The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1881-03-31

servant than of gentleman. 1 knew, however,
how much depended upon my making myself
useful to the firm, and so 1 determined to put my
pride into my pocket.
Before left the office, got my paper of in
structions, and returned home to read them, hav
ing first obtained from the cashier, by Mr.. Basker
villes orders, sum sufficient to defray all possi
BILE expense, those of the young lady and her
maid included. l found that was to start for
Dover by that nights mail and go by the first
boat to Ostend, and thence to Antwerp. / was
to be very firm with Miss Valdane, and
was advised to avoid any attempts at intimacy
on her part / was simply to be her escort, and
IS far as possible to relieve her of all trouble.
Sle would expect me, as a letter had been written
toNIrs. Slater desiring her to send the young lady
TO tntwerp, under charge of a servant
L sarted, according TO my instructions, by the
night ialI for Dover, and at one o'clock the next
day foul,g myself at the door of the Hotel st.
AhUholhe = Antwerp. / inquired if Miss Val
9alle Iau arrl5ed, and was asked to step up to a
urawlils III Nv room A the second floor. No one was
III the room WhehI entered, but in a few minutes
respSctane-lookag mddle-aged woman came
III, and with an Expression of anxiety on her
countenance
"Are you the gentleman from London, sir?p
she said
~ am,n said l. ''When will it be convenient
for Miss validate to set out on her journey ?'
'Oh, sir" said she, "Nss Naldane is very
we'll and has beel obliged to 20 to bed This has
upset all the plan that had been arranged and
don't know what l. dou
''When did this illness come on ?' / asked
''Why, sir, Miss Vadane seemed very well
when VIC left, but a we got near Antwerp She
complained of headashe, and was obliged to 90 10
bed directly aterwe g)t to the hotel The worst of
IL IS she said after apause that must return
by TINS evenings train
The young lady hasher maid, 1 understand ~
said l.
"Oh yes, sir, she is with her, certainly: but she
IS young and Tightly, and haven't much conf
dence in her"
Has Miss vsldane seen any medical man q,
"oh no, sir she wouldn't hear of one being sent
''Wel," said l. ''it cannot be helped; YOU must
return to your mistress, aud | must wait here
until Miss Naldane is able TO travoI.''
In the course Of the afternoon, and after Mrs
Slater's servant had left, ] sent up my compli-
ments to Miss Naldane, and requested to know
how she was.
The youns indy returned her compliments, and
inforraed me that she Was so much better that
She hoped to be down stairs in the course of an
hour.
This was good news, and tnmediatelv set
about inquiries as TO trains ana wat I found
that by leaving Ostend at half-pas. three the
next morning the young lady could se AT her
t'ther- house in time for lunch the same dav
.scordin Ely made the requisite arrangemenls. and
ty aited Miss Naldane's appearance
Her maid shortly afterward came down with
ness re 70 know If il would be convenient TO Ine
- ha. e an interview with her mistress l. of
3f- anted, and directly afterward a young
10 litt room.
ooWeo ana ana ~oked at my charge with some
mas Iar ,lS ~ ~ ea--ence surprised me- She
,i ~ Hliu Hau I'rSe' teF-ler-l looking eyes but
iA e'lef respects was by no mean. rrood iootip,
aHq seemed To want the ease and s0yO.T S;rC tI,l
J -h9Qio We imagined girl i'm her rank OF IT,
Mouli na possessed. She was well and hand
somey Oh ssed, but was decidedly not elegant.
and there aas a freshness and youthfulne,s about
4er that made her anything but an attractive
i' sing eI. She addressed me in a constrained
ana rather unmusical voice
You are the per-the gentleman that has been
sent 10 fetch me ~
Il am, Miss Valdane; when will it be conven-
lent 10 Won 10 set out on the journey ~
'I don't know" she said, pettishy: ;" want TO
see the pictures aud the cathedral, but / suppose
shall have TO do a. am told"
~ was instructed said |, 'to escort you home
without delay
.Oh, by tie way" said she. "there's school
fellow of mine and great frisnd going with us
She wanted To 60 home and W. agreed to travel
together"
How strange thought l. that tine servant should
have made no mention of this other pupiI: but
/ suppose she was so much engrossed with Mis-
Valdane's illness that she could think OF nothing
else.
'.I was not aware, - said T. "that YOU would bo,.,
a companion; but shall be very happy to b. of
Sse to herr
,sIn call her down." she said; and ,oing to the
9o1f she called, or rather shouted, Amy, come
doNnv'
Sh. forgets, I thought, that She is "a crowded
hotel, nd not at home. ! heard "A light, tripping
step on he stairs, and after some little gigglng
outside tla door, Miss Naldane came i'm with "a
very prettS MISUNDERSTANDING blade who
could not pre- qnt the semblance Of gratty when
she was INTRODUCED to me
said my charge
You mustn't mind me, Mr.. Minton - said
Miss Manvers I'm FATHER silly, I'm afraid"
Rather silly J" said Miss Naldane. ole thinks
you little tOm-fool and he's certainly right i'm
thinking so;" and before 1 had time to put i'm
disclaimer to this opinion, she added, II don't
know what you people are going to do but I'm
going to dine"
"Shall we dine al once, Miss VsAEane ~ said T.
"and then we can leave Antwerp at half-past
seven, catch the night mail at Ostend, and be i'm
London by midday tomorrow
Just as you please said she.
j ordered dinner for three That finished the
young ladies went to their rooms to prepare for
the journey.
cnnI hnnr AIia. Y. ,,-lri