The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1908-04-11

said she, yet you've told us you have
other guests
THE gentlemen who are stopping
here are away ali day long In the
mountains" explained Frau Yorvan.
ut Is now the time for chamois hunt
Ing, and 1t is for that and also the
climbing OF a strange group of rocks
called the Bunch of Needles, only to
be done by great experts, that they
come to me-"
'They are out late this evening
Aren't you beginning TO be a little
anxious about them II they 60 to such
dangerous places"
ooh, tonight, gracious fraulein, they
will not return at all" said the land.
lady, warming impulsively to the sub
Ject. They often stop at kind OF
hut they have near. the top of the
mountain to begin some climb they
may wish to undertake very early
They are much closer to 1t there, you
see, and 1t saves their wasting several
hours on the way. They are constant
ly In the habit of stopping at the hut
in fine weather. But they are very
considerable. They always let me
know their plans beforehand"
III they're away SO much | think 1t
a little selfish In them to keep your
one private sitting room when you
might need 1t for Others" remarked
the girl.
"Oh. but gracious fraulein, you must
not say that! cried the old woman,
| looking as much shocked as II her
young guest had broken one of the
commandments.
The girl laughed. why notY' she
inquired. Are the gentlemen of such
Importance that they mustn't be crit
icised by strangersT'
Frau Yorvan was embarrassed.
''They are excellent patrons of mine,
gracious fraulein; that is all meant"
said she. IL cannot bear that unjust
things should be thought Of such-good
gentlemen"
II was only joking" the girl reas-
sured her. I'VE are perfectly satisfied
with this room, which you have made
most comfortable. All care for Is that
the famous walks In the neighborhoOd
shall not be private. may at least
walk as much as like and even climb
little, | and my friend, Miss Man
oh yIHN fs Iay, isxxx ,taiv owl
with this she threw glance at the
middle aged lady In black who visibly
started and grew wild eyed in re-
sponse-"for suppose that your guests
have not engaged the whole Scheehorn
for their own"
The landlady's hospitable smile re.
turned. "No, gracious fraulein. You
are free to wander as you will. but do
not beg you, go too far or attempt
any climbs of real difficulty for they
are not to be done without guides, and
take care you do not stray into wild
places where by making some move
ment or sound before you were seen by
the hunters you might be mistaken for
a chamois."
Even our prowess Is hardly likely
to lead us into such peril as that"
laughed the girl, who seemed much
more friendly and inclined toward con-
versation than the two elders Of the
party. "But please wake us early to-
morrow morning. My friend Miss Man
chester and I would like to have break
tasted and be ready for a start oy 3
o'clock at latest"
Again the placid features of the lady
In black quivered. and. though she said
nothing. Frau Yorvan pitied her.
would you not wish in any case to
have guide?" she asked. Il could en-
gage you an intelligent young man
who
Thank you. no." broke in the girl
decidedly. "a guidebook is prefera-
BILE to guide for what we mean to do.
We shan't attempt any places which
teurs. But what an excellent engray-
ing that Is over the fireplace. with the
chamois horns above IT. Isn't that a |
portrait of your emperor when he was
boy?"
The landlady's eyes darted to the
picture. Zach, had meant to carry 1t |
away" she muttered.
The girls quick ears caught the
words, why should you carry 1t
away? Don't you love the emperor
that you would put his face out Of
sight"
mot love Unser Leo2' cried the old |
woman, Mortified why, we worship
him. gracious fraulein. We would die
for him any day, all Of us mountain
people-and. yes. all Rhaetians. be
lieve. | could not let you go back to
your own land with the idea that we
do not love the noblest emperor coun-
try ever had. AS for what | said
about the portrait, | didn't know that
spoke aloud, | am so used to mum
bling to myself since | began to grow
deaf and old. But of course wished
1t put away only because 1t is such a
poor thing. 1t does Unser Leo no sort
of justice. You-you would not recog
nize him from that picture If you wer'
to see him now"
With this excuse Frau Yorvan hur
Rad nrt 70 fatcb unnthar dfch which |