The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-09-02
sign her place, and MIR. Dunwardin took


terrible six miles. When they reached
the top of the gap, and horses and pas
sengers together drew long breath OF re-
lief he declared himself so much better
that he urged Mr.. Dunwardin to return
to his place on top.
~ wish you could take poor Louise
with you," he said. ga little fresh air
would do her good" :.
"Paul, you know I would not leave you"
said Louise, quickly.
"But you can do nothing for me-" said
Paul, "and the worst of the road is over
now. If Mr.. Dunwardin will arrange
my cushions, I shall do very well, and
perhaps go to Sleep"
"Don't you think you had better come
on top for little while?" asked Mr..
Dunwardin, looking at the pale, gentle
face with great deal of kindness in his
glance. "It will make you feel better"
"Go, Louise-pray go" said Paul ear
nestly.
So, again with reluctance, Louise con-
sented. She did feel very much better
when she was elevated on deck-seat of
the coach, breathing the air which was a
very elysium of softness and freshness,
and feasting her eyes on the outspread
glory of the fair mountain landscape.
Her companion was pleased to see the an
imation that came into her face.
"Thank you for bringing me-" she said
to him. GLOW lovely everything is
How wish Paul could be here 1t would
make him think so much Of the dear old
times"
"You know this country then ?" asked
Mr.. Dunwardin.
"DIy home-at least, one of my homes
used to be here; but have not seen
the mountains before in years"
"Your brother tells me that you live
in Baltimore"
eyes, but we are Carolinians. I am
an artist" she went on, looking up at him
with certain graceful dignity; cat least
1 try to be. Therefore, hope to unite
business with pleasure in coming here
this summer"
"It is beautiful and almost an un
known country" said Mr.. Dunwardin.
"Ihe very place for an artist, l should
think"
He said nothing more than this, but
Louise whose perceptions were very
quick, felt that She had not suffered in
his estimation by the statement just made.
His manner lost none of its kindly cour-
tesy-indeed, she perceived that it gained
a shade of added interest-and when he
turned the conversation to art in general,
and the writings of Ruskin, and Hamer-
ton, she found that she had cultivated
as we'll as pleasant companion.
1t followed that she was soon thorough
ly at ease with him. More than once he
descended from the coach to see if Paul
needed any thing, but he insisted that
she should remain aloft, and since Paul
joined in the request, she was glad
enough to obey. =,
In this way they journeyed on until
they reached those green and softly-swell-
ing hills which Ashville crowns.
The next morning Mr.. Dunwardin
greeted the two young people like an old
friend, and rs they sat together after
breakfast on an upper piazza Of the hotel
he ventured to ask what their plans were:
These were briefly told. They intended
to take lodging at some farmhouse in
the neighborhood of Ashville-perhaps
at that ideal hostelry known to all trav-
elers in Western Carolina as "Alexan-
der's on the French Broad"
II should like to go there" said
Louise. 81 must write and ask if we can
obtain rooms"
"You need not take that trouble if you
will allow me the pleasure of rendering
you slight service" said Mr.. Dunward-
in. "I shall 90 down the French Broad
tomorrow, and probably stop for day
or two at Alexander's. [ can therefore,
make arrangements for you"
This offer was accepted with thanks,
and it soon transpired that Mr.. Dun
wardin was engaged in mining affairs,
and had been drawn to Western
Carolina by accounts of the great min
eral wealth of the region. He was now
on his way to verify some of these ac-
counts. Paul looked little grave when
be heard where be was going, ITO Lau-
rel?" he said. "Do you know that the
settlement along that river bears black
name for the lawless, desperate character
of its inhabitants 1 hope you do not
mean to 60 alone"
eyes alone" answered Dunwardin,
carelessly. "One ortwo gentlemen inter.
ested in the matter as we'll as myself,
were to have met me here, but they have
failed to do so, and l cannot afford to
lose the object of my journey because they
have failed. 1 shall 60 alone there
FORE"
"There may not be absolute danger"
said Paul; "but people here will tell you
how the name of the Laurel settlement
sounds in civilized ears"
"Why do you endeavor to frighten Mr..
Dunwardin by telling him such things"
asked Louise. 81 dare say the Laurel
people are slandered."
"You do not think that our beloved
mountains can harbor anything wrong,"
said Paul smiling. "By-the-by, you
have not been out yet to look at them.
Put on your hat and go at once. More
bellion I insist upon it--and perhaps
Mr.. Dunwardin may like to 60 with
YOU"
'Should you? ?" said Louise, turning to
Mr.. Dunwardin.
That gentleman answered that nothing
would give him greater pleasure; so they
went out together, climbing the rolling
hills over which the town is scattered,
and saw the blue mountains spreading
afar, range upon range, like azure bill
lows. The childlike de- light of Louise
pleased her companion even more than
the bright beauty of the scenes to which
she directed his attention with an air of
nr;de and proprietorship that was anu