Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-05-11

Mr.. Hobbs led his patron into the
mountain roads early the next morn
ing, both well mounted and provided
with luncheon.
It is a good three hours ride to the
summit of Monastery mountain. And
after the height has been attained
one does not care to linger long among
the chilly, whistling crags, with their
snow crevasses and bitter winds. The
utter loneliness, the aloofness Of this
frost crowned crest appalls, disheartens
one who loves the fair, green things
Of life
It was o'clock when they clattered
down a stone road and up to the for
bidding vale In which lurked, like an
evil, guilty thing, the log built home
of the witch of Ganlook gap, that an
cient female who made no secret Of
her practices In witchcraft.
A low matched roof protruded from
the hill against which the hut was
built. AS a matter of fact, thin
chimney grew out of the earth itself,
for all me world like smoking tree
stump. The single door was SO low.
that one was obliged TO stoop to enter
the little room where the dame had
been holding forth for threescore
years, twas said. This was her throne
room, her dining room, her bedcham-
| Der, her all, it would seem, unless one
had been there before and knew that
her kitchen was beyond, in the side
| of the hill. The one window, sans
! glass, looked narrowly out upon an
odd opening in the foliage below, CIV
| ing the occupant of the hut an unob
structed view of the winding road that
led up from Edelweiss.
The two horsemen rode into the glen
and came plump upon a small detach-
ment Of the royal guard, mounted and
rather resolute in their lack Of ami
ability.
Soldiers, I'd say" remarked Mr..
King. His eyes frightened and his hat
came off with a switch.
Hello! There's the prince!"
Farther up the GLENN fact at the
very door of the witch's hut-were
| gathered a small but rather distin-
guished portion of the royal household
1t was not difficult to recognize the
little prince. He was standing beside
John Tullis, and it is not with de-
sire to speak ill Of his valor that we
add he was clutching the slackest
part Of that gentleman's riding breeks
with an earnestness that betrayed ex-
IRENE trepidation. Facing them, on the
stone doorstep, was the witch herself.
Behind Tullis and the prince were
several ladies and gentlemen.
Truxton Kings heart swelled sud-
denly. Next to the tall figure of Colo
mel QuinnoX of the royal guard was
the slim, enhancing lady of his most
recent dreams, the princes aunt, the
lady Of the goldfish conspiracy!
The Countess Marlanx, tall and ex-
quisite, was a little apart from the
: others, with Baron Dangloss and
young Count Vos Engo, whom Trux-
ton was ready to hate because he was
a recognized sutton for the hand of the
slim young person in gray. He was
for riding boldly up to this little group,
but a very Objectionable lieutenant
barred the way, supported in no small
measure by the agitated detection OF
Mr.. Hobbs.
The way was made easy by the in
! tervention of the alert young woman
= in gray. She caught sight of the re
stricted adventurerS-or one of them
to be quite accurate-and, after speed
ing a swift smile of establishment
turned quickly to Prince Bobby.
The prince broke the ice.
"'Hellor' he cried shrilly.
''Hello!" responded the gentleman
readily.
: John Tullis found himself being drag
ged away from the witch's door to
: ward the newcomer at the bottom O.
= the glen. Mr.. Hobbs listened witt
deepening awe to the friendly CONVEX
: sation which resulted in Truxton Kini
= going forward to join the party il
front Of the hut.
:. Truxton was duly presented to tn
: ladies and gentlemen of the party b
John Tullis, who gracefully announce
= that he knew Kings parents in Ne0
. York. Baron Dangloss was quite a
old friend, if one were to judge by til
luduuSE III WuICu AS SACCICo LaC yum
man: The lady in gray smiled
sWeetly and nodded so blithely tina
# Tullis, instead of presenting King
s her as he had done to the Counties
e. Marlanx and others, merely said:
a. "And you know one another, c
q course" Whereupon she flushed yer
:. prettily.
It Truxton King, scarcely able to be
It lieve his good fortune, crowded int
q the loathsome, squalid room with hi
e eristocratic companions.
# Never had Truxton looked upon
creature who so thoroughly vindicate
b the lifelong reliance he had put in tn
n description of witches given by tn
e fairy tale tel1ers of his earliest youth
e She had the traditional hook nose an,
peaked chin, the glittering eyes, tn
y thousand wrinkles and the toothles