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<t> The ? Princess Virginia By C. N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON. Authors of "The Lightning Con ductor." "Rosemary In Search of bl Fa-lher." Etc. Copyright. 1907. by McClure. Phll Ups & Co. <g" " CHAPTEB FOUR she had gone on her knees to him after all ot- almost. She was glad her mother did not know, and she hoped that he did not feel the pulsing of the blood in her fingers as he took her hand and lifted her to her feet. There was shame in this tempest that swept through her veins because he did not share it, for to her, though this meeting was an epoch, to him it was no more than a trivial Incident. She would have keyed his emotions to hers if she could, but since she had had years of preparation, he a single moment, perhaps she might have beeu consoled for the disparity could she have read his eyes. They said, if she had known. "Is the sky raining god desses today?" Now. what were to be her first words to him? Dimly she felt that if she were to profit by this wouderful chance to know the man and not the emperor ?this chance which might be lost iu a few moments unless her wit befriend ed her?those words should be beyond the common. She should be able to marshal her sentences as a general marshals his battalions, with a plan of campaign for each. A spirit monitor ?a matchmaking monitor?whispered these wise advices In her ear. yet she was powerless to profit by them. Like a schoolgirl about to be examined for a 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 mauy 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, speechless, epigrams turning tail and racing away from her like a troop of playful colts refusing to be caught. And so it was the emperor who spoke before Virginia's savoir faire came back. "I hope you're not hurt?" asked the chamois hunter in the patois dear to the heart of Khnetiau mountain folk. She had beeu glad before, now she was thaukful, that she had spent mauy weeks and mouths in loviug study of the tongue which was* Leopold's. It was not the metier of a chamois hunt er to speak English, though the em peror was said to know the language well, and she rejoiced in her ability to answer the chamois hunter 33 he would be answered, keeping up the play. "I am hurt only In the pride that comes before a fall," she replied, forc ing a laugh. "Thank you many times for saving me." "I feared that I frightened you and made you lose your footing." the cham ois hunter auswered. "I think, on the contrary, if it badu't been for you I should have lost my life," said Virginia. "There should be a sign put up.on that tempting pla teau, 'All Except Suicides Beware.'" "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 I know of has found it tempting." VIrgin'a'3 eyes lit with a sudden spark. ""'he spirit monitor?that match making monitor?cauie back and dared her to a frolic, such a froUc, she thought, as no girl on earth bad ever had or would have after her. Aud 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 I came?" she caught up bis words, standing carefully on the spot where he had placed ber. "But I am io tourist I am an explorer." He lifted level, dark eyebrows, smil ing faintly, and when he smiled half his austerity was gone. So beautiful a girl as this need not rise beyond agreeable commonplaces of mind and speech to please a man. In deed, this particular chamois hunter expected no more than good looks, a good heart and a nice manner from women. Yet this beauty bade fair, it seemed, to hold surprises in reserve. "I have brought down noble game today," he said to himself, and aloud: "I know the Schneehoru well and love It well. Still I can't see what rewards It has for the explorer?unless, gna' fraulein, you are a climber or a geolo gist." "I'm neither, yet I tidni: I have seen something, a most rare thing, I've wanted all my life to see." The young man's face confessed curi osity. 'Indeed! A rare thing that lives here on the mountain?" "I am not sure if it lives here. I should like to find out." replied the girl "Might one inquire the uame of this rare thing r" asked the chamois hunter. "Perhaps if I knew it might turn out that I could help you iu the search. But, first, if you'd let me lead you to the plateau, where I think you were going. Here your bead might still grow a little giddy, and it's not well to keep you standing, gna' fraulein, on such a spot You ve passed all the cworst now. The rest is easy.** She gave him her haud, pleasing her self by fancjhv the act a kind of alle gory, as she lei nim lead her to safe and plcusant places on a higher, sun nier level. ?TVrhaps the rare thing grows here," the ehuLiui; iiunf?tr went o?