The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-21
A NOSE AND A HALF,


tive enough, owned-called him imme-
dately TO the Continent; and, although
both Mr.. and Mrs. A. S. Westmoreland
murmured somewhat at fate and 5000
per annum, Algy was compelled to leave
me "my lane,o and 60 on his way the
witeless hus band or months standing.
He was to be back certainly in three
weeks, il not sooner, and l was charged
to write hourly, to telegraph ii | had The
headache, and to keep up good heart
besides! Instead of fulfilling which
commands, wrote-well, it is true, al
most hourly-in scraps; forbode from
telegraphing either my head or my heart
aches; and, alas for cheerfulnessl /
moped about my bit OF house in Bays
| water as though l was widow instead
of bride; stared at AIgy's big
photo over my bed; remembered,
almost with tears, that L had watched
him completely out OF sight-a most un-
lucky proceeding; tried the piano, but
| found it but sad reminder of our court
| ing days; poked my fingers in all the
pockets oil the coats Algy had left at
home, but found nothing save few old
envelopes; gazed at all my new gowns,
and felt no inclination to put them on /;
and last, but by no means least, teasted
my eyes on my sole dOt-a superb set of
diamonds that had been in my family for
| ever so many years, and that my father,
even in his darkest days, would in no
wise part with. There was necklace
and cross, q brooch, and pair of ear
rings with exquisite pendants that one
| could detach at pleasure; bracelet and
ring, that put Algy's solitaire, sparkling
on my third finger, to the most unques-
Lionable blush; but loved the solitaire
with most unreasonable passion, and IN
| contrast, looked coldly on the nine-stOned
gem lying among its splendid fellows in
| the big morocco case; nothing would in
duco me to wear 1T.
One week, TWO, three; Algy was not
at home, and was not coming. l was to
| ioin him at La Manche. He could not
be spared to come and fetch me, So /
was to 60 to him, and alone, without
even the meager ''protecLlon" of Il maid,
and with naught save the sense OF be-
ling Mrs. Algernon Sidney Westmore-
land as q shield and buckler for my
umidity, my nineteen years and my
babyish face, and Il journey of five days
duration. Still, l dad not dread it. the
idea of travel in itself alone was en-
chanting to my untraveled soul; the
idea that was TO see Atgy i'll something
short OF a week, and leel his big brown
mustache on my mouth, redouDled the
euchautmeut i'll amost singular manner;
ana, moreover, in the fact OF performing
This voyage unattended there was to me
flavor Of unaccusLOmednesS, so 10
speak, that quite Dewitched me, as | re-
nearsed the department should display
to admlrlng TOURISTS over lle packing Ul
my bran new trunk.
| crossed the channel, suffice it to say,
not less a sufferer from mal-de-mer than
any woman ON board The pitching, lurch-
ing vessel; and alter three hours AZ The
Hotel Rationale lor reIreshment and
rest, took my seat in the railway cars
bound for p, where | was, according
to Algy's express In unctions, "to stay
at the Hotel du Bon-Dleu over nighC'-
armed with a small travelling bag, con-
tanning sundry necessaries, i'll the one
hand, and my shawl straps in the other,
girded round my thick blanket plaid,
which, in its turn, was folded securely
round my dot-the precious diamonds,
which | was too much afraid OF losing
to trust in my trunks, knowing full wei
that The company would not be RESPONSE
BILE for even tiUhe OF their value.
settled myself and my possessions
quite comfortably, when, just as the
cars were about to start, some one
tapped me on the shoulder, and a pleas.
ant voice, with just the iaintest flavor
OF a foreign accent, spoke:
care you expecting a companion? Is
this seat engagedW pointing TO the one
beside me.
"No-oh, mop l answered.
"Wilh your permission, then~
"Certainly, madame"
| looked up then at the person whose
two small canvas bags ana one wicker
basket were deposited on top OF my own
portable luggage III the side rack--a tall,
old--well, perhaps L should use the NIL
der form elderly lady, with lunches of
soft gray curls ON either side OF her face,
a coifee-colored complexion, two bright
gray eyes, small mouth-and nose!
The foregoing exclamation point is not
intended to imply that was i'll the habit
OF associating with persons whose faces
lacked that important feature, the nose;
but simply to indicate the extreme as.
tonishment felt on beholdiug this par
ticular nose.
10 say that it was long gives but a
faint idea of the actual state of the case,
but it was of great length, and very
thin and very pink, and vast deal more
than very pleasant; 1T seemed, as it
were, to be peering and investigating
everything, to be lnqulrlng and ferreting
out all visible and Invisible objects, and
nave QultC dh Suoi az
ter and Time of it's own. 1t extended
well over the old lady's long upper lip;
and, in brief, it was not only nose that
my companion was mistress of, but a
nose and half.
II hope l do not incommode youT
The pleasant, courteous voice recalls
me to my senses.
mot in the least, assure you," l re-
ply, casting one more furtiye glance at
The nose.
"'ris little chilly-is it not? think
need more wrappings."
With which the elderly lady arose and
took down one of the small canvass
bags, drawing thereirom blue cloak,
with which she enveloped herself, and
swapping the catch, reinstated the bag
in its place.
"Can not hand you your plaid" the
elderly lady asked me, courteously be-
fore seating herself.
] glanced up as l answered her, and
read the small card that was neatly
tackled on the bottom OF her sachel,
"Mme. la Comtesse de Girondelle,
Paris"
tsNo, thanks. All, l beg pardon, it is
chilly. am sorry to trouble you, but
will take it, please"
And she hands it to me, resuming her
seat with nice, cheerful smile. l un-