Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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1 ? The Princess Virginia By C N. and A. M. WILLIAMSON, Authors of "The Lightning Con ductor," "Rosemary In Search of e. Fsvther." Etc. Copyright, 1907. by McClure. Phil lips & Co. $f CHAPTER flVL VCH. himmel!" exclaimed Frau Vor van. anil "Ach, b iniino I!" sht exclaimed again, her voice rising to a wail, with a frantic upliftin of the hands. The grand duchess grew pale, for the apple cheeked lady suddenly exhibited these alarming signs of emotion while passing a window of the private dining room. Evidently some scene of horror was being enacted outside, and Vir ginia and Miss Portman had been away for many hours. It was the time for tea in England, for coffee in Rhaetia. Frau Yorvan had just brought In coffee for one, with heart shaped sugared cakes which would have appealed more poignantly to the grand duchess' appe tite if the absent ones had been with her to share them. Naturally at the good woman's outburst her- imagina tion instantly pictured disaster to the j one she loved. "What, oh, what is it you see?' she implored, ber heart leaping, then fall ing. But for once the courtesy due to an honored guest was forgotten, and the distracted Frau Yorvan fled from the room without giving an answer. Half paralyzed with dread of what she might have to see, the grand ducb ess tottered to the window. Was there, ?yes, there was a procession coming down the hilly street that led to town from the mountain. Oh, horror upon horror! They were perhaps bringing Virginia down, injured or dead, her beautiful face crushed out of recogni tion! Yet. no; there was Virginia her self, the central figure in the proces sion. Thank heaven! It could be notb ing worse than an accident to poor dear Miss Portman. But there was Miss rorttnan. too.'and a very tall, bronzed peasant man. loaded with cloaks and rucksacks, headed the band while the girl and her ex-govcrness followed after. Unspeakably relieved, yet still puz zled and vaguely alarmed, the grand duchess threw up the window over looking the little village square. But as she strove to attract the truants' attention by waving her hand and crying out a welcome or a question, whichever should come first, the words were arrested on her lips. What could be the matter with Frau Yorvan? The stout old landlady popped out through the door like a Jack out of his box on a very stiff spring, flew to the overloaded peasant and, almost rudely elbowing Miss Portman aside, began distractedly bobbing up and down, tearing at the bundle of rucksacks and cloaks. Her inarticulate cries ascend ed like Incense to the grand duchess at the open window, adding much to the lady's Intense bewilderment "What has that; man been doing?" demanded the grand duchess in a loud, firm voice, but nobody answered, for the very good reason that nobody heard. The attention of all those be low was entirely taken up with their own concerns. "Pray, mein frau, let him carry our things indoors," Virginia was insist ing, while the tall man stood among the three women, motionless, but ap parently a prey to conflicting emo tions. If the grand duchess had not been obsessed with a certain idea which was growing in her mind she must have seen that bis dark face be trayed a mingling of amusement, im patience, annoyance and boyish mis chief. He looked like a man who bad somehow stumbled into a false posi tion from which it would be difficult to escape with dignity, yet which he hall enjoyed. Torn between a desire to laugh and fly into a rage with the officious landlady, he frowned warn ingly at Frau Yorvan, smiled at the princess and divided his energies be tween quick, secret gestures intended for the eyes of the Rhaetian woman and endeavors to unburden himself in his own time and way of the load he carried. With each instant the perturbation of the grand duchess grew. Why did the man not speak out what be bad to say? Why did the landlady first strive to seize the things from his back, then suddenly shrink as if in fear, leaving the tall fellow to bis own devices? Ah. but that was a terrible look be gave her at last?the poor, good woman! Perhaps he was a brigand! And the grand duchess remembered tales she had read?tales of fearful deeds, even in these modern days, done in wild mountain fastnesses and remote vil lages such as Alleheiligen?not in Rhaetia perhaps, but then there was no reason why they should not bap pen In Rhaetia at a place like this. And If there were not something evil, something to be dreaded, about this big, dark browed fellow, why bad Frau Yorvan uttered that exclamation of frantic dismay at sight of him and rushed Jike a mad woman out cf the house? It occurred to the grand duchess that the man must be some notorious des perado of the mountains who had ob tained her daughter's confidence or got j her and Miss Portman into his pow- j er. But, she remembered, fortunately ?ome or all ol the mysterious gentle men stopping at the Inn had returned and were at this moment assembled in the room adjoining hers. The grand duebes? resolved that at the first sign of Insolent behavior or threatening on the part of the luggage carrier these noblemen should be promptly sum moned by her to the rescue of her daughter. Her anxiety was even slightly allay ed ut this point in her refi> "or.s by the thought (for she had not quite outgrown an innate low of romance)] that ?he "mp^-or himse'f mi-.r't eo *? j Virginia's assistance. His friends were In the next room, having come down from the mountain about noon, and there seemed little doubt that he was among them. If he had not already looked out of his window, drawn by the landlady's excited voice, the grand duchess resolved thnt in the clrcuru stances it was her part as a mother to make h'm look out. She had promised to help Virginia, and she would help her by promoting a romantic first en counter. In a penetrating voice which could not fall to reach the ears of the men next door or the actors in the scene below she adjured her daughter in English. This language was the safest to employ, she decided hastily, because the brigand with the rucksacks would not understand, while the flower of Rhaetian chivalry In the adjoining room were doubtless acquainted with all modern languages. "Helen!" she screamed, loyally re membering in her excitement the part she was playing. "Helen, where did you come across that ferocious look Tlie stout old landlady flew to ?ie over loaded peasant. ing"ruffian? Can't you see he intends to steal your rucksacks or?or black mail you or something? Is there no manservant about the place whom the landlady can ca>' to help her?" All four of.' t actors on the little stage glanced up. aware for the first time of an audience, and had the grand duchess' eyes been younger she might have been still further puzzled by the varying and vivid expressions Of their faces. But she saw only that the dark browed peasant man who had glared so haughtily at poor Frau Yor van was throwing off bis burden with haste and roughness. "I do hope he hasn't already stolen anythiug of value." cried the grand duchess. "Better not let him go until you've looked into your rucksacks. Remember that silver drinking cup you would take with you"? She paused, not so much in deference to Virginia's quick reply as In amaze ment at Fran Yorvan's renewed ges ticulations. Was it possible that the woman understood more English than her guests supposed and feared lest the brigand, perhaps equally well in structed, might seek immediate re venge? His bare knees alone' were evidence against his character in the eyes of the grand duchess. They gave him a'brazen, abandoned air, and a young man who cultivated so long a space between stockings and trousers might be capable of any crime. "Ob. mother, you're very much mis taken!", Virginia was protesting. "This Bau is a great friend of mine and has saved my life. You must thauk him [f it were not*for him I might never have come back to you." At last the meaning of her words penetrated to the intelligence of the grand duchess through an armor of misapprehension. "He saved your life?" she echoed. "Oh. then you have been in danger! Heaven be thauked for your safety, and also that the man's not likely to know English or I should never for give myself for what I've said. Here is my purse, dearest. Catch it as I throw and give it to him just as it is. There is at least f20 in it. and 1 only wish I could afford more. But what is the matter, my child? You look ready to faint." As she began to speak she snatched from a desk at whicb she had been writing a netted silver purse. But while she paused, waiting for Virginia to hold out her hands, the girl forbade the contemplated act of generosity with an imploriug gesture. "He will accept no reward for what he has dotie except our thanks, and those I give him once agaiu." the grrl. answered. She then turned to the chamois huuter and made him a pres ent of her band, over which he bowed with the air of a courtier rather than the rough manner of a peasaut. And the grand duchess still hoped that the emperor might be at the window, as really It was a pretty picture and, it seemed to her. presented a pleasing phase of Virginia's character. She eagerly awaited her daughter's coming, and. having lingered at the window to watch with Impatience the rather ceremonious leave taking, she hastened to the door of the improvised sitting room to welcome the moun taineers as they returned to tell their adventures. "My darling, who do you think was listening aud looking) from the win dow next ours?" she breathlessly in quired when she had embraced her newly restored treasure, for the secret of the adjoining room was too good to keep until questions had been put. "Can't you guess? I'm surprised at that since you were so sure last night of a certain person's presence not far away. Why, who but your emperor himself!" The princess laughed happily and kissed her mother's pink cheek. "Then he must have an astral body." said she. "since one or the other has been with ine all day, and it was to him? or his doppelganger?that you 'offered your purse to make up for accusing him of stealing." The grand duchess sat down, not so much becaise she wished to-assume a Pitting position as because she expert enced a sudden uncontrollable weakness of the knees.. For a moment she was unable to speak or even to speculate, but one vague thought did trail dimly across her brain: "Heavens, what have I done to him? And maybe some day he will be my son-in-law." Meanwhile Frau Yorvan?a strange j ly subdued Frau Yorvan?had droop Jngly followed the chamois hunter into the inn. "My dear old friend, you must learn not to lose that well meaning head of yours," said he in the hall. "Oh, but, your majesty' ? "Now, now, must 1 remind you again that his majesty is at Krouburg or