The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-09-02
cup THE LAUREL. -


quiet boarding house on quiet street in
Baltimore, these young people were
Carolinians; and, as soon as the word
holiday was mentioned, they looked at
each other and uttered with one accord
another word--home!
"Do you remember" said Louise, "the
mountains where we always spent the
summer when we were children? O.,
Paul should you not like to go there Z"
Pauls pale cheek flushed.
II remember very well he answered,
in low voice, and his clear eyes looked
wistfully out of the window, as if he
would fain wander away in search of
that lost, happy childhood which seemed
like another existence to the young Grip
ple on his couch of pain. "To think
that should ever have climbed noun
tains, waded streams and robbed birds
nests" he said, with faint, sad smile.
cit would certainly be pleasant to go
back and look at the Arcadia where such
things were possible-but the question
is, Bonnibel, can we afford it?"
"Oh, I think So" said Louise, with all
her heart in her voice. 'It will cost
good deal to get there, but, when once
we are there, living is ideally cheap"
So it was decided they would 60, and
a golden August day found them at the
end of their long railroad journey, stand
ing.bsfore- the door of the stage coach
which plies.between Old: Fort, at the foot
of the Blue! Ridge, and AshevilFe beyond
it. Paul having been established with
air-cushions and pillows in a corner of
the back seat, Louise went into the hotel
for a missing satchel. When she returned
the landlord had stepped away, and
there was no one to assist her into the
coach. Now, there are few things more
difficult, from feminine point of view,
than an ascent into a stage-coach; and
SO she hesitated, uncertain whether to
spring desperately or call for a chair.
While she hesitated voice behind her
said, "Will you allow me to assist you ~
She turned quickly. The speaker was
a tall, dark gentleman, who seemed
slightly amused by her embarrassment.
There had been something kind and
frank in the voice which the face secon-
ded very we'll. 1t was not handsome
face-rather plain, strong one, but its
very p!ainess and strength were reassur-
ing. Louisa, who would have drawn
back, and uttered a cool "No, thank
you," to a handsome butterfly of fashion,
looked up with her soft eyes, and, smiling,
said, eff you win be SO kind" to this
man.
He assisted her into the high swung
vehicle with a skill which is very diff
ferent from mere strength, handed her
basket and satchel after her, then asked
Paul if he could do anything to render
him more comfortable. 81 am going on
top" he added, after the young man had
replied in the negative, "but, if I can he
of service to you in any way, pray do
not hesitate to call upon me"
"What a considerate person" said
Louise, as he drew back to allow stout
woman and two peevish children to be
hoisted in. "Who is he, Paul-do you
know?"
Paul tossed a card in her lap.
"He gave me that in the hotel" he
said "after speaking to me in the kindest
possible manner. 1t will tell you all
that know about him."
George Dunwardin was the name on
the eard-one altogether unknown to
Louise. She had theory with regard
to the fitness of things, however, and the
name seemed to fit the suit, in subtle
fashion, the person who bore it. She
thought this, with a smile, as the coach
set forth on its jolting way, but the many
discomforts of her position soon banished
Mr.. Dunwardin from her mind.
1t is beautiful road, that which for
six miles leads directly to the summit of
the Blue Ridge throug gh Swannanoa Gap,
but it is also very rough road-so rough
that one is tempted to doubt whether one
will arrive whole or in pieces at the end
of it. To see Paul's face distorted with
pain as the heavy coach jolted and swung
to and fro over the stones of all sizes and
shapes which covered the road, seemed to
Louise almost more than she could bear.
With tender hands she drew his head
down on her shoulder, and heaped shawls
and cushions around him, but with little
effect. After while his very lips turned
white, and she knew that he had fain-
ted.
1t was no uncommon thing in the par
oxysms of great anguish which some
times came to him, but just now she was
unstrung, and for moment lost her self
control. She put her head out of the
window and called, asking the driver to
stop.
s'My brother has fainted," she said; "I
must have water"
There was a tense chord in her voice
that even before the driver drew up his
horses made George Dunwardin spring
to the ground.
He hurried round to the window, and
leaning in, felt Pauls pulse. Then he
looked at Louise
"There is no danger" he said. "Don't
be alarmed. Have you anything in
which to get water 2"
One of the other passengers anticipated
her handing a cup, which MIR. Dunwar-
din filled from a clear stream running
quickly along by, the side of the road.
With this he bathed PauPs face, and
gave him a liberal dose of the medicine
which Louise produced. Before long the
young man revived, and opened his eyes
languidly.
"Dear, have frigbtend you," he said.
t'I am so sorry p
"He will do now" said Mr.. Dunwar-
din, cheerfulIy. "But, if you will let me
take your place Miss Chalmers, think
he may do better. | am stronger and
better able to sustain him. One OF these
gentlemen looking at two insidersl will,
no doubt. give you his place and take
Ou tpn ~