> looking altout the gi een iileau with a ne^ in terest "1 think not," Virginia answered, shaking her head. "It would thrive better nearer the mountain top in a more bidden place than this. It does not love tourists." "Nor do I, in truth." smiled the chamois hunter. "You took me for one." "Pardon, gna' fraulein?not the kind of tourist we both mean." "Thank you." "But you have not said if I might help you iu your search. This is a wild region for a young lady to be exploring in alone." "I feel sure," responded the princess graciously, "that if you really would you could help me as well as any oue in Rhaetia." "You are kind indeed to say so. though I don't know how I have de served the com pi i ment." "Did it souud like a compliment? Well, leave it so. I meant because you are at home in these high alti tudes, ami the rare thing I speak of is a plaut that grows in high places. It is said to be found ouly lu Rhaetian mouutains. though I have never heard of any oue who has been able to track it down." "Is it our pink Rhaetian edelweiss, of which we are so proud? Because if it is and you will trust me I know ex actly where to take you to find it. With my help you could climb there from here in a few moments." She shook her head again, smiling in scrutably. "Thank you. It's not the pink edelweiss. The scientific, the eso teric name I've promised that I'll tell to uo oue, but the common people in my native country who have heard of it would call the plant edelmann." "You have already seen It on the mountain, but not growing?" "Some chamois hunter, like yourself, had dropped it perhaps, not knowing what its value was. It's a great deal to have had oue glimpse?worth ruu niug into danger for." "Perhaps, gna' fraulein, you don't realize to the full the dauger you did ruu. No chance was worth it, believe me." "You. a chamois hunter, say that?" "But I'm a man. You are a woman, and women should keep to beaten paths and safety." The princess laughed. "I shouldn't wonder." said she. "If that's a Rhae tian theory, a Rhaetian man's theory. I've heard your emperor holds it." "Who told you that, gna' fraulcin?" He gave her a sharp glance, but her gray eyes looked innocent of guile and were therefore at their most danger ous. "Oh. many people have told me. Cats may look at kings, and the most insignificant persous may talk of em perors. I've heard many things of yours." "Good things or bad?" "No doubt such things as he truly deserves. Now. can you guess which? But perhaps I would tell you without your guessing if I were not so veiy, very hungry." She glanced at the pocket of his coat, from which pro truded a generous hunch of black bread aud hatn, thrust in probably at the instant when she had called for help. "I can't help seeing that you have your luncheon with you. Do you want it all"?she carefully ignored the contents of her rucksack, which she could not well have forgotten?"or would you share it?" The chamois hunter looked surprised, though not displeased; but then, this was his first experience of a feminine explorer, and he quickly rose to the oc casion. "There Is more, much more bread and bacon, where this came from," he replied. "Will you be graciously pleased to accept something of our best?" "If you please, then I. too, shall be pleased." she said. Guiltily she re membered Miss Portman. but the dear Letitia could not be considered now. If she were alarmed, she should be well cousoled later. "I and some friends of mine have a ?a sort of hut round the corner from this plateau and a short distance on," announced the chamois hunter, with a gesture that gave the direction. "No woman has ever been our guest, but I invite you to visit it and lunch there, or, if you prefer, remain here and lu a few minutes I will briug such food as we can offer. At best it's not much to boast of. We chamois hunters are poor men, living roughly." The princess smiled, imprisoning each uew thought of mischief which flew into her mind like a trapped bird. "I've heard you're rich in hospitality," she said. "I'll go with you to your hut, for It will be a chance to prove the saying." The eyes of the hunter?dark, bril liant and keen as the eagle's to which she compared him?pierced hers. "You have no fear?" he asked. "You are a young girl, alone, save for me. in a desolate place. For all you know, my mates and I may be a baud of brig ands." "Baedeker doesn't mention the ex istence of brigands in 'these days among the Rhaetian Alps." replied Virginia, with quaint dryness. "I've always found him trustworthy. Be sides, I've great