Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-05-29
CHAPTER FOUp

that he did not feel the
pUl=.a- IF tie blood III ler fingers as
L. L. X her hand and lifted ler to her
feet. Thrre was shane in this tempest
that swept through her veins because
lac de! IHt share it, for 10 her though
It's meeting was an epoch. 10 him il
was IL more than Il trivial incident
She would have keyed his emotions TO
hers If She could. but since she had
had years Of preparation. he single
moment. perhaps she might have been
consoled for the disparity could she
have read his eyes. They said If she
had known, rs tie sky raining god
&c, today"
Now. what We're to be her first words
10 him? Dimly she felt that i. she
were to profit by this wonderful chance
to know the man and not the emperor
this chance which might he lost In a
Few moments unless her wit befriend-
ed her-those words should lie beyond
the common. She should be able to
marshal her sentences as n general
marshals his hattallons, with n plan Of
campaign for each.
spirit monitor a matchmaking
moritOr-wh whispered these wise adyices
III her ear. yet she was powerless to
profit by them. Like schoolgirl about
to be examined for 4 scholarship, know
Ing that all the future might depend
upon an hour Of the present, the dire
need to be resourceful, to be brilliant.
left her dumb.
How many times had she not thought
OF her first conversation with Leopold
OF Rhaetia, planning the first words,
the first looks, which must make him
know that she was different from any
other girl he had ever met! Yet here
she stood. speeches., epigrams turning
tail and racing away from her like
troop OF playful colts refusing to be
caught.
And so 1t was the emperor who spoke
before Virginia's SAVIOR faire came
back.
Il hope you're not hurt?" asked the
chamois hunter In the patOis dear to
the heart of Rhaetian mountain folk.
She had been glad before. now she
was thankful, that she had spent many
weeks and months in loving study of
the tongue which was Leopold's. 1t
was not the meter Of a chamOis hunt
er to speak English, though the en-
peror was said to know the language
well, and she rejoiced in her ability to
answer the chamois hunter as he
would be answered, keeping up the
play.
Il am hurt only in the pride that
comes before fall" she replied, fore
Ing laugh. THANK you many times
for saving me-"
Il feared that frightened you and
made you lose your footing" the cham
OILS hunter answered.
Il think, on the contrary. IL it hadn't
been for you l should have lost my
life." said Virginia. There should be
a sign put up on that tempting pla-
teau. All Except Suicides Beware"
1.-The necessity never occurred to US,
my mates and me-" returned the man
In the gray coat passemoiled with
green. Until you came. gna' fraulein.
no tourist that l know Of has found It
tempting"
Virginia's eyes lit with a sudden
spark. The spirit mOnitor-that match
making monitOr-came back and dared
her to frOlic, such q froic, she
thought, as no girl on earth had ever
had or would have after her. And she
could show this grave soldier-hero Of
hers something new in life-something
quite new-which it would not harm
him to know. Then, let come what
would out Of this adventure, at worst
she should always have an Olympian
episode to remember.
Until l came" she caught up his
words. standing carefully on the spot
where he had placed her. But I am
no tourist. am an explorer"
He lifted level. dark eyebrows. smil-
Ing family, and when he smiled half
bis austerity was gone.
So beautiful girl as this need net
rise beyond agreeable commonplace of
mind and speech to please a man. In
deed, this particular channels hunter
expected no more than good looks, a
good heart and q nice manner from
women. Yet this beauty babe fair, it
seemed, to hold surprises in reserve.
II have brought down noble game
today" he said to himself, and aloud:
II know the SchneehOrn we'll and love
It we'll. Still can't see what rewards
It has for the explorer-unless, gna'
fraulein, you are a climber or a geolo-
Eist."
I'm neither. yet think have seen
,tnO
wanted all my life to see."
The young mans face confessed curl
oeity. Indeed! A rare ting that
lives here on the mountain"
n am not sure II it lives here. I
should like to find out" replied the girl.
"Might one inquire the name OF this
rare thing?" asked the chamois hunter.
Perhaps II knew 1t might turn out
that / could help you in the search.
But first, IL you'd let me lead you to
the plateau. where think you were
going. Here your head might still
grow little giddy. and it's not we'll
to Keep you standing, gna' fraulein, on
such spot You've passed all the
worst now. The rest Is easy"
She gave him her hand, pleasing her
self by fancying the act kind Of ALE
CORY, as she let him lead her to safe
and pleasant places on q higher, sun
nier level
Perhaps the rare thing grows here"
the chamois hunter went on. looking
about the green plateau with a new in
terest.
Il think not" Virginia answered.
shaking her head. 1T would thrive
better nearer the mountain top In
more hidden place than this. 1t does
not love tourists"
"Nor do l. in truth" smiled the
chamois hunter
You took me for one"
Pardon. gna' fraulein-not the kind
OF tourist We both mean"
Thank you"