New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-09-19

accustomed to me, and l am quite able"
III you will excuse me-" said Mr.. Dun
wardin, looking at her, you are not able at
!. Pardon me If press my services. Mr.
Chalmers. am sure, will accept them"
MIR. Chalmers indicated an assent. He
is right, Louise" he said. you are tired
and the motion of coach always makes
YOU sick"
So Louise was reluctantly forced to re-
sign her place, and Mr.. Dunwardin took
| it. He proved SO good a nurse-at once
| strong and gentle-tuat Paul WAS able to
| bear much better the remainder OF the ter
| rible Elk miles. When they rtached the
| top OF the gap, and horses and passengers
| together drew long breath of relief, he
declared himself SD much bet-r that he
urged Mr.. Dunwardin to return to his place
| on top.
al wish you could take poor Louise with
| you" he said. "A lii tie fresh air would do
| her good"
paul, you know would not leave you,''
| said Louise, quickly.
| But you can do nothing for me-" said
| Paul, land the worst of the road is over
| now. If Mr.. Dunwardin will arrange my
| cushions, shall do very we'll, and perhaps
| go IA sleep"
| Don't you think you had better come on
| top for litilt while E. asked Mr.. Dunwar
| din, locking at the pale gentle face with H
| great deal of kindness in Lis glance. at
VIII make you feel DETER
| Go Louise; pray co. said Paul ear
neatly.
So, again with reluctance, Lou,ss con-
serted, telling herself that it was very good
| of Mr. Dunwardin take much ntere st
| IL her when she had no prettiness or fashion
to commend her to his notice. She did feel
| very much better when she was elevated
on the deck seat OF the coach, breathing the
| air which was a very elysium of suiln as s
and freshness, and feastipg her eyes on the
| outspread glory of the fair mountain land
| scape. Her companion WAS pleased to see
the animal on that came into her face.
Thank you for bringing me-" she said to
| him. How lovely everything is How
wish Paul oould be here! 1t would make
| him think SO much of the dear old times"
Iuu huvw tnis vvuni.., tnvu ~ asnvG
| Mr.. Dunwardin.
"My home-at least, one of my homes
used 10 be here but ! have not seen the
| mountains before in years"
Your brother tells me that you live in
Baltimore
"Yes, but we are Carolinians. / am an
art st" she went on, looking up at him with
a certain graceful dignity; IA, 4ast try to
be. Therefore, | hope to unite business
with pleasure in coming here this summer"
at is beautiful and almost an unknown
country" said Mr. Duuwardin the very
place for an artist, | should think"
He said nothing more than this, but
Louise, whose perceptions were very quick,
f. 1t that she had not suffered in his sstima.
ton by the statement just made. His man
ner lest none of i kindly courtesy-lndeed
she perceived that it gained a shade of
added iuterest-and when he turned the
conversation TO art in general, and the
writings of Raskin and Hamerton, she
found that she had a cultivated as well as
pleasant companion.
l. f.,ll ltla IL,
at ease with him More than once he de
scended from the coach to see if Paul needed
any thing, bat he insisted that she should
remain alOft, and since Paul Joined in the
request she was glad enough to obey. As
afternoon passed softly into evening. and
deep purple shadows began to wrap the en-
circling mountains. it was pleasant to over
look fair valleys and crystal streams, dark
blue heigh's and deep gorges-pleas SAINT to
watch the tints OF sunset casting their glow |
over the great crest of the Black Noun. |
tains, and the scarcely less imposing peaks
of Craggy-pleasant to see the gorgeous |
colors die out OF the west, and the silver |
lustre of new moon reign in the violet tkv |
The night was considerably advanced |
when they reached the lovely valley of the |
Swsnnanoa, with the fairy river Draw ling |
over lis rocks. The faint moonlight gu, he'd |
lightly, yet with exquisite effect, The droop-
ing trees and tangled vines that fIinged its
course, while the music of it's voice filled ali |
the summer night. To Louise it was the
voice of an old and dearly beloved friend.
All the happy days that che had spent by
the side Of this pearl of rivers came
thrc nging back to her. II Paul had been
sitting by her she would have said at every
turn, ID you remember" As it was, she
tell into silence, and her comp tnion did not
disturb her by any attempt at talk. In this
way they journeyed on until thew reached
ms orr a. Al lnft |
crowns
The nex morning Mr.. Dunwardin greeted
the two young people like an old friend,
and as they sat together alter breakfast On
an upper piazza of the hot u, he ventured to
ask what their plans were. These were
brit fly toll. They intended to take lodg-
ing at some farm house in the neiphbor-
hood of Asheville-perhaps ut that ideal
hosterly known to all travellers in Western
Carolina as "Alexanders on the French
Broad"
II would like to go there" said Louise.
Il must write and ask If we can obtain
rooms"
"You need not take that trouble if Won
vi allow me the pleasure of rendering You
slight Service" said Mr.. Dunwardin II
snail go down the French Broad to morrow.
and probably stop for day or two at Alex
'nder's, l can, therefore, make arrange
mel Is for you
This offer was accepted with thanks, and
{ soon tran spired that Mr.. Dunwardin was
Engaged in mining affairs, and had been
ira~n to Western Carolina by account of
he great mineral wealth of the region. He
vas now on hls way to verify some of these
accounts. Paul louked little grave when
10 h ard where he was going. .sTo
laurel ~ he said Do gu know that the
ettlem' mt along that river b' ars black
lame for the lawlese, desperate character
i its inhabitants hope GU don't mean
o 60 alone"
Yee, alone" answered Dunwardip, care
essly. 'One or two gentlemen, interested
n the matter as well as myself, were to
ave met me here, bnt they have failed to
70 So, anc can not afford to lore the object
4 my journey because they have failed.
hall go alone, therefore" I
There may not be absolute danger, #" said {
PAUL; "but the people here will tell yoa
ow the name of the Laurel settlement I
Ounds in civilized ca g." I
"Wny DO you endesvor to Brighten Mr.
)unwardin bv telling him such thing. I" [
cred" :
"You do not think that YOUR beloved 7
fountains can hsrbOr anything wrong" {
aid Paul. smiling. by the by, you have d
OF been out yet to look at them. Put on i
our hat and 60 at once. No rebellion! l q
Is, ,s,st ,i upon it-and perhaps Mr.. Dunwardin q
"ShOuld yOu2" said Louise, turping tn a
[r. Dunwsrdin.
The gentleman answered that nothing q
'ouid give him greater pleasure; 80 they v
ent out together, climbed the rolling hills
YER which the town is scattered, and saw
,e Blue mountains spreading afar, range f
pom range, like azure pillows The child r