Litchfield enquirer., 1881-08-25

DeWlldered manner to find a seat if possible: saw her approach my end /; and then-was mad !-1 rose quickly and actually offered my seat to one of the enemy. Janet looked up at me, and her simplicity perhaps, too, those blue eyes-melted my anger.
 Please do not let me deprive you of your seat, she said; Il can find another; or if not, Il can go downstairs
 Indeed you must not You will miss half the view. and we are going to have perfect day,"> -
 That's what I've been telling Janet" said the stout man. Half the battle on these oc- casions is to get a good seat and stick to it. Dit down, my dear always say young gen. ftemen ought to be polite to the ladies'"
 Janet blushed scarlet, and not wishing to increase her awkwardnes ess moved away and ,sauntered up and down the deck, gazing more at my enemies than at the view. Indeed, the noise they made prevented much sublime meditation. At every turn took also caught sight of Janet's graceful figure. She sat alone and silent, for her companion had soon joined the merrier party. At last my inclination got the better of my prudence. went up to her, pretending I wished to see some special spot through my glasses.
 Il hope you find your seat comfortable ?" I said,
 ''Yes, thank you: Please let me return 1t to you"
 refused, of course, and then took the Op- portunity of observing her more closely. She was strangely beautiful, but not of a common order of beauty. was certain that the other Cooks" thought great deal more of a stout, hlgh-colored, large-eyed girl, who was one of thelr party and appeared to be very talkative. But this shy Janet was evidently far too much above them to be popular. What could be the circumstances that had made her what she was -
 Il suppose your father often takes you abroad, ,. I said
 "Mr Smith has been here before, but have not, " was the reply
 Janet Smith 1 was struck dumb "Smith" seemed such an inappropriate name for this beautiful girl. After time started another subject.
 q an so sorry tore your dress yesterday j; you must think men very stupid"
 'It did not matter" she returned. 'I mended it early this morning. before went to the cathedral" ....
 ''Did you go with all the Coo--all your party" l added hastily. Janet plushed again, and could have knocked out my brains at my stupidity. And yet after all Janet was a Cook" .,..
 ''No, went alone; there are some things one likes to see by one's self; cathedral, for instance, or a beautiful view"
 Certainly, unless accompanied by very suitable companion"
 Janet was not to be drawn on by light con- versation She did not answer this remark, but looked straight before her. Of whom was she thinking tried again.
 ''See, that is the famous Lorelei; in a book l was reading the other day it gave one all the curious legends of these shores" Janet smiled, and by degrees 1 found out she knew good deal more about the "curious legends" than did, so we talked on this safe subject till MT. Smith reappeared, sending his voice before him.
 Well, Janet, my dear, 1 see you have some good company"
 Janet's face lost all it's animation; she was in a,minute the quiet, beautiful girl I had seen the evening before.
 drew away, almost annoyed at having so much enjoyed our talk, annoyed at the unu- sual interest 1 felt n this stranger. I, who had frequented the best society, and had seen dozens of pretty girls who had not made half the impression on me that Janet Smith was now making. 1 determined to have nothing more to do with her; so 1 carefully avoided her, and seating myself at some distance, said 1 should now thoroughly enjoy the view.
 At Bingen heard a rush, and before was aware of the cause I saw that the conductor had marshaled out his party with the speed and precision General might have envied. I l had only just time to catch glimpse of graceful figure and bright hair, before we left Cooks" party behind on terra firma. and were proceeding on to Mayence in blessed si- fence, yet on my part with slight feeling of disappointment.
 When reached Mayence it was late. The red glow left by the sun was intensely beau- tiful, for against the crimson and orange back ground the black hulks and masts of the Rhine boats were drawn out sharp and clear. But what are beauties that one cannot share with another human being hurried on to hotel and asked for bed.
 "For single gentleman, sir? ?' asked the master, looking at my small portmanteau.
 "Of course. And have you any dinner for me ?"
 ''It is going on now," was the reply, Eff you will be good enough to follow the wait er."
 This was only too happy to do, feeling thankful that mine host spoke capital English, and that could make him understand my wishes. The waiter threw open the door, 1 caught sight of a long table, lit with grand chandeliers, of multitude of faces; I heard great chatter of knives and forks and human tongues; saw an empty seat and was hur- ried into it and then turning round found that my neighbor was-Mr. Smith was in for the Cooks" again!
 Good gracious p exclaimed ''yophere againl"
 "Why. yes; we did little land travelling. Our conductor knows that enough is as good boat There IS good deal of sameness on rver. It was uncommonly nice to stretch our legs. wasn't it, Janet p
 1 bent forward and bowed to Janet. How refreshing it was to see her face in that un- sympathetic crowd, but noticed that her manner toward me had changed Did she re- sent my having shown my dislike of her sur roundings? Surely there was some strange fate in this. Who, quite by chance, had hit upon this same hotol2 And above all, why was so glad to see her agaIn-glad and an. gry, too-augry because 1 was glad {? The party" appeared to me more noisy, more uninteresting than before, and she more besu- tiful, more queenly, more refined by con trast.
 Instead of retiring to my own room. I fol lowed the Cooks into the salon. The bal cony, which ran along outside the house, was soon crowded with them, and this made me suggest to Mir. Smith moonlight walk
 "A capital idea, sir! I have no doubt the whole party would like it immensely"
 Plague take the party !" I muttered, but alas too auulOly, TOT roun0 Janet at my elbow and with g look on her face I had not seen there before. She hastened to turn to- ward Mir. Smith and said Tn cold voice:
 ''I am tired now, and shall go to bed, !" and she moved away from me. At that moment would have gone out en troupe with the Cooks" If Janet would have looked pleased managed to Intercept her, however, before she reached the salon door,
 'sAre you going out tomorrow, Miss Smith {? mean there cannot be much to see at May ence." Janet turned toward me with little look of surprise on her face Then, with ev- ident effort, she said iH chilling tone:
 tI do not know what our party are going to do tomorrow. Goodnight" And with a motion which Queen might have made when displeased by some petty subject Janet swept past me, leaving me piqued and indignant with her, and angry with myself <A.'
 One thing l determined that night : would stay here at Mayence till the Cooks" were we'll out of the way Those sort of people