IN THE MOUNTAINS
"I LIKE my opera-glasses and bag better than anything, and my lovely
chain next," said Nan sitting up in bed to examine her presents. Mrs.
Corner and Miss Helen always breakfasted in their own rooms, and on
this occasion the girls concluded to do the same, since cocoa and rolls
were not difficult to dispose of before the gifts were unwrapped.
"I like my fairy-tale book," came a small voice from the next room.
"What do you like, you Jo Keyes over there?" Nan called out.
No reply came from the head buried in the pillow.
"Here, you Josephine Schlüssel, are you asleep? Why don't you speak
up?" Nan picked up a worsted slipper and threw it across the room. The
slipper landed on Jo's head and she responded by raising rather a teary
face.
"You've all been so perfectly lovely to me," she said, "so much
lovelier than they ever are at home. Instead of just giving me fifty
_pfennige_ presents as you ought to have done, you've treated me just
as if I were one of you."
"Well, you needn't cry about it," said Nan roughly, herself quite
overcome by this evidence of feeling on Jo's part. "You are one of us,
of course. Tell what you like best, old girl, or I'll throw this other
slipper at you, and then I can't get up to-day, for I am never going to
set my feet on these cold boards."
"Oh, my kodak, of course," returned Jo. "It was so dear of your Aunt
Helen to give it to me, and it is such a beauty. I have always so
longed for one. Then that dear chain, Nan, you----"
"Time to hear from you, Mary Lee," cried Nan interrupting further
remarks from Jo. "What's your particular wanity?"
Mary Lee hesitated a moment. "I think I like the picture of Miss
Dolores in her _manta de Manila._"
"I knew you'd say that," responded Nan. "I was just waiting to hear.
Hallo, Jack, in there, why don't you let us hear from you?"
"I'm coming in to tell you." The answer was prompt, and presently Jack
in red wrapper and slippers appeared, stocking in hand. "I'll tell
you, Nan, but I won't tell any one else," she said. She came close to
the bed and whispered something in Nan's ear. Nan laughed. It was her
own present to her little sister which was the one preferred. It was a
cunning figure of an owl which Nan had marked: "The moping owl doth to
the moon complain." It was like Jack to prefer this. The owl was of the
porcelain ware for which Bavaria is well known, and when the head was
removed Jack discovered the owl was filled with chocolates, though it
was not this fact which made her favor it above the rest of her gifts.
"Come in here with me," said Nan. "There is room enough for two, if we
cuddle." She moved over that Jack might snuggle down by her side.
"I think you're mean to leave me," came a plaintive voice from the next
room.
"Come get in with me," called Mary Lee; "though you won't have long to
stay for we must get up soon if we are going to church."
Jean pattered across the floor and crept in with Mary Lee, to turn out
the contents of her stocking for her sister's inspection.
"Did you know you were going to get the chain, Nan?" asked Jack.
"No, indeed, and it is the very one I liked so much. I don't see how
Aunt Helen knew."
"She asked Jo; didn't she, Jo?"
"She mought and then again she moughtn't," returned Jo non-committally.
"What did Dr. Paul give you?" Jack asked.
"Oh, didn't you see that lovely great book?" said Nan. "It is called
'Werkes Altes Meister,' and is full of illustrations of all the finest
pictures. It is perfectly splendid, but I am afraid he spent more for
it than he ought."
"Is he very poor?" asked Jack. "He doesn't look like it."
"Oh, he's not a pauper. Old Dr. Woods is quite well off, but it is
expensive for Dr. Paul to take this course over here, and naturally he
is not earning anything, and has a proper pride about not calling upon
his father for more than is necessary."
"Will he be rich some day?"
"I don't know. I hope he will always have enough, but he is too
generous to be very rich."
"I think Carter will have plenty for both of us, don't you?" said Jack
innocently. "I wonder if they have Christmas trees in California."
"You silly-billy," replied Nan laughing. "It is time to get up,
goosey-lucy, owly-powly. We shall have to hurry or we won't get to
church to-day. 'A hitch of your heel and a hitch of your toe' and out
you go." She gave Jack a swing out on the floor, and herself sprang
from bed. The three elder girls occupied the largest room in which were
three beds, while the two younger had a little room next.