faith in the chivalry of Rhaetian men, and if you knew bow hungry I am you wouldn't keep me waiting for talk of brigands. Bread and butter are far more to the point." "Even search for the rare edelmann may wait?" "Yes; the edelmann may wait?on me." The last two words she dared but to whisper. "Y'ou must pardon my going first." said the man with the bare brown knees. "The way Is too narrow for politeness." "Yet I wish that the peasants at home had such courteous manners as yours." Virginia patronized him pret tily. "Y'ou Rhaetians need not go to court, I see. for lessons in behavior." "The mountains teach us something, maybe." "Something of their greatness, which we should all do well to learn. But have you never lived fn a town?" "A man of my sort exipts in a town; he lives in the mountains." With this diplomatic response the tall figure swung round a corner formed by a bowlder of rock, and Virginia gave a Rttle ery of surprise. The hut of which the chamois hunter had spoken was revealed by the turn, and It was of an unexpected and striking descrip tion. Instead of the humble erection of stones and wood which she bad counted on, the nxky side of the mountain itself fc.ul bern coaxed to give ner sons a sneiteT. A doorway and large square openings for windows had been cut in the red veined, purplish brown porphyry, while k heavy slab of oak and wooden frames filled full of glittering bottle pins* pro tected such rooms as might have been hollowed out within from storm or cold. Even had Virginia been ignoraut of her host's identity she would have been wise enough to guess that here was no semmbutte. or ordinary abode of common peasants who bunt the cham ois for a precarious livelihood. The work of hewing out in the solid rock a habitation such as this must have cost more than most Ithaeiian chamois hunters would save in many a year. Rut her wisdom also counseled her to express nu fur:her surprise after her first exclamation. "My mates are away for the time, though they may come back by and by," the man explained, holding the heavy oaken door Ihat she might pav. into the room within, and, though she was not invited lo further exploration, she was able to see by the several doorways cut in the rock walls that this was not the sole accommodation the strange house could boast. On the rock floor rugs of deer and chamois skin were spread. In a rack of oak ornamented with splendid ant lers and studded with the sharp point ed herns of the chamois were suspend ed 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 ioned of stags' antlers shaped to hold fur cushioned wooden seats. A carved dresser of black oak held a store of the coarse blue, red and green china made by peasants in the valley below, through which Virginia bad driven yes terday, and these bright colored dishes were eked out with platters and great tankards of old pewter, while in the deep fireplace a gypsy kettle swung over a bed of fragrant pine wood em bers. "This Is a delightful place?Ot for a king cr even for an emperor." said Virginia when the bare kneed chamois hunter had offered her a chair near the lire and crossed the room to open the closed cupboard under the dresser shelves. He was stooping as she spoke, but at her last words looked around over his shoulder. "We mountain men aren't afraid of a little work?when it's for our own com fort." he replied, "and most of the things you see here are homemade dur ing the long winters." "Then yon are all very clever indeed. Rut this place is Interesting. Tell me. has the emperor ever been your guest here? I've read?let me see, could it 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. lie's good enough to approve it," the host answered calm ly, laying a loaf of black bread, a fine seeded cheese and a knuckle of ham on the table. IIb 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 mountaiu boots daintily crossed under the short tweed skirt. "I hear he also is a good chamois huuter," 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 chamois hunt ing." ? The young man smiled. "The em peror's not a bad shot." "For an amateur. But you're a pro fesslonal. I wager now that you would not for the world change places with the emperor." How the chamois hunter laughed at this and showed bis white teeth! There were those in the towns he scorned who would have becu astonished at his light hearted mirth. "Change places with the emperor! Not unless I were obliged, gua' frau lelu?not uow, at all events," with a complimentary bow and glance. "Thank you. You're quite a courtier. Aud that reminds me of another thing they say of him iu my country. The story