Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-16

3
cakes looked, / thought. And 20 though evil
IDENTIFY, q little curiously- attired lady, who M
gazing fondly at the eatables. As paused she
turned round, and at once recognized one of the
'Cooks!" So they were come, and had arrived
before me! Pray, reader, do not smile II own
woman. took off my hat, made polite bow.
and said believed had met her at Cologne
and other places.
"Ah! to be sure, she said, anxiously "Could
You tell me, sir. what O'clock it is?"
'Just four" said, taking out nv watch.
''And dinner is not till z, she sighed. s'These
foreign ways are most uncomfortable, I think
There's nothing like ones comfortable cup of tea
at O'clock as all good Christians have in Eng
"why not make up for it by these tempting
a cup of English tea
"Do you think one may?" she asked eagerly.
looking up at me graye1y. ''You see. our con-
ductOr does for us altogether and don't know.
am sure, whether it's in the agreement"
might suddenly appear around the corner, re-
Trained.
81 am sure every Englishman is free to spend
MS money as ne likes, and with it You may Ger
tainly buy what you like"
You really think so?" Then her face bright
ened, whilst I ushered her into the shop and
asked for what she required; and she quite
cheered up as 'tOurtes de cerises" and Gateaux
aux ecfalrs disappeared
Are the other Goethe rest of your party at
the hotel:" inquired carelessly.
"Oh yes, sir, they are resting. We don't 90
round the town till Tomorrow morning, and
we've only Paris to do after this" she added.
with sigh of relief. 81 really don't believe
would have come if I'd known the tramping we
nad 10 do-and then none Of the meals regular.
us very Wen for young people; it was my
cousin Joe that persuaded me- He came home
Ilush from India, and said he'd treat me. But
~ dare say that Mr. and Miss Smith enjoyed
it, said l, interrupting her.
"Wef, certainly Mr.. Smith, he ALWAYS seemed
TO enjoy everything. But Miss-dear me, Smith
isn't the name. Well, anyhow dare say they're
repenting it now for poor Mr. Smith quite
broke down two days ago. Two days was it?
Wen, really, slr, quite lose count of days with
us Mr.. Smith i'll, them"
Il don't really know what he is now, sir
shouldn't be surprised to hear he was in his
conln, for we left him in a dirty bit of town
that wasn't # for anyone to be ill in"
And his daughter-is she with him.
"She's 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." 1
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 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 be
In difficulty, knowing no one, perhaps not able
to speak French. After all, 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. l should get
there that evening, and might, perhaps be of
COY <i,,,o T
self that, of course, anyone hearing of young
lady left in foreign land, with sick relative,
would do what was doing. My mother felt
sure, would be the first to suggest going to see
after them, ETC., etc. 1t is curious how difficult
it is to be honest with ones self | did not ask
II should have done the same had Janet been
other than she was.
1t was quite dark when reached Aigle More
over, the fine day had clouded over and it was
now pouring with rain. 1 did not know what
hotel Mr. Smith might be in, so that entered
the nearest one, asked if ''Mr. Smith was
staying there, and was answered in the mega
tive.
fastened out again into the rain, and tried
another hotel In the town. There was no Mr.
Smith there; most likely he was at the big hotel.
mile out of the town. Courageously sailed
forth, though before reached my journeys end
Iheartilywished had waited for the morning
arrived at last, wet to the skin, and as was
forced to put up there. changed my dripping
things before | asked the question once more
''Was there Mr.. Smith in the hotel?"
Certainly; a stout gentleman who had been i'll
and young lady with him. This surely was nv
MIR. Smith; SO | found a card and told the waiter
to ask if might see the lady. l waited in fever
ish impotence until the waiter came back and
begged me to follow him.
l was shown into small sitting room lit I'D
with gas; it was empty, but there was work
basket on the table and several books. took
one up; it was "Hyperion;" and this sent nv
thoughts back to that day on the Rhine when
Janet had been so animated about the old le-
gends. In two minutes side door opened and
Janet stood before me- She looked so COM
posed. SO self-possessed, that for an instant 1
fancied our former meeting had been dream,
and that we were really old English acquain-
tances and friends.
pray forgive me, Miss Smith, but fancied-
| mean l heard your uncle was i'll, and I
thought as was in this neighborhood that
might be of some service to you. It is so in
convenient in these out-of-the-way places to get
what one wants."
She did not hold out her hand; and looking at
her. | feared she had not forgiven me.
"Thank you. Mr. Hunter" she said, stiffly;
''my uncle has been i'll, but he is little better
now"
"But is there nothing can do?" said Gag
erly. She was, she must have been little
touched, although she only replied:
81 am sure my uncle will be very much OBJ
have no claim upon your-ccurtesy." This last
word was brought out with little effort, yet
she looked more fascinating than ever
do pray believe me when l say that shall
be delighted to do anything l can for you.
really mean what say" My words and the
tone of my voice must have expressed some of
my feeling, for suddenly Janet became cold and
stern.
81 can assure you that require nothing.
Perhaps you forget that we are part IF the OBJ
noxious crowd you found 80 troublesome" She
smiled now whilst felt quite a',ashed. Still
could not help fully recognizing chat had Janet
been found among troop of tinerant players
she would still have been a queen among wO-
men. Before found anything; to reply she held
out her hand as if to make up for her words,
saying:
"GOOd night, Mr.. Hunter; fear my uncle
must be waiting for me. VIII you excuse me?'
Then she was gone, and all Icould do was to re-
turn to my room and mediate how could best
prove to Janet that would do anything for her.
Alas! there was no hiding the fact now; was
desperately in love with this mysterious Janet.
despised myself for it, and my only consolation
was that she despised me too.
woke up the next morning determined to
ingratiate myself with Mr.. Smith, but for fear of
appearing troublesome l waited till 10 o'clock
before inQuiring of the waiter how Mr.. Smith
was reported to be this morning.
"better, monsieur. The Mr.. Smith and the
Miss went away this morning eariy-the doctor