They found Mrs. Corner and Miss Helen ready for church when the five
appeared in hats and coats. "We've been making holiday plans," said
Miss Helen, "and we'll talk about them on the way. What do you all say
to a few days in the mountains to look at the winter sports and get a
bit more sunshine than we do here?"
"Fine!" exclaimed the Corners, Jo looking a little dubious.
"It's not far to Partenkirchen," Mrs. Corner told them, "and a change
will do us all good. Mrs. Hoyt has just stopped in to say that she and
her youngsters have decided to go, and some of the boys will go with
them. We had some talk about it last night, but hadn't come to any
definite decision then. I think a little play won't hurt you, and you
will get back to work in season."
"But, Mrs. Corner," said Jo, "could I possibly afford it?"
"Oh, yes, I think you could; the larger the party the better terms we
shall be able to make, and it will not be very expensive for a few
days. I really think you ought to go, for you might want to write
a theme upon the winter sports of Germany, and it might give you a
scholarship at Smith College."
Jo smiled. She longed to be one of the party, but could not be sure
that she ought. Miss Helen took her arm when they reached the street
and the two walked off talking in low tones. By the time they reached
the church Jo looked back at Nan and her mother. "I'm going," she said.
It was when they returned from church that they found a row of little
Pfeffers, headed by Bertha Metzger, standing waiting for them. Each one
following Bertha's example--having been evidently well drilled--bobbed
a curtsey and kissed, one after another, the hands of the "_gnädiges
fräulein_" wishing them _Froliche Weihnacht_, and murmuring a blessing
in chorus. This proceeding so amused the twins that they giggled
outright, but the others, though embarrassed, took the matter more
seriously. Jack would fain have carried off Bertha to see their own
tree, but the watchful guardian of the Pfeffers could not be induced to
leave her charges for a second, and after answering the questions put
to her, marshaled her cousins in order, according to size, and marched
them off with a distinct feeling that they had admirably performed
their duty. They all looked very comfortable in their new outfits, and
were apparently very proud of themselves.
It was a merry crowd which boarded the train the next day for
Partenkirchen, and it required the combined efforts of the elder ladies
to keep the young people in order. There was much talk of _ski-ing_ and
_rodeling_, and all the young folks were very enthusiastic about trying
these amusements.
"_Skis_ are rather expensive," remarked Jo, "and I, for one, shan't buy
any, that's certain."
"You can hire them," Nan told her, "and that is what we are all going
to do, for who can tell whether we shall like the sport or not? As we
are to be over here for only one winter it will not be worth while to
tote those great long things all over creation with us."
They had left Munich in a gray mist which shut out all suggestion
of sunlight, but when they reached the pretty mountain town of
Partenkirchen, at the foot of the Zugspitze, the skies were as blue as
summer and the sun was shining brilliantly on the snowy mountainsides.
The ride through the Bavarian Highlands had been beautiful indeed, and
the spirits of the party, far from lessening, became wilder as they
approached the greater heights, so it was a laughing, excited crowd
which finally left the train to go to the small hotel where they had
engaged board.
Many had arrived before them, and were already testing the toboggan
runs, or were flitting along, like birds, upon their _skis_.
The boys, naturally, were eager to try these new sports, and were soon
equipped, to receive many a humiliating tumble before they could become
adepts. Juliet was scarcely less ambitious than the boys and was not
long in persuading Mary Lee and Jo to fasten on the long _skis_ in
order to make a first venture. Nan and the twins contented themselves
with sleds upon safe inclines at first, but were so exhilarated by the
keen air that they were soon trying longer slopes. Even Mrs. Hoyt came
out to join them leaving Mrs. Corner and Miss Helen to enjoy the bright
sunlight streaming in at their windows.
In a few days Nan had become as enthusiastic an advocate of _ski-ing_
as the rest. "It is like flying," she declared. "I wish we could do it
at home."
"It seems such an impossible and dangerous thing to me," said Miss
Helen who had been persuaded to come out to watch the sport.
"It isn't when you know how," replied Nan as she flitted off.