is that he dislikes the society of women. But perhaps it is that he doesn't understand them." "It is possible, lady. Rut I never heard that they were so dlflicult of comprehension." "Ah. that shows how little you chamois hunters have had time to learn. Why. we can't even understand ourselves or know what we're most likely to tlo next, and yet?a very odd thing?we have no difficulty in reading one another and knowing all each oth er's weaknesses." "That would seem to say that a man should pet a woman to choose his wife for him." "I'm not so sure It 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 if he can't even pick out a wife to please his own Taste?" "I know nothing about such high matters, gua' fruulein. but l fancied that royal folk took wives to please their people rather than themselves. It's their duty to marry, you kuow. And if the lady be of royal blood, vir tuous, of the right religion, not too sharp tempered and pleasant to look at, why, those are the principal things to consider, 1 should suppose." "So should I not suppose If I were a man and emperor. 1 should want the pleasure of falling in Jove.'' "Safer not, gua' fraulein. He might fall In love with the wrong woman." And the chamois hunter looked with half shamed intentuess into his guest's sweet eyes. She blushed under his gaze and was so conscious of the hot color that she retorted at random. "T doubt if he could fall In love. Ann who would let his chancellor choose for him?he can h tve no warm blow' In his veins." "Tl fre I think you wrong n::u. lady," the answer came quickly. "The em peror is?a man. But it may he he has found other interests In his life more iinpo.'taut than wout!?." "Bringing dowii chamois, for in stance. You would sympathize there." Chamois give good spart They're har<i to fij'd?hardei still to hit whe? yo't have found them." "So are the best types of women? those who. like the enam?? -ana plant I spoke of, live only In high places. Ob. for the sake of my sex I do hope that some day your emperor will change his mind?that a woman will make him change it?' "Perhaps a woman has already." Virginia grew pale. Was she too late, or was this a concealed compli ment which the chamois hunter did not guess she had the ciew to lind? She could oot answer. The silence be tween the two became electrical, and the young man broke it at last with some slight signs of confusion. "It's a pity," said he, "that our em peror can't boar you. He might be converted to your views." "Or he might clap me into prison for leze majesty." "He wouldn't do that, gna" frauleln. if he's anything like me." "Anything you like! Why. uow yo'J put me in mir.d of it. he's not unlike you?in appearance. I mean, judging by his portraits." j "You have seen his portraits?" j "Yes. I've seen some, i really think I you must be a little like bim, only '? browner and taller perhaps. Yet I'm ' glad t' at you're a chamois hunter and J not an emperor?almost as glad as you j can be." i "Will you tell me why. lady?" "Oh. for one reason, because 1 couldn't possibly ask him. If be were here In your place, what I'm going to ask of you. You've very kindly laid the bread and ham ready, but you for got to cut tliem." "A thousand pardons. Our talk has set my wits woolgathering. My mind "A draft of our Rhaetian beer will do you mure yood than anything." should have beeu on my manners in stead of ou such faroff things as em perors and their love affairs." lie begau hewiug at the big loaf as if it were an enemy to be conquered. Aud there were few in Rhaetia who bad ever seen those dark eyes so bright. "I like ham and bread cut thin, please." said the princess. "There; that's better. I'll sit here If you'll bring the things to me, for I And that I'm tired, and you are very kind." "A draft of our Rhaetian beer will do you more good than anything." sug gested the hunter, taking up the plate of bread and ham he had tried hard to cut according to her taste, placiug it in her lap and going back to draw a tauk ard of foaming amber liquid from a quaint hogshead In a corner. But Virginia waved the froth crown ed pewter away with a smile and a pretty gesture. "My head has already proved not strong enough for your mountains. I'm sure It isn't strong enough for your beer. Have you some nice cold water?" The young man laughed and shrug ged his shoulders. "Our water here is fit only foi the outside of the body." he exolained. "To us that's no treat leprivation. as we're all true Rhae tia qs for our beer. But now on your account I'm sorry." "Perhaps you have some milk?" sug gested Virginia. "I love milk. And 1 could scarcely count the cows, they