The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-09-15

know what to do
"'When did this illness come on?' l
asked.
"'Why, sir, Miss Naldane seemed
very well when we left, but as we got
near Antwerp she complained of head
ache, and was obliged to go to bed di-
rectly after we got to the hotel. The
worst Of it is said she, after pause,
that / have to return by this evenings
! train
"'The young lady has her maid, /
understand? said l.
"'Oh, yes, sir, she is with her, GER
tainly; but she is young and fiighty,
and | haven't much confidence in her.
HAS Miss Naldane seen any medi-
cal man?' said /.
'Oh, no, sir, she wouldn't hear of
one being sent for.'
"' Well,' said |, 1T cannot be helped (;
you must return to your mistress, and |
must wait here until Miss Valdanc is
able to travel
"In the course of the afternoon, and
after Mrs. Slatcr's servant had left, |
sent up my compliments TO Miss Val
dane, and requested to know how She
was.
"'Miss Naldanc's compliments, she
was so much better that she hoped to be
down stairs in the course of an hour.
"'rhis was good news, and immedi-
ately setabout inquiring a. to trains and
boat. | found that by leaving Ostcnd
at half past three the next morning, the
young lady could baa her fathers house
in time for lunch the same day. | aC-
cordingly made the requisite arrange
ments, and awaited Miss Naldanc's ap-
pCarahce.
'aIcr maid shortly aftcrward came
down with Il message to know if il
would be convenient to me to have an
intervicwwith her mistress. ! I,ofcOursc,
asscntcd, and directly yaflcrward a young
lady came into the room.
81 bowed, and looked at my charge
with some curiosity. Her appearance
surprised me. She was dark, and had
large, tendcr-looking eyes, but in other
respects was by no means good-looking,
and seemed to want the ease and SurOH-
,fUire that | should have imagined q
girl in her rank would have possessed.
She was well and handsomely dressed,
but was decidedly not elegant, and there
was II want of freshness and Youthful
ness about her that made her anything
but an misunderstanding girl. She ad-
dressed me in constrained and rather
unmusical voice:
"' You are the pcr-thc gentleman
that has been sent over to fetch mc:'
go | am, Miss Naldane; when will it
be convenient to you to set out on your
Journey"
"'I don't know she said pettishIy ;
| wanted to see the pictures and the
cathedral, but | suppose | shall have to
do rs Pm tOld.'
"'I was instructed,' / said, to escort
you home without delay
"'Oh! by the way said she, there's
n schoolfcllow of mine and q great
friend going with us. She wanted TO
go home, so we agreed to travel to-
gether.'
GLOW strange, thought I, that the
servant should have made no mention
of this other pupil. But | suppose she
was so much engrossed with Miss Val
danes illness that she could think of
nothing else.
90 | was not aware said l, that you
would have II companion; but | shall
be very happy to be of use to her.
"l'll call her down. she said, and
going to the door, she called, or rather
shouted, Amy, come down.
"Shc forgcts, thought, that she is in
a crowded hotel, and not ut home. !
heard a light, tripping step on the stairs
> and aftersome little giggling outside the
p door, Miss Naldunc came in with very
pretty, MISUNDERSTANDING blonde, who
F. could not present the semblancc OF
, gravity when she was introduced tc
/ me.
"What on earth are you laughing at
2 Amy? said my charge.
:" You mustn't mind me, Mr.. Min,
: ton = said Miss AIunVers; I'm rather
, silly, Pm afraid
| ." Rather silly! said Miss Valdlne
} { he thinks you little tom-fool, ant
| he's perfectly righy in thinking ; anc
t before had time to put in Il disclaincI
} to this opinion, she added, 4 dom
, know what you people are going to DO
| but I'm going to dino.'
| "'Shall we dine at once, Miss Val
g dane?' said l, 'and then We can leaV,
q Antwerp at half past seven, catch tn,
night mail at Ostend, and be in Lon
t don by midday tomorrow
G "Just as you like said she.
go ordered dinner for three, and tina
Y finished, the young ladies went to thoi
. rooms to prepare for the journey.
e 81 could hear Miss Valdane whistlinl
0 as she packed, and | must say that TIN
young lady's collection of tunes wa
= very varied, if it was not very select,
Il 81 could not help wishing myself
f back again at the bank and my hand
It clean washed of my eccentric charge
e Miss Naldane embarrassed me Yer
Il much rs we were leaving the hotel b.
o interfering with the various direction
|, that | gave, and when We got to tn
= station she had an alteration with
h porter, which exhausted all my ruthc
l. scanty stock of French to set right, Mi,
NIanVcrS mOnStratpl with her friCnt