Petersbruck or some other of his resi dences when I am at Alleheiligen V This time I believe he's at the baths of Me hna. If you can't remember these things I fear I shall be driven away from here to look for chamois else where than on the Schneehorn." "Indeed, I will uot be so stupid again, your?I mean I will do my very best not to forget. But never before have I been so tried, to see your high born, imperial shoulders loaded down as if?as if you had been a common gepacktrager for tourists instead of"? "A chamois hunter. Don't distress yourself, good friend. I've had a day of excelleut sport." "For that I am thankful. But to see your?to see you coming back in such an unsuitable way has given me a weakness of the heart. How can I or der myself civilly to those ladies who have"? "Who have given peasant Leopold some hours of amusement. Be more civil than ever for my sake. Aud. by the way. cau you tell me the uames of the ladies? That one of them?a com panion. I judge?is a .Miss Manchester. I have heard In conversation, but the otlers" "They are mother and daughter, sir. The elder, who in her ignorance cried out such treasonable abominations from the window, as I could tell even with the little English I have picked up. is Lady Mowbray. I have scjmi the name written down, and 1 know Low to speak it because .1 have heard it pronounced by 'the companion, the Mees Manchester. The younger, the beautiful one. is also a mees. and the mother calls her Helene. They talk together in English, also in French, and, though I have so few words of either language, I could tell that Lon don was mentioned between tbem more than once while I waited on the table. Besides, it Is painted in black letters on their traveling boxes.'' "You did not expect their arrival?" "Oh. no, sir! Had they written be forehand at this season, when I gen erally expect to be honored by your presence, I should have answered that the house was full or closed or any excuse which occurred to me to keep strangers away. But none have ever before arrived so late in the year, and I was taken all unawares when my son, Alois, drove them up last night He did not know you had arrived, as the papers spoke so positively of your visit to the baths, and I could not send travelers away. You have bidden me not to do so once they are in the house. F.ut these ladies are here but for a day or two more on their way to Kronburg for a visit, and 1 thought"? "You did quite right, Frau Yorvan. Has my messenger come up with let ters?" "Yes. your?yes, sir. Just now also a telegram was brought by another messenger, who came and left in a great hurry." The chamois hunter shrugged his shoulders and sighed an Impatient sigh. "It's too much to expect that 1 should bo left in peace for a single day, even here," he muttered as he went toward the stairs. To reach Frau Yorvan's best sitting room (selfishly occupied, according to one opinion, by four men absent all day on a mountain) he was obliged to pass by a door through which issued unusual sounds. So unusual were they that the emperor paused. Some one was striking the prelim inary chords of a Volkslied of his fa vorite instrument, a Rhaetlan varia tion of the zither. As he lingered, lis tening, a voice began to sing. Ah. what a voice! Softly seductive it was as the cooing of a dove in the spring to its mate, pure as the purling of a brook among "She's an English girl, yet she sings our Rhactlan music." meadow flowers, rich as the deep notes of a uightingale in his passion for the moon. And. for the song, it was the heartbreaking cry of a young RhaetiaD peasant who, lying near death in a strange land, longs for one ray of sun rise light on the bare mountain tops of the homeland more earucstly than for bis first sight of an unknown heaven. The man outside the door did not move until the voice was still, ne knew well, though he could not see. who the singer had been. It was im possible for the plump lady at the window or the thin lady with the glasses to own a voice like that. It was the girl's. She only of the trio could so exhale her soul in the very perfume of sound, for to his fancy It was like hearing the fragrance of a rose breathed aloud. "I have heard an augel," he said to himself, but in reality be bad beard Princess Vir ginia of Baumenburg-Drippe showing off her very prettiest accomplishment in the childish hope that the man she loved might hear. Leopold of .Rhactla had heard many goldeu voices?gec" ;n in more senses of the word than one?but never bo fore, it seemed to him, a voice which so stirred his spirit with pain that was bittersweet, pleaf.ora as blinding as pain and a vogue yearning for sornething beautiful which he had nev er known. .... If he had l*en asked what that something was he could not, if he would, have told, for a man cannot ex plain that part..qf .iduwejwhich he 1 has never even tried to understand. Before he had moved many paces from the door the lovely voice, no longer plaintive, but swelling to bril liant triumph, broke into the national anthem of Rbaetia?warlike, Inspiring as the "Marseillaise." but wider, call ing her sous to face death singing hi the defense. "She's an English girl, yet she sings our Bhaetian music as no Rhactian woman I have ever heard can sing it," he told himself, slowly passing on to his own door. "She is a new type to me. I don't think there can be many like her. A pity that she is not a prineess or else?that Leopold, the emperor, and