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

Heavy UIiCn door that she might pas:
into the room within, and, though Sh,
was not invited 10 further exploration
she was able TO see by the severa
doorWays cut in the rock walls tha
His was not the sole accommodation
the strange house could boast.
ON the rock floor rugs of deer and
ChamOiS skin We're spread. In q rack
of oak ornamcnted with splendid ant
lcrS and studded with the sharp point
ed horns Of the chamois We're suspend
cd 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 were oddly fash
toned Of stays antlers shaped to hold
fur cushioned wooden seats. 4 carved
| dresser of black oak held n store of the
coarse blue. red and green china made
by peasants in the valley below,
through which Virginia had driven yes
terday. and these bright colored dishes
were eked out with platters and great
tankardS OF old pewter. while In the
deep fireplace gypsy kettle swung
over a bed of fragrant pine wood en-
berS.
This is a delightful place-tit for a
king or even for an emperor" said
| Virginia when the bare kneed chamoiJ
hunter had offered her q chair near the
fire and crossed the room to open the
closed cupboard under the dresser
shelves.
He was STOPPING as she spoke. but
at her last words looked around over
his shoulder.
| 1--WE mountain men aren't afraid OF q
little work-when it's for our own COM
fort" he replied, land most Of the
things you see here are homemade dur
ing the long winters"
Then you are all very clever indeed.
But this place Is interesting. Tell me.
has the emperor ever been your guest
here? I've read-let ME see. could 1t
have been in the guidebook or in some
paper?-that he comes occasionally to
this northern range Of mountains"
| "Oh. yes; the emperor has been at our
hut several times. He's good enough
to approve it." the host answered calm
| ~, laying n 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.
II hear he also is q 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 channels hunt
| ing"
The young man smiled THE en-
perOr's not bad shot"
For an amateur. But you're q pro-
fessional. wager now that you would
| not for the world change places with
| the emperor"
How the channels hunter laughed ut
this and showed his white teeth! There
were those in the towns he scorned
who would have been astonished Mt
| MS lSnt hearted mlrtn.
Change places with the emperor!
Not unless l were obliged. gna' frau
| lein-not now, Mt all events" with a
| complimentary bow and glance.
Thank you. You're quite a courtier
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"
1T is possible. lady. But 1 never
heard that they We're SO difficult Of
comprehension"
"Ah. that shows how little you
| cAamois hunters have had time to
learn. Why. we can't 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 9TH
.r's weaknesses"
THAT would seem to say that a man
| should get Il 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
| country"
"Yes. for the gossip is that she's an
| English princess. Now. what's the
good Of being a powerful emperor II
te can't even pick out wife to please
| his own taste:"
/ know nnthinO hf,vh
| 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 II the lady be OF royal blood. viz
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 il were a
man and emperor. should want the
pleasure of falling In love"
"Safer not. gna' frauIein. 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
| retOrted ut random. Il doubt IL he
| 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 en-
peror is-a man. But 1t may be he has
found other interests In his life more
important than woman"
! bringing down channels. for IN
stance. You would sympathize there"
| -Chamols give good sport They're
harl to find-harder still to hit when
| you have found them"
so are the best types Of women
those who. like the chamois and the
plant ! spoke Of. live only In high
places. Oh. for the sake OF my sex