Evening star., 1909-07-11

inn during their short absence Roxie almost wept
at the thought of being left alone with strangers
whose words she could not comprehend Mary went
to the host to inquire if he had anyone in his employ
who spoke English Mine host took affable inter
est in her troubles, and assured her that his book
keeper had the English speech at his tongues end.
He excused himself and came back conducting to
Mary large. good natured blond German youth.
This gentleman speaks English so good as an
Englishman he said rubbing his fat hands with joy.
L spk the English quat wei" supplemented the
accommodating youth.
In her hurry to follow the party that just then
leaving the inn for the castle. Mary had time to
test the bookkeeper's conversational powers She
hastened with him instead to where Roxie sat by one
of the little tables in the inn garden
This gentleman Roxie. speaks English. talks
just we do. you know. He will be sitting near at
table where you can see him while we are gone and
if you wish anything you can tell him Will you
kindly speak few words to her. said Mary in
gratiatingly to the bookkeeper so she will under
stand that you speak English?
The young German shifted his feet, cleared his
throat and said, Il spik the English since long
time.
MARY and Fraulein Lechner made slowly the
A'A steep climb of mile to the massive portals of
Neueschwanstein. An old man clad in the blue and
white livery of the Bavarian Royal House. former
retainer of King Ludwig in this castle. assembled
the travellers for the tour with air of solemnity
In the big entrance hall he led them heap of felt
slippers in a corner. May beg the gracious COM
pany to these their shoes in order to pro-
tect the very costly oak mosaic hoors?" he said.
AS Mary looked down to select her slippers. a
provincial German youth, his knees, laid huge
pair at her feet. Mary slipped her small patent
feathers into them and said sweetly-she had not
expected so much courtesy from German country
man -" Ich ddnke linen 1ielU1dls' At her words
the young fellow looked up quickly and scowed dis
2ustedly to that he had given the slippers to
stranger instead of to the young woman who accom-
panied him. Mary. who had never before found
man who begrudged her service, flushed hotly and
hastily rid herself of the msappropriated footwear
middle aged English clergyman, tall and porty
and pleasantly worldly stepped beside Mary.
ALLOW me- he said sningly. and, STOPPING. deity
fitted Mary with small pair of slippers AS he rose
and bowed to Marys thanks their eyes met fully
and they both laughed at the recollection of her late
discontinue.
Il fear American ladies miss over here somewhat
of that Difference to which they accustomed"
said the courtly clergyman, as he and Mary joined
the party ready for the inspection of the castle.
AS he smiled at her. Mary certain she had seen
him before or some one that resembled him very
much.
T;e old majordomo proudly led his flock of sight
from story to story of this masterpiece Of King
ludwg's genius for this castle as all of his other
oted palaces Fraulein Lechner had impressed upon
Mary was built under King Ludwig personal super
vision. The huge, oak walled rooms with cleaning
mosaic floors. the gold embroidered tapestries Of the
exquisite Bavarian blue. the long corridors rich
with mastery paintings of the scenes of Wagner's