Leo. the chamois hunter, are uot two men. Stili. the chamois hunter of Rbaetia would be no match for Miss Mowbray of London, so the weights would balance in the scales as unevenly as now." lie gave a sigh and a smile that lifted his eyebrows. Then be opened the door of bis sitting room to forget among certain documents, rhich urged the importance of an immediate return to duty the difference between Leo pold and Leo. the difference between women and a woman. "Goadbyto our mountains tomorrow morning." he said to bis three chosen companions. "Hey for work and Kron burg!" She was going to Kro'nburg in a few days, according to Frau Yorvan. Bnt Kron burg was not Alleheil igen, and Leopold, the emperor, was not at his palace in the way of meeting tourists or even "explorers." "She'll never know to whom she gave her ring," he thought, with the dense innocence of a man who has studied all books save women's looks. "And I'll never know who gives her a plain gold one for the finger on which she once wore this." But in the next room, divided from him by a siugle wall, sat Princess Vir ginia of Baumenburg-Drippe. "When we meet again at Kronburg be mustn't dream that I knew all the time." she was saying to herself. "That would spoil everything?just at first. Yet. oh, some day how I should love to confess all?all! Only I couldn't pos sibly confess except to a man who would excuse or perhaps even approve because he had learned to love me well. And what shall I do. how shall I bear my life now I've seen him, if that day should never come?" ONLY 3 DAYS MORE IN WHICH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE GREAT AT GEO. V. ZEIGLER S (To Be Continued.) Synopsis of The Princess Virginia. Chapter I?Virginia, the only roy al princess with American blood in her veins, discusses marriage with her mother, the grand duchess, at their home in London. Objecting to the prince her mother had selected for her, Virginia- confesses that Leopold, emperor* of Rhaetia, has been her ideal since she was a girl. A letter | comes from Dal, Virginia's brother.! by adoption crown prince of Hungar ia, in which the emperer offers his hand to Virginia. She declares she wlill not marry after (he conventional manner of royalty and hints at a bold plan to win the emperor's love. II? The Princess Virginia- and her moth er,' traveling as Lady and Miss Mow bray, with a companion, Miss Man chester, stop at an inn at a little Rhaetian village in the Alps, where the best rooms are occupied by four important gentlemen, wnosereal iden tity appears to be concealed. Ill Virginia, alias Miss Mowbray, while climbing the Alps alone loses her footing and is in imminent danger of death when she is rescued by a cham ois hunter wjhom she recognizes as the emperor of Rhaetia. IV?The emperor, ignorant of Virginia's iden tity, but evidently pleased, gives her lunch at Iiis hunting lodge. There are no others present, and they spend a pleasant hour getting acquainted. '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 I 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'sSuits 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. Have included in this Sale 25 Dozen Best Elastic Seam Drawer, all sizes, waist from 30 to 50, length 30 to 36. Regular Size 39c, Extra Size 44c Pair. 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 goods?all new. Dress Goods, Silks and everything in Cotton Goods. Your regrets will be many if you do not take advantage of this sale at GEO.V.ZEIGLER. At times when you don't feel just right, when you have a bad stomach, take something right away that will assist digestion; not something that will stimulate for a time but some: thing that will positively do the very work that the stomach performs un der ordinary and normal conditions that will make the food digest. To do this j'ou must take a natural diges tant like Kodol for Dyspepsia. Kodol is a scientific preparation of vegeta ble acids with natural digestants and contains the same juices found in a healthy stomach. Each dose will di gest more than 3,000 grains of good food. It is sure to afford prompt relief: it digests what you eat and is pleasant to take. Sold by A. C. Dukes; A. C. Doyle & Co. . Now is the Time To buy your Farming implements. I have a go it Force without judgement falls by its own weight. -ft Bert Barber, of Elton, WIs., says: "I have only taken four doses of your Kidney and Bladder Pills and they have done for me more than any other medicine has ever done. I am still taking the pills as I want a per fect cure." Mr. Barber refers to De Witt's Kidney and Bladder Pills. They are sold by A. C. Dukao M. D.; A. C. Doyle & Co Plows, Plow Stocks, Back Bands, Leather & Cotton Collars, Plantation Bridles, Farm, Church and School Bells, Shovels, Anvils, Forges, Poultry Netting, Woven Wire Fences, Lard Presses & Meat Cutters. And in fact everything that is used on the farm. Prices are right. Give me a call J. W. Smoak Phone No 1. Orangeburg, S. C. The discriminating SLOAN farmer keeps a supply of LINIMENT For spavin, curb, splint, sweeny, capped hock, founder, strained tendons, wind puffs and all lameness in horses - For thrush, foot rot and garget on cattle and sheep ~ For hog distemper, hoq cholera; thumps and scours in ho<J$* For diarrhoea,canker and roup in poultry - - AT ALL DEALERS - - - - PRICE 25*. 50* ? $ LOO Send for free book on Horses. Carrie. Hogs and Poultry- -Address Dr. Hart S.Sloon, Bosrdn. Moss.