country thinking that
we Rhaetlans are so cold Of heart and
blood as you've seemed to fancy. We
men Of the mountains may be differ
ent from others you have seen. but
we're not more cold. The torrent Of
our blood may sleep for season un-
der ice. but when the spring comes,
as It must. and the Ice melts, then the
torrent gushes forth the more hotly
because 1t has not spent It's strength
before"
81 shall remember your words" said
the princess, "for my journal Of Rhae-
tia. And, now, here's my poor friend.
| shall have to make her thousand
excuses"
For her journal OF Rhaetia! For
moment the man looked wlstful, as IL
II We're a puin to him that he would
have no other place In her thoughts
nor time to win II since there sat
lady in tourists hat and eyeglasses
and the episode was practically closed.
He looked, too, as II there was some
thing he would add TO his last words
II he could, but Miss Portman saw the
two advancing figures and shrieked
shrill cry of thanksgiving
"Oh, have been so dreadfully anX-
ious.' she groaned What has kept
you? Have you had. an accident?
Thank heaven you're here. began
to give up hope Of ever seeing you
igain alive"
Perhaps you never would II II
hadn't been for the help of this good
and brave new friend Of mine" said
Virginia, hurrying into explanations.
II got into dreadful difficulties up
there. 1t was much worse than
thought, but Leopold Portmau
a.,
eyes at the tall brown Elan with barrel
knees. colored, gasped and swallowedl
hard after quick glance at her print
cess-"Leopold happened to be near,I
came to my hel., and saved NE. Wasnt|
It prOyidentia? Oh, assure you,
Leopold Is monarch-of chamois
hunters, Give him your cloak and
rucksack to carry with mine. dear
Miss Manchester. He's Kind enough
to say that he'll guide us all the way
down to Alleheiligen, and I'm glad TO
accept his service
Miss Portman. devout royalist
and firm believer In the right OF kings,
grew crimson. her nose especially. as
It invariably did at moments OF strong
emotion.
The emperor Of Rhaetia here, caught
and trapped, like Pegasus bound to the
plow. and forced to carry luggage as
If he were common porter-worst OF
ALL her insignificant, twice wretched
luggage!
She would have protested II she had
dared, but Sne dld not uare anu was
obliged to see that imperial form-un'
mistakably imperial, 1t seemed to her,
though masquerading in humble guiss
loaded down with her rucksack and
her large golf cape, with galoches In
the pocket.
Crushed under the magnitude Of her
discovery, dazzled by the surprising
brilllance of the princess capture. stu.
pefied by the fear Of saying or doing
the wrong thing and running her IDOLS
bizarre triumph, poor Miss Portman
staggered as Virginia helped her to her
feet.
"yhy, you're cramped with sitting
so long" cried the princess. BE care.
full But Leopold will give you his
arm. Leopold will take you down,
won't you. Lcopold?'
And the imperial eagle. who had
hoped for better things, mee!ily allow
ed another link TO be added to his
chain.