j were so many, as I came up the moun tain from Alleheiligen." "It's true there are plenty of cows about," replied her host, "and I could easily catch one. But If I fetch the beast here can you milk it?" "I'car me, no! Surely you. a great Strong man, would never stand by and let n weak girl do that? Oh, I almost wish I hadn't thought of the milk if I'm not to have it. I long for it so much!" "You shall have the milk, lady." re turned tin chamois hunter. "I"? "How good you are!" exclaimed the princess. "It will be more than nice of you. But -I don't want you to think that I'm giving you all this trouble for nothing. Here's something just to sbow that I appreciate it and to re member me by." She v. ould uot look up, though she longed to see what expression the dark lace wore, but kept her eyes upon her hand, from which she slowly withdrew a ring. It fitted tightly, for she had had it made years ago, before her slender fingers had finished grow ing. When at last she had pulled off the jeweled circlet of gold she held It up temptingly. "What 1 have done and anything I may yet do is a pleasure." said the hunter. "But. after nil, you have learn ed little of Rhaetia If you think that we mountain men ever take payment from those to whom we've been able to show hospitality." "Ah, but I'm not talking of pay ment," pleaded the princess. "I wish only to be sure that yon mayn't forget the first woman who. you tell me, has ever eutorcd this door." The young man looked at the door, not at the girl. "It is impossible that I should forget." said he. almost stiffly. "Still, it will hurt me if you refuse my ring." went on Virginia. "Please at least come and see what It's 'Ike." He obeyed, and as she stii! held up the ring he took It from h r that he might exataiue it more closely. "The crest of Rhaetia!" he exclaim ed as his eyes fell upon a shield of black and greeu enamel set with s ;k 1 but exceedingly brilliant white dia monds. "How curious! I've been wondering that you should speak our lauguage so well"? "It's not curious at all really, but very simple." said Virginia. "Now," with a faint tremor in her voice "press the spring on the left side of the shield, and when you've seen what's underneath I think you'll feel Ihn I you can't loyally refuse to accept mv Uttle offerine" 10 DAYS ...... 10 DAYS THE GREAT IS NOW GOING ON AT GEO. V. ZEIGLERS Be sure and attend. Many Bargains are on sale everyday. An entire new and up-to-date line of Boys', Young Men's and Old Men's Clothing is on sale at prices that will make you buy a Spring Suit. Boys' Suits from $1.29 to $6.69. Young Men's Suits from $1.99 to $18.79. Old Men's Suits from $3.39 to $17.60. A swell line of Trousers at prices that will make you ask "how can he do it?" from 99c to $6.59. Knee Pants?the best offered?for 44c, 69c, 89c, $1.09: all new goods. Remember, Zeigler's is the place to buy your Oxfords and Low Shoes for Baby, Little Boy, Little Girl, Young Lady, Middle-age Lady, Old Man. Can fit the family. No old I goods?all new. Dress Goods, Silks and everything in Cot con Goods. Your regrets will be many if you do not take advantage of this sale at GEO.V.ZEIGLER. T?e nronze roreflnger found a pin's point protuberance of gold, and, press ing sharply, the shield flew up to re veal a tiny but exquisitely Tainted miniature of Leopold I. of Rbaetia. The chamois hunter stared at It and did not speak, but the blood came up to his brown forehead. "You're surprised?" asked Virginia. "I am surprised, because I'd been led to suppose that you thought poorly of our emperor." "Poorly: Now, what could have given you that impression?" "Why, you made fun of his opinion of women." "Who am I, pray, to 'make fun* of an emperor's opinion, even in a mat ter he would consider so unimportant? Ou the contrary, 1 confess that I, like most other girls [ know, am deeply Interested in your great Leopold If only because 1 ?we?would be charita bly minded aud teach him better. As for the ring, they sell things more or less of this sort in several of the Rhaetlan cities I've passed through on my way here. Didn't you know that?" (Continued on Page Four.) 1008 SEEDS 190? YOUR WIFE AND BABY should be your greatest car<J. It is your duty to protect them in every way. Your responsibil ity doesu'i even end with death. The best and surest protection is LITE INSURANCE. A policy such as we offer will protect then when all else tails. Come in an ! talk it over. You will be gl;.?: to learn how rea sonable you can get one. SEE TO-DAY. ZEIGLER AND DIBBLE Special Agents Equitable Life. CLARK'S SEED STORE. 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