Litchfield enquirer., 1881-08-25

 "La maison est tres tranquille, ce soir mon- sieur; les Coques son partis." ," f's | ! FfiE E' IT." tf eGef3 aaHs} ;. | RUNNING AFTER HER. l Strange perversity of human nature! No sooner was quite sure of being freed from my | enemies than 1 felt a strong desire to run after them, just for the purpose of asking Janet to I forgive me. This was SO intensely foolish that tried to forget the whole episode; tried by great deal of sightseeing to drive Janet's image out of my head. And yet why was it that could so we'll recollect every feature of her face, and call to mind even the turn of her head and the sweet expression of her deep blue eyes? 1 still kept wondering at the incongrui- ty of that girl with her surroundings.
 Never did 8 week appear so long to me as that week at Mayence. was quite sick of it and of the Rhine; heartily glad when once more moved on, perfectly sure 1 should not again meet the party-unless, perhaps, on their 1 return journey. r .-..; .5;.sz-. .5.t...- 1 About fortnight after this found myself at Lucerne, at the Hotel Swan. As I was idling about the saloon chanced upon a print ed paper. and, in large, imposing letters, read, 'Cook s Personally Conducted Tour" Then there followed an account of the places they
 would pass through. I examined the dates
 Yes, this was the tour of my identical enemies l further noted that on certain day in Au- gust they would have seen all the beauties of Switzerland, and would pause one day at Ge- neva before returning home via Paris Geneva is a very pleasant place just about this time, said to myself; may as well go there as anywhere also. But had only just time to reach it by that special August day. Not that it mattered in the least my arriving by that date, but if ] had, it would be curi- ous coincidence. And let me own to you reader, that that curious coincidence did take place for entered bright sunny Geneva on the same day that the Hotel d'Agnleterre was expecting large inroad of visitors. Isent on my luggage by the hotel omnibus and deter mined to walk about till nearer the dinner hour.
 As was sauntering along, looking into the shop windows and trying to choose something worthy of the dear mother at home, happened to pass pastrycook's shop. How delicious the cakes looked, thought And so thought, evidently, little, curiously -attired lady, who was gazing fondly at the eatables. As 1 paused she turned round, and at once re- cognized. one of the "Cooks!" So they were come, and had arrived before me! Pray, reader, do not smile if own that at once felt quite friendly toward this old woman took of my hat, made polite bow, and said believed had met her at Cologne, and other places.
 ''Ah! to be sure," she said, anxiously.
 "Coula you tell me, SIT, what o'clock it it?"
 'tJust four, said, taking out my watch.
 ''And dinner is not till T." she sighed.
 ''These foreign ways are most uncomfortable, think. There's nothing like ones comfort able cup of tea at o'clock, as all good Chris tians have in England"
 | 'Why not make up for it by these tempting | fhAOOh | worth cup of English tea" ...
 "Do you think one may ?" she asked eager | ly. looking up at me gravely. "You see, our conductor does for us altogether and don't know. am sure, whether it's in the agree | menJ."
 l nearly laughed aloud, but fearing Janet might suddenly appear round the corner, re- | trained. ..- .,-.s 1 ''I am sure every Englishman is free to spend his money as he likes, and with it you may certainly buy what you like" | You really think SO ?" Then her face l brightened, whilst ushered her into the shop | and asked for what she required j. and she 1 qnite cheered up as ''tourtes de cerises" and | ''gateaux aux eclairs" disappeared. Are the other Goethe rest of your party at the hotel ?" inquired, carlessly. ''Oh yes. sir, they are resting. We don't go round the town till tomorrow morning, and we've only Paris to do after this, " she added, l with sigh of relief. Il really don't believe would have come if I'd known the tramping about we had to do-and then none of the meals regular. It's very well for young peo- pie; it was my cousin Joe that persuaded me- He came home flush from India, and said he'd treat me. But there"
 II dare say MT. and Miss Smith enioyedit" said l. interrupting her
 Well, certainly MT. Smith, he always seemed to enjoy everything. But Mlss-dear me, Smith isn't the name. Well, anyhow dare say they're both repeDting it now, for poor MT. Smith quite broke down two days ago. Two days, was it We'll, really, sir quite, lose count of days with this going about"
 Il Mir. Smith i'll, then ?''
 Il don't really know what he is now, sir. I shouldn't be surprised to hear he was in his coffin, for we left him in dirty bit of town that wasn't fit for anyone to be i'll in." "Aud his daughter r-is she with him?" ''Shes his niece Oh, yes, she's with him, but she's quite another sort-not fit to rough it ] in that dirty place."
 ''But what was the name of the place?" I | asked, trying not to show my eagerness "And why were they left alone?'
 They called it Eagle, or some such name. And as to stopping-why, sir, Cooks parties never stop. If somebody drops out, why they do. You see it's all contract work" | She had finished her cakes, and left her in haste. One idea possessed me. Janet was | alone with that man-that uncle; she might l be in difficulty, knowing no one, perhaps not | able to speak French. After all, l was not altogether wrong-Janet was not his daughter rushed back to the hotel, paid what they asked of me, and took the next train to Aigle | 1 should get there that evening, and might, 1 perhaps, be of some use. All this time kept saying to myself that. of course, anyone hear l ing of young lady left in a foreign land, with a,sick relative, would do what was doing. My mother, felt sure, would be the first to suggest going to see after them, etc, etc It l is curious how difficult 1t is to be honest with one's self. did not ask if 1 should have 1 done the same had Janet been other than she 1 was. l It was quite dark when 1 reached Aigle
 Moreover, the fine day had clouded oYer and l it was now pouring with rain. l did not know what hotel Mir Smith might be iD, so that entered the nearest one, asked if ''Mr. Smith" was staying there, and was answered | in the negative.
 l hastened out again into the rain, and tried another hotel in the town. There was no MT. Smith there; most likely he was at the big hoteL mile out of the town. Courageously I sallied forth, though before 1 reached my journeys end heartily wished had waited l TOT tne morning arrlVeu at last, Wes tO the skin, and as l was forced to put up there, changed my dripping things before asked the question once more. 'tWas there Mir. Smith | in the hotel?" e
 | Certainly a stout gentleman who had been
 i'll and young lady with him. This surely was my MT. Smith; so I found card and told the waiter to ask if l might see the lady. II waited in feverish impatience until the
 waiter cape back and begged me to follow | him.
 was shown into small sitting room lit up
 with gas it was empty, but there was work | basket on the table and several books. I took one up it was "Hyerion;" and this sent my thoughts back to that day on the Rhine when Janet had been so animated about the old 1 legends. In two minutes side door opened l and Ianpt stood hefore mo Sho lookad co