The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-10-06

faint idea of the actual state OF the case,
but il was of great length, and very
thin, and very pink, and q vast deal
more than very unpleasant I; it seemed,
as it were, to be peering and investigat-
ing everything, to be inquiring and fer
reting out all visible and invisible OBJ
jects, and to have quite an independent
character and time of its own. 1t ex-
tended well over the old lady's long up
per lip and, in brief, it was not only
nose that my companion was mistress of,
buta nose and half.
"I hope I do not incommode you 7"
Tho pleasant, courteous voice recalls me
to my senses.
"Not in the least, assure you," I
reply, casting one more furtive glance
at the nose.
"'Tis little chilly-is it not9 think
1 need more wrappings."
With which the elderly lady arose and
took down one of her small canvas bags,
drawing therefrom blue cloak, with
which she enveloped herself, and, snap
ping the catch, reinstated the bag in it's
place.
Scan I not hand you your plaidG"
the elderly lady asked me, courteously,
before seating herself.
glanced up as L answered her, snd
read the small card that was neatly
on the bottom of her satchel, "Mme. la
Comtesse de Girondelle, Paris"
"No, thanks. All, I 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. un-
buckle the straps, unroll my plaid, and
leave nay precious morocco case quite
bare with its brass mounting and pad
ock, and the new plate papa mad put on
it for my wedding-day."
"Let me assist you," Nine. Ia Com
tesse says politely, helping me on with
my big shawl. "Fellow-travelers should
be on excellent terms, especially when
they chance to be two ladies voyaging
alone. You have been ON the Continent
before, 1 presume2 The English ladies
are such ladies for sightseeing.
"No," replied, bashfully, and-why
l know not-feeling mortified to think
that had not been abroad before.
"Nol Is it possibleG You are so
self-possessed that I imagined you famil-
lar with all these scenes"
Worthy Comtesse Her eyes were
beginning to fail her, l feared.
"I-ah, alas have been many
times over Europe, and alone also, since
the death of my husband.
Here it occurred to me to wonder,
with another furtive glance, how any
man could have married such nose.
"You are going to Baden to join your
mother and father-to F-9 will 80
gladly chaperone you so far as in my
poor power. know what it is to be so
young, though never so pretty"-with
a sigh-"and voyaging alone"
"You are very kind" 1 reply, with a
feeling of great satisfaction as take Ia
the idea of once more being dependent
upon some one-which is to tell the
truth, my normal state-and that some
one worthy elderly lady, although with
more than the usual share of nose.
"But am not going to F., only to
Baden"
$50 2" interrupts the Comtesse, with
smile of genuine delight. 81 go to
Baden myself. The waters have been
prescribed for me by my physician.
eyes 2" say, interestedly. CT am
sorry that do not stay there. L go
right on by coach to P, and thence
to La Manche, where"-I blush pain
fully at this point" my husband awaits
me-"
"Your husband l"-The Comtesse ut
ters little scream of astonishment.
"My child-une enfant veritablement
All, what is this age arriving at 2"
/ laugh small, happy, foolish laugh,
and proceed to give the Comtesse brief
resume of the principal events in my
history-chiefy consisting, I can assure
you, in my courtship, marriage, we'd
ding Gncluding my dot, which reposes
in the rack), Algy's imperative tour, and
my now going on to be with him once
more after nearly four weeks of cruel
separation to all of which the Comtesse
listened attentively and courteously,
with interest, and little, sympathetic,
womanly smiles and mods. Before !
have finished, / think her the most de-
lightful, motherly, charming lady that j
have ever encountered-were it not for
her nose; but / endeavored to avoid
looking at that, and strive to rivet my
attention solely on her bright eyes and
pleasant smile.
Nine. la Comtesse in return confdes
to me her card-a fac -simile of that sc
neatly tackled to her satchel-and tells
me that la Comte is long since deceased,
leaving her the mistress of a small indie.
pendence that she resides in London,
$50 she loves the dear English :" and
Just now is en- route for Baden to drink
the famous waters.
We get on famously, the Comtesst
and /, and / think joyously of how glac
Algy would be to know of my being un
der the wing of so charming and educa
ted person. In fact, at the end of oul
fourth day together, feel as If / hat
known the Comtesse oil my life, and
feel sure also that she likes me. TIL,
nose oppresses me frequently, but
contract habit of talking and listening
to her without looking, and thii
somewhat ameliorates the situation.
On Friday evening at A o'clock we ar
rive at Baden, and, as the Souther1
train does not start for two hours yet,
accept my new friends offer of spending
the time with her at her hotel quit
gratefully.
am installed in the little parlor o
the Comtesse's pretty apartment--el
| tro;o;apoa n ia trIle but afford;no a 10