The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-09-10
A DANGEROUS GUIDE.
CHAPTER |


Friulein Schwartz stood at the door of hen
cottage, looking anxiously down the road
between the mountains. She shaded hei
eyes with her brown palm and peered along
the winding way, which was visible for a
mile, except where IL curved round the base
of rock too ponderous to be removed. Yes,
at last there was no mistake there was Il
traveller walking toward her cottage.
"Time enough, too" she solloquized.
"Since they opened the new road on the
other side of the hill all the carriages so that
way, and no one comes here except some poor
tourist who can't afford to ride, or an artist
who carries his brushes ON his back and little
enough besides. Who is going to buy my
beautiful carvings that got from Paris now,
| wonder 7"
1t certainly seemed hard to the frjulein
that diversion of traffic should go so near
running her, for she had forsale EN- her German
home some years before and settled in Switzer-
land, in the hope of increasing her income by
furnishing the embarrassing horde of trav-
elers with necessaries in the shape of food
and lodgings, and Injuries in the shape of
carved beads and trinkets of all sorts.
Thesteurist who was now plodding up the
neglected. track was the first she had seen for
two days.
Good morning sir" she said, as soon as
Il
warm day, SIR"
"Warmr" calculated Hardy, throwing
himself on bench; otis melting. I've
left good part of myself on the road. Ifthi4
goes on must erect mOnum ent to my re-
mains in Switzerland when 60 home. Drink
my good woman | am parching."
But before he had finished asking for it
she had brought him large jug of milk
which he seized and drained.
"That lubricates the thoraX satisfactorily, -
he remarked ash he finished. CHOW, my good
woman, Pve friend little way behind
Can you put us up for the night 20
"Yes, sir ; Pve two nice clean beds"
"Youre sure they're clean p
"Oh, yes, sir they haven't been slept in
for long while"
ooh, haven't they You had better run
a warming pan through them, then, if you
have such an article if not, my hat on the
end of an alpenstOck will do just as WE'LL for
it's nearly red-hot. ri just so in and have
n wash and a shave if you will show me my
ROOM"
"This way, sir it's got beautiful view. +"
Hardy picked up his knapsack and followed
her, remarking to himself
'' Beautiful view = That's what they
always say when your window opens on the
back of a cowshed.'
to his room had he CHANGED to look along the
road in the direction of the summit of the
pass, for there stood a charming little maiden
marshalng her goats preparatory to driving
them to the Enclosure for milking. But,
though he had not seen her, she had caught
sight of him, and after her goats We're safely
housed she tripped down to the cottage to see
who had arrived.
Life was rather monOtOnous among the
mountains, and, besides, Nina had special
wish to be seen to-day, for it was her birth
day, and on these festivals she was permitted
to wear a necklet which n rich Englshman
had given her two years ago for nursing him
when he was lying ill at the cottage. So Nina
left her goats and ran to find out who had
arrived.
She reached the cottage, and was just pass
ing in at the door, when she heard foot.
step behind her. Curiosity urged her to
look round, but maidenly dignity forbade
the step, so she passed on, wondering if the
stranger would speak. He did not; but she
felt an arm steal round her waist and a kiss
on her cheek.
She darted round in indignation, and met
the amused look of Walter, her betrothed.
"Why, Nina, are you going TO be angry
with me for stealing kiss on your birth
day p
"oh no, Walter, dear; did not know it
was you"
"Who else did you think it could be, lit.
tie onei All, did not tell you | was com.
ing over to pass to-day so as to see you before
l return to the Briing."
As he spoke he held out a bracelet OF
carved wood-not very valuable, perhaps
but it was his own work. Nina lefted her
little face to thank him with kiss as she
bent to fasten it round her wrist.
Nina, who gave you that necklet % h,
asked a. his eye caught sight of il.
Mr.. Linton, an Englishman, two years
ago. only wear il on my birthdays"
" never saw ii before"
Z" YOu forget we were not betrotled yeai
ago. Come, my Walter, You must not bt
jealous. | have never seen him since; d,
not know where he is or anything abon
him."
But Walters face did not resume its ga,
look; he knew something OF the free ways o.
certain travellers, and did not like TO know
that his Nina had taken present from an
English MILFORD.
+" must so and milk the goats now," con
tinued Nina come and help me-"
But her stepmother's voice at that mo
ment called her into the cottage.
"Wait for me n minute, Walter" CRIED
Nina, as she ran in. Walter, however
he would begin the milking without WAITING
till the Iriiulein had said all that sh,
wanted.
As Nina disappeared through the bach
door Hardy came out OF the front, his fac,
covered with lather, and in state of comica
distress.
"Confound it all !" he exclaimed, en-,
razor is in Linton's knapsack. thought
hoard mans voice here, too whereas he p
" lie was surprised to feel an arm grasI
his, but Immediately drop with littl,
shrek.
sob, l beg your pardon, sir thought
you were Walter"
- Pm sorry to say am not, began Hardy
but Nina commenced to laugh as she saw hi
condition.
81 almost kissed you without looking
she said with a smile.
Don't let an consideration for me stoI
YOU" replied Hardy CALAMITY; "but, per
haps, If you could get me a towel the Oper
alton would be pleasanter for both of us"
Nina had tripped away before he finished
and soon