Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-06-01

Same without making any stop at Geneva.
There was not any time to spare, and Nick
ran to inquire for letters, while | hurried
the luggage on board as best / could
My mother and Nick settled down quietly
on one of the benches on deck to digest
their letters as the boat steamed OUT
Neither Fanny nor | had any to read; SC
we leaned together over the bows, and de-
voted our whole attention to their enjoy
ment of some grapes and light fresh
breeze which blew in our faces, and was
exquisitely refreshing after the dust and
heat of the train. A heavy shower had
Ijust blown over, leaving the sky behind :.
as blue and sparkling as the lake below,
the distant mountains and trees on either
shore and the sunny lateen sails of the
fishing boats glistened in the fclear shin
ing after the rain" We had not been very
long in that delightful state of dreamy alb
straction which the full appreciation Of
beautiful scenery at once requires and
produces by an adapting power of its own,
when Nick joined us and broke the silence
with:
'Jack, when you have quite done build
ing castles up in the Alps over there,
have got something to talk to you about,
if Miss Holmes will spare you for few
minutes"
every well, Mr.. Barnard, you may have
him for little while, as you ask so pref
tily, but you must give me him back soon.
He's very useful to tell me the names Of
the places. You must get me Murray
first though; it's in mammals bag there. "
81 have got such aqueer letter from my
mother; can't think what she is driving
lat" Che had carried me off to the other
end of the boat before he began to speak. J
"Just tell me what you make out of it"
1t was a short note, without any date,
and written evidently in great hurry
| read it through two or three times, and
Nick lit cigar and pulled away in silence
"DEARksr NICK We are al in great state
of excitement, and can't think where to write
to you; but | think it Just possible that a line
may catch you at Geneva. So | write for the
chance to say that you will find letters from Mr..
barley waiting for you at Chavronix, where
you said in your last you expected to be soon.
James has the gray mare saddled TO take this
into Heldon, SO | have not minute more to
write. Well, dearest boy, you were in low
spirits when you left England Take care you
do not allow yourself to be too much excited
now. suppose this news will shorten your
trip. Bless you, my dear son.
"Your loving mother, E. B."
"Can Minnie have changed her mind ~
he said, in low tone-"no, surely not
Il can't be-"
"Can Minnie have changed her mind p
had not thought of that. Yes, that's it:
what else could it be 2 that must be it;
and tried to swallow the big lump in my
throat and said, "That's it-of course II
is. Nick, you are are lucky fellow, and
| congratulate you-though it costs me
something to do it. Of course that's it
/ don't think he noticed the last part Of
my speech; but he snstched up the letter
and read it through again
''No, surely, she never would. It's i'm
possible"
| had worked myself up till 1 hardly
knew whether to laugh or cry Nick
pitched his cigar over the side and watch.
ed it hiss into the water; then put his
hand on my arm and said, with GOODNESS
that seemed rather odd for lover, and
aggravated me intensely, '1t's a rum 90,
and don't know what to make of it. ]
want to ask you one thing; don't say a
word about this to your mother or sister.
left Nick and my sister chatting to-
gether, and went and sat down by my
self in any thing but pleasan. thought
Till that night at the pilot-house | had
not been sure that was really in love
with Minnie barley at all. 1t was only
now, as | stared down into the foam Of the
paddle-wheeL now that ali chance. was
past, that | was finding out how much ]
really cared for her. We were nearly at
ouchy, l opened my pocket-book and
took out an envelope with a faded violet
in it, and threw it overheard. ''That's
done. She is flirt, ike the rest of them, /"
and | went to see the luggage taken out.
| We slept that night at the Hotel Glib
bon, and, after an early walk through the
wood to the Signal Hill, which commands
one of the most extensive views of the
Leman, started off again by boat, past
Vevay, and Old ChilloD, and the little is
land, to Vile Neuve, at the head of the
lake, whence we took the train to Aigle.
We left our luggage at the station, and
made a small boy in blouse happy with
the promise of fifty centimes to show us
the way to the house, which had been
hired for some years as a. summer resi-
dence by widowed cousin with two lit
tie girls A pleasant walk of half mile
up narrow road, fenced in by crunb-
ling stone-wall, half hidden in ferns, and
overhung by walnut-trees, brought us to
a grove of magnificent chestnuts, and
through their huge twisted stems we soon
caught sight of our friends coming to
meet us.
Ona table of soft moss close by some
rough wooden seats we found some wine
and fruit awaiting us, and sat there chat
ting and telling our adventures till it was
time to go in. "There are some letters
for some Of you, Fanny dear, on the draw
ing-room chimney piece" said Mrs. Grey,
when we had all met for tea; 81 forgot
them when we came in" Fanny was up
in moment, and danced back into the
room with a disappointed mot one fol
me; what a shame MRS. Holmes two
for you, mamma, and IN. Barnard, Esq,
such fat one for you, Mr.. Barnard; I'm
sure it must have got another one in it."
Nick took it. blushed crimson, and put il
in his pocket 1t was from Mr.. barley.
Supper, as everything else must, came
to an end at last; but after supper there
was a turn on the terrace, and, after that
something else, which kept us with the
party, and it was not till we were alone in
the little bedroom we were to share for the
night that Nick could venture to open his
letter.
don't know which was the most eager.
| xs,.o. L., ,,,,I rooI ..-4