It was a gay company at the little hotel. The mountain air exhilarated
every one and though the unusual exercise tired them out, after a
hearty supper they were ready for any kind of fun. On New Year's Eve
came the climax when the peasants arrived to show their dances and to
ask the guests to join in. Jo was nothing loth to accept the young son
of mine host as partner, and as he, in embroidered velvet breeches,
short Tyrolean jacket and red tie, led off, she was quick enough to
imitate the others and made a better dancer than might have been
expected in such a wild and rollicking dance as it was. Once she was
fairly lifted off her feet, whirled around and set down again before
she knew what was happening to her. With the snowy mountains looking
down upon them they welcomed in the new year and slept the last sleep
they should have at Partenkirchen, for the morrow would take them back
to Munich.
Dr. Paul made his appearance the evening of their return. He had been
to Dresden for a week, looking into hospital work there and staying
with a friend. He was welcomed joyfully and was given an enthusiastic
account of winter in the mountains of Bavaria.
"You'd better have gone with us," Mrs. Corner told him. "I am sure it
would have done you more good than doing extra work."
"It wasn't all work," returned the doctor, "and besides being deeply
interested in what I was doing, I was glad to be with my friend Bob
Morgan. He is an old pal of mine, and we have had many a run together.
By the way, Nan," he turned toward this person, "I think I may have a
clue to your Hans Metzger."
Every one looked interested. "Tell us about it," said Nan.
"Of course it is by no means an unusual name," the doctor went on,
"and there may be dozens of them in the community, but as I was in
Bob's room at the hospital one day, I picked up a German book, rather a
curious old volume on husbandry which was lying on the table. In it I
saw the name, Hans Metzger. 'Hallo,' I said, 'where did you get that?'
"'It was left by one of the patients,' said Bob, 'a nice sort of young
German whom I attended. I was looking at the book one day, and spoke of
its being something of a curiosity because of its age, so when he was
discharged he presented it to me out of gratitude.' 'Was his name Hans
Metzger?' I asked.
"'Yes,' Bob told me. 'Where was he from?' 'From his dialect I should
say he was a Bavarian.'"
"That looks like a proof," said Nan eagerly.
"So I thought. Bob promised to learn what he could of the man and to
let me know. I told him of our search and he was much interested."
"Wouldn't it be the queerest thing if your going to Dresden should be
the means of finding him?" said Nan.
"When do you think you will hear, Dr. Paul?" asked Jack.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. It was only day before yesterday
that I saw the book."
"Did you get a description of the man?" asked Miss Helen.
"Yes." The doctor took out his note-book. "He was rather tall, dark,
had a scar on his left cheek."
"We must go to-morrow and interview Frau Pfeffer," said Nan. "She can
tell if that answers to the description of her brother. I am surprised,
Dr. Paul, to see how many Germans are dark. I have always thought of
them as a fair-haired, blue-eyed race."
"You will find a great many quite the opposite in this part of Germany
particularly. It is so near Italy that there are many intermarriages
with the darker race, just as you find in Venice and other parts of
Italy that intermarriages with the Austrians and Germans have produced
fair-haired Italians."
The interview with Frau Pfeffer the next day seemed to establish
the fact of Hans Metzger's identity with the patient of the Dresden
hospital, as the description tallied exactly with that of Frau
Pfeffer's brother.
"Do you know anything about the old book?" Nan asked.
Frau Pfeffer did not know, but it was like her brother to have such. He
was fond of reading, of husbandry, of outdoor life, and he could very
well have come into possession of such a volume.
A few days later Dr. Paul had another report to make. "I've heard from
Bob Morgan," he said. "The man Hans Metzger has gone to America."
"To America!" All looked at one another quite taken aback.
"Do you think, Dr. Paul, that he has then deserted his little
daughter?" asked Miss Helen.
"I can tell better when we get particulars. Bob Morgan had only time
for a line. This is what he writes: 'Have followed up the Hans Metzger
matter. Find the man sailed for America from Bremen on Dec. 10. Will
write details later.'"
"It's as good as a Sherlock Holmes story," said Nan. "I wonder if your
Dr. Morgan saw Hans' footprint on the gangplank or the print of his
thumb in a booking-office, or what."
"It does become rather exciting," admitted the doctor, "and I am
curious myself to learn particulars."
"You'll be sure to let us know as soon as you find out, won't you?"
begged the girls.
"I'll fly to you on the wings of the morning or evening, whichever
comes handiest," promised the doctor.
