Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1870-12-08

my sweet bride could be SO saw
age if she chose. "Nap, in
deed /! with that darling starv-
ing in uncomplaining silence
I've half a mind TO ask which is
his room, and give him a rousing
he won't easily forget"
This, ! thought, would, be, a
highly improper proceeding on
Laura's part and I ventured
to say so. She eontented her.
self with repeating with great
er vehemence than before,
'tNap, indeed 70 -
At that moment we heard the
heavy sound of the diligence,
and the gay jingling of the
horses bells, as it stopped at the
door of the hotel. Bold and muf
| fed passengers, for we were some
1000 or 5000 feet above the
level of the sea, came into the
room and partook of various
drinks; but they soon cleared
| out again. The horses had been
changed; and, with a great deal
OF smacking of whips, and loud
pealing of the bell, the huge dill
gence pursued its onward road to
Italy.
The pale faced golden haired
child still sat quietly in the dark
corner. Once or twice the tired
head sank upon the little shoul.
der, and for a moment or two he
dropped asleep. Then he would
wake up again and stare at the
unkind door,, which at no opening
brought him relief.
After the diligence had been
gone some twenty minutes, and
Laura had got into a state of
fidgets which threatened to pass
all control, the landlord and head
waiter came into the room, looked
at the little boy, and then talked
together volubly in "A whisper, and
shook their heads in u mysterious
manner. Then the landlord ad.
vanced straight to where we were
sitting.
GA thousand pardons for asking
the question, but do monsieur and
madame know anything of the
little gentleman yonder?'
''No. nothing; beyond that
monsieur and madame passed
the little gentleman ond his iath-
Ell as they ascended the pass
''ls monsieur aware that the
father is an Englishman?"
Well, monsieur had guessed as
much, but could not say more"
"Well. tits very strange. 1t is
some time since these two arrived.
The father engaged a room and
ordered supper. The father had
said that his luggage would be
deposited by the diligence; but
the diligence had come and gone,
and, though particular inquiries
were made, the conductor was
quite sure there was no luggage,
such as had been described, to be
deposited at his hotel."
There must surely have been
some mistake"
"Not possible. The authorities
are very particular in these cases.
And where Monsieur la perez"
"Gone to sleep in his chamber,
probably" suggested.
"But not at all. 1t is empty.
There is nothing whatever in it.
In fact, the gentleman was seen
to leave the hotel the moment af-
ter he had ordered supper and Civ
ing instruction about the baggage
and had notreturned.
Laura was watching the un-
complaining child. The large
blue eyes were directed towards
us, as If guessing he was the sub
ject of our conversation. She
could not restrain herself any
longer; and she rose from her seat
and went up to the child. He
shrank little, ! thought, as she
approached, but there was some
thing about her face that speedily
reassured him.
"You are a little English boy,
are you not?" she said, as she
sat down beside him.
He murmured "Yes.' But ]
could see working in the little
white throat; the poor, tired,
rhannikin was striving bravely to
keep down his tears:
7"Ious want your supper, do
you not 2" asked Laura, as with
one hand she stroked the golden
curls. "You are very tired and
ought to have your supper and go
to bed. Where is your papa;
Was not that your papa who
brought you here"
Eyes, my papa brought me
here and he said we were TO