The times and democrat. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, March 31, 1908, Page 3, Image 3
<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.)
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