A few days later the expected letter came from Dr. Morgan. He wrote: "I
took up the Metzger case as soon as you left. Inquired if any of the
patients knew him. Found a man from Augsburg who had been here for some
time and had made friends with Metzger, as both were Bavarians. Metzger
had come to see Augsburg man before leaving the city. Had a good
position promised him with an American who was going home and wanted
an overseer for a place in New York, so Augsburg man said, though you
can't tell about the last. They think New York covers half the U. S.,
and is synonymous. Later happened upon Dr. Streit who gave me further
particulars. Streit is a Munich man and took an interest in Metzger. It
was through him Metzger found place with American. No doubt your man
will write to his people as soon as he gets settled, for I think it is
pretty clear he is your man."
"Do you think we may really count upon his being the right man?" said
Miss Helen.
"I think there is every chance of his being. He may have written to his
sister, but as you say she left the village soon after he last saw her,
it is quite possible the letter never reached her. These peasants are
very stupid sometimes, and very likely the letter never was forwarded."
"_Dumm_ is such a good, expressive German word," remarked Nan, "and
just fits the case."
"Exactly," returned the doctor, "and we know if our own country
postmasters are so often stupid what must some of these Germans be? Bob
says he will try to get the address of the man with whom Metzger went,
so his sister can write and make sure we are on the right track."
"I think your Dr. Morgan is very good to take so much trouble," said
Nan.
"Oh, he is glad to do it. He is a Virginia boy, too, Nan, and you know
he is not going to think it any trouble to help out in a case of this
kind. Beyond this, he has a personal interest in Metzger, and wants to
do all he can on that account."
In due course of time the address came and Frau Pfeffer sent off a
letter. So there was nothing to do but to wait for a reply which would
decide conclusively whether it were really Bertha's father whom they
were following up.
About this time the Carnival season began, and although the family saw
little of the gaieties which entertained so many of the Müncheners, the
girls did so far participate in them as to go to a mask party which Dr.
Mann gave for his boys, and as it was their first experience of this
kind they were in a great state of excitement. Of course the twins were
not included in the party, but the three older girls and Juliet had
many conferences as to costumes.
"We can't be expected to carry fancy costumes all over Europe with us,"
said Nan, "and we shall have to think up something that we can wear
afterward, or which we shall not mind leaving behind, it seems to me."
"We could take them with us, Nan," said Mary Lee, "and they would do to
wear when we get home."
"If we haven't outgrown them by that time," returned Nan.
"We couldn't outgrow all the things."
"Well, I know this child spends no fortune on costumes," put in Jo.
"Cheap and easy is my motto for this occasion."
"Mamma tried to hire something for us," said Juliet, "but everything
we saw that would fit was so mussy and soiled that it wouldn't do at
all. We did manage to rig out Maurice, but I am still looking."
"Mary Lee would make a perfect little Dresden shepherdess," said Jo,
"and I don't think it would be a hard costume to get up. She could copy
some of the figures we have seen and it would be lovely."
"Good!" cried Nan. "I approve of that myself. Although it is not
strictly original it will be very becoming and just suit my fair
sister's style."
"I am going to talk to mother about it," said Mary Lee leaving the
group.
"I'd like to know what a long, lanky thing like me can wear," said Nan.
"I might go as a bean-pole, and twine a vine up my length."
"You may be long but you're not what I should call lanky," corrected Jo.
"I think Nan would look fine in one of those costumes on those quaint
post-cards we all liked so much at Christmas time," said Juliet. "I
have one of the prettiest left. I'll go get it and you might copy
that." She ran off, presently returning with the card which all
examined with much interest.
"The dress wouldn't be hard," Nan decided, "and I have the scarf. I
would need something different from anything in the combined wardrobes
of the family to make the bonnet of."
Juliet was busy thinking. "Mother has just the thing, I do believe,"
she said after a moment: "a big Leghorn hat that can be bent into any
shape. She will be delighted to lend it to you. I think you will look
dear in such a bonnet, Nan, with bunches of pink roses against your
dark hair."
"I can easily make a little bag like that to carry on my arm," decided
Nan. "I think it is a costume of the period of 1812 as nearly as I
remember."
"One of the boys is to have a costume that will match it," said Juliet.
"I shall not tell which one, but I know he will look dandy in it.
The boys sometimes spend a lot on these costumes, and come in such
magnificence as you wouldn't believe. Of course some are much better
off than others, and some of the girls will be gotten up regardless,
but I think the main thing is to look picturesque and to wear something
which will be becoming when we unmask. When the boys don't want
to spend much they go as Pierrots. There will be several in that
character, I can promise you."
"I might go as a switch-tender, and borrow Frau Pfeffer's get-up,"
remarked Jo.
"How you would look," cried Nan, "and what would she do that day, pray?"
"She could go to bed early," said Jo calmly.
It was finally decided that Jo should go in Spanish dress, the girls
suddenly remembering what they had brought from Spain with them, which
supplemented would do very well to represent an _aldeana_ costume.
Juliet eventually went as a peacock, a spreading tail of feathers
adorning the back of a greenish gold frock, and upon her head a clever
arrangement of feathers and beak to represent the bird's head. Her
bodice was of peacock blue and the whole effect was quite dazzling, and
strange to say very becoming. Of the four girls it must be said that
Mary Lee looked the best, her fair skin, blue eyes and neat features
being exactly as they should be for a Dresden shepherdess. A fluffy
white wig and a coquettish hat made the finishing touches to her dress,
and she was very much pleased with herself as well she might be. Nan,
though not so striking, was a quaint figure. Her bonnet was a great
success, trimmed outside with long white plumes and some old-fashioned
apple-green ribbons, and inside with bunches of pink roses which lay
against the clusters of curls in which she had arranged her dark hair.
The dress was a green silk with little bunches of pink flowers upon it,
and her pink scarf drooping negligently was of the color of the roses
in her bonnet. The whole party set off in an automobile and had that
kind of good time which youth and high spirits can generally give us
on such occasions. That they did not lack in partners for either games
or dances goes without saying, and that it was an event long after
referred to can be taken for granted.
After this there were not any great merry-makings, the gatherings in
Mrs. Hoyt's sitting-room being quite sufficient for ordinary fun, and
all worked hard between times. January did not bring anything but dark
and sunless weather, so Mrs. Corner felt that she must pitch her tent
elsewhere as she was feeling the effects of the lack of sunshine. She
therefore decided to go to the Riviera for a couple of months.
"I shall not be so very far away," she said to Nan, who always felt the
separation more than any of the others. "It is scarcely more than a
day's journey, and if I am needed I can fly to you in less time than it
would take to go to Boston from Virginia."
"Will Aunt Helen go with you?" asked Nan.
"I don't know," said Mrs. Corner. "Things didn't go altogether happily
with you last winter, Nan, dear, and I hate to leave you in a foreign
city with the responsibility of your younger sisters upon you. Mrs.
Hoyt has very kindly offered to chaperon you and the Fräulein is quite
to be relied upon, but still I do not like to go off and leave you to
be the acting head of the family."
"It is quite different from last year," Nan told her, "for this is not
a boarding-school, and you will not be the other side of the ocean as
you were then. For my part, _motherdel_--that is a newly coined south
German diminutive. I am your _mädel_; you are my _motherdel_ instead of
_mutterchin_--as I was saying, for my part, I would much rather Aunt
Helen should be with you. We shall be perfectly comfortable, and I
can't bear the idea of your going off alone. If you should be ill----"
"There are always good doctors and nurses to be had," her mother
hastened to say.
"But not to have any of one's very own. No, _mutterdel_, Aunt Helen
must go, too, and we will behave like the best of Cornelia's jewels."
"I am not afraid of you older girls, except in your case when you
sacrifice yourself for Jack."
"Oh, but Jack is much more sensible. She is developing a better sense
of proportion, and of right and wrong. She is terribly impetuous, but
she does mean all right at heart."
"I am sure of that. She couldn't be her father's child and be lacking
in principle."
"She couldn't be her mother's child and not turn out a dear, good
woman," said Nan, fondling her mother's hand. "I'll promise you,
mother, I'll not do anything rash. If any problems arise I will suspend
action till I can hear from you, and if it is something in which I have
to act at once I will take the case to Mrs. Hoyt."
"There might be cases that you wouldn't want to consult even Mrs. Hoyt
about," said Mrs. Corner thoughtfully.
"Then I'll pour out my woes to Dr. Paul."
Mrs. Corner nodded. "Yes, you can trust him, for he has known you all
since you were babies. With him as well as Mrs. Hoyt I think I can feel
safe about you. All right, Nan. I'll talk it over with Helen."
[Illustration: CHAPTER XVI
HERR GREEN-CAP]