Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-23

| this was the case, / at last stammereo the
apology which had been delayed.
{. It does not matter, thank you" she
said in a refined, educated voice 1t IS
only the gathers Then / fastened away,
| feeling that nature had committed some
extraordinary mistake in having made
Janet one of Cooks personally conducted
tourists
After dinner / sauntered about the town,
visited the cathedral, had a peep at the
sanity bones, and caught myself wonder
ing whether the "party had thought of
it. But of course she must be like the
rest of them, and most likely stared at the
sights without taking them in.
Over my evening cigar wrote letter to
my mother and expressed my strong dis
approval Of her cooks conduct, but added
my utter inability to pick up another in
these regions. It was most aggravating
that lust as 1 wrote these words Cook s
party should come into my head, and after
the party Janet" What on earth did it
matter to me what this girls history might
be? So l rang my bell and said must be
called in time to go on By the boat.
The next morning went early on board,
chose a good seat, and made myself thor
oughly comfortable; when what was my
indignation and surprise to see rush, a
struggle, and then to hear the sonorous
tones of the conductor, saying:
There is plenty of time, ladies and gen.
tlemen no need to hurry"
had fondly hoped that had left these
people behind bat no they, too, were
going up the Rhine, and they, too, were
irving to secure the best seats. got up,
half intending to 90 back to the hotel and
wait for the next day, but at that minute |
saw my stout neighbor looking about for a
camp.stool Next | saw Janet look up and
down the boat in shy. bewildered man
ner to find seat II possible saw her ap-
proach my end and then-was l mad II
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 90 can ind another /;
or if not, can go downstairs
4" Indeed you must not. You viii miss
half the view, and we are gong to have
perfect day.
THAT'S what I've been telling Janet, I"
said the stout man. =" Half the battle on
these occasions is to get goot seat and
stick to It. Sit down, MY dear: l al
ways say Young gentlemen ought to be
polite to the ladies'.
Janet blushed scarlet, and not wishing
TO increase her awkwardness / moved
deck, gazing more at my enemies than at
the view. Indeed the noise they made
prevented much sublime meditation. At
every turn l took I also caught sight of
]snet's graceful figure. She sat alone
aud silent, for her companion had soon
joined the merry party. At last my in
cliDation got the better of my prudence.
[ went up to her, pretending l wished
to see some special spot through nay
glasses.
81 hope you find your seat comfort
able - I said.
eyes, thank you. Please let me return
It to you"
refused, of course, and then took the
opportunity Of observing her more closely.
She was strangely beautiful, but not Of 4
common order Of beauty. l was certain
that the other Cooks" thought q great
deal more Of stout, high.colored, large.
eyed girl, who was one of their 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
"Isuppose your father often takes you
abroad" I said.
MIR Smith has been here before, but /
have not, was the reply.
Janet Smith [ was struck dumb.
" Smith seemed such an inappropriate
name for this beautiful girl. Alter . time
| started another subject
g I am so sorry l tore your dress yester.
day you must 5hink men very stupid.
. 1t did not matter, sac returned.
mended it early this morning, before 1
went to the cathedral.
Did You 90 with all the Coo all
your party" I added hastily. Janet
blushed again, and / could have knocked
out my brains at my stupidity. And yet
after ali Janet was "Cook."
No, / went alone; there are some
things one likes to see by ones self; a
cathedral, for instance, ora beautiful view" .
Certainly, unless accompanied by a
very suitable companion"
Janet was not to be drawn on by light
conversation. She did not answer this re-
! mark, but looked straight before her. OF
whom was she thinking? ! tried again.
| See, that is the lannon's Lofelei; in q
| book ] was reading the other day 1t gave
one all the curious legends Of these shores. y
Janet smiled, and by degrees I found out
she knew a good deal more about the
curious legends than I did, so we talked
on this safe subject till Mr. Smith reap
peared, sending bis voice before hiin.
g Wei, Janet, my dear, l see you have
some good company"
Janes's face lost all its animation she
was in minute the quiet, beautiful girl
had seen the evening before.
/ drew away, almost annoyed at having
so much enjoyed our talk, annoyed at the
unusual interest felt in this stranger. !,
who had frequented the best society, and
had seen dozens of pretty girls who had Got
made half the impression on me that Janet
| Smith was now making. / determined 10
have nothing more to do with her; so
carefully avoided her. and seating myself
at some distance, said | should now thor.
oughly enjoy the view.
At Biagen I heard a rush, and before
was aware of the cause ] saw that the con.
ductor had marshaled out his party with
bBS tpcEu dnl pitCL=tOn q 06boaa4 tHtsA'
have envied. / had only just time &c
catch a glimpse of graceful fi-lre and
bright hair, before we left Cooks party
behind on terra nrma, and were proceeding
on to Mayence in blessed silence, yet OF
my part with slight feeling of disappoint
ment
When I reached Mayence it was late
The red glow left by the sun was intensely
beautiful, for against the crimson and or
ange background the black hulks and mast;
of the Rhine boats were drawn out SHARP
and clear. But what are beauties that ont
cannot share with another human being
| 1 burned on to hotel and asked for bed
For single gentleman, sir ?" asked TIA,
master, looking at my portmauteau.
"0f course. And have you any dinner
for meG''
at is going on now" was the reply
"if you will be good enough to follow tht
waiter.
This was only too happy to do. feeling
thankful that mine host spoke capital Eng
I I I