Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-30

paper?-that he comes occasionally to this northern range of mountains"
 "Oh. yes: the emperor has been at our to approve it." the host answered calm ly, laying a loaf of black bread. fine seeded cheese and knuckle of ham on the table He then glanced at his guest, expecting her to come forward. but she sat still on her throne of ant lers, her small feet in their sensible mountain boots daintily crossed under the short tweed skirt.
 Il hear he also is a good chamois hunter" she carelessly went on. But that perhaps is only the flattery which makes the atmosphere of royalty. No doubt you. for instance, could really give him many points in chamois hunt ing"
 The young man smiled. The em- peror's not bad shot"
 For an amateur. But you're pro fessional. I wager now that you would not for the world change places with the emperor"
 How the chamois hunter laughed at this and showed his white teeth! There were those in the towns he scorned who would have been astonished at his light hearted mirth.
 Change places with the emperor! Not unless I were obliged, gna' frau lein-not now, at all events" with complimentary bow and glance.
 Thank you. You're quite courier And that reminds me of another thing they say of him in my country. The story is that he dislikes the society of women. But perhaps 1t is that he doesn't understand them"
 Tt Is possible, lady. But I never heard that they were so difficult of comprehension.
 "Ah, that shows how little you chamOis hunters have had time to learn. Why. We cant even understand ourselves or know what we're most likely to do next, and yet-a very odd thing-we have no difficulty in reading one another and knowing all each Oth- CTS weaknesses"
 That would seem to say that man should get woman to choose his wife for him.
 I'm not so sure 1t would be wise, yet your emperor. we hear, will let the chancellor choose his"
 "Ah, were you told this also in your countryT
 "Yes, for the gossip is that she's an English princess. Now. what's the good of being powerful emperor if he can't even pick out wife to please his own taste?'
 ''I know nothing about such high matters, gna' fraulein, but fancied that royal folk took wives to please their people rather than themselves. It's their duty to marry. you know. And if the lady be of royal blood. vir- tuous. of the right religion. not too sharp tempered and pleasant to look at, why, those are the principal things to consider, should suppose"
 50 should not suppose if were a man and emperor. l should want the pleasure of falling in love"
 Safer not, gna' fraulein. He might fall in love with the wrong woman" And the chamois hunter looked with half shamed intentness into his guests sweet eyes.
 She blushed under his gaze and was so conscious of the hot color that she rn+n fn1 at .OU sI hn could fall in love. A man who would let his chancellor choose for him-he can have no warm blood in his veins."
 There think you wrong him. lady" the answer came quickly. The em- perOr is-a man. But it may be he has found other interests in his life more important than woman"
 Bringing down chamois. for in- stance. You would sympathlze there
 ''Chsmois give good sport. They're hard to fnd-harder still to hit when you have found them"
 50 are the best types of women those who. like the chamois and the plant I spoke of. live only in high places. Oh, for the sake of my sex I do hope that some day your emperor will change his mind-that a woman will make him change it.'
 Perhaps a woman has already"
 Virginia grew pale. Was she too late. or was this a concealed cOmpli- ment which the chamois hunter did not guess she had the clew to find? She could not answer. The silence be tween the two became electrical. and the young man broke it at last with some slight signs of confusion. Its a pity" said he, that our em- peror can't hear you. He might be to your views" ''Or he might clap me into prison for leze majesty" He wouldn't do that. gna' fraulein. If he's anything like me"
 Anything you like, Why. now you . put me iu mind of it. he's not unlike you-in appearance. I mean. judging by his portraits You have seen his pOTtrsitsy'
 "Yes. I've seen some. I really think yOu must be a little Ike bim. only brovner and taller perhaps. Yet I'm glad tIst you're a cham0is hunter and not an emperor-sluost as glad as you can be-'
 will yoa tell me why. Iadyy
 "Oh. for one reason. because rouIdnt possibly ask him. if he were here in your place. what I'm going to ask of you You've very kindly laid lra h-e7d and hu-- ruadr h--f va-7 fo-