The Marshall republican., 1908-05-01

'oinpareo hin pierced hers. you
nave no fesrf" he asked "You are Q
pinE girl. alone. save for me. In Q
icsolnte plsce. For all you know. my
mates and ! may he n band Of brig.
mds."
"Bncdeker doesn't mention the ea.
lstencc Of brigands I'm these days
among the Rhaetian Alps" replisl
virginia. win quaint dryncss. i've
always found him trustworthy. Be-
sides. I've great faith IN the chIvalry
of Rhaetian men. and n you knew how
hungry I am you wouldn't keep ne
waiting for talk Of b~rigands.. Bread
and butter are far more to the point"
Even search for the rare edeimann
may waltz"
"Yes; the edelmann may wait-on
me" The last two words she dared
but TO whisper.
"You must pardon my going Hrst."
said the man with the bare brown
knees. The way 10 too narrow fR
politeness."
"Yet I wish that the peasants st
home had such courteous manner %
yours" Virginia ~patronizcd him pref
THY. "You Rhaetians need not go to
court. ! see. for lessons In behavior"
"'rhe mountains teach us something.
maybe"
Something Of their greatness. which
we should all do well TO learn. But
have you never lived In n town
"a man Of my sort exists In q town;
he lives In the mountains" With this
diplomatic response the tall figure
swung round a corner formed by Q
bowldcr 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 II wal
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
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. purplish brown porphyry. while
a heavy slab OF oak and wooden frames
| filled full OF glittering bottle glass pro
| tected such rooms ms might have been
followed 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.
OILS for n prccarious livelihood. The
work of hewing out In the solid rock
a habitation such rs this must have
cost more than most Rhaetian cham0is
hunters would save IN many a year.
But her wisdom also counseled her ia
express no further surprise after her
hrst exclamation.
MY mates are away for the time,
though they may come back by and
by" the mar explained. holding the
heavy oaken door that she might pass
into the room within. ana. though she
was not invited to further exploration
she was able to wee by the several
doorways cut In the rock walls that
this was not the sole accommodates
the strange house could boast.
On the rock floor rug OF deer and
channels skin were spread. In q rach
OF oak ornamented with splendid ant
iers and studded with the sharp point
cd horns Of the channels were suspend
ed guns Of modern make and brightly
polished. formidable hunting knives
The table In the center Of the room had
been carved with admirable skill. and
the half dozen chairs ere oddly fash
ioued Of stass' antlsss shaped to hold
fur cushioned wooden seats. A carved
dresser Of black oak held q store Of -tht
coarse blue. rcd and green china made
by peasants In the valley below
through which Virginia had driven yes
terday. and these bright colored dishs'
were eked out with plstters and grea'
tankards Of old pewter. while in th'
deep fireplace q Cpsy kettle swunl
ever . bed Of fragrant pine wood EN-
bers.
. IT. ~ rn~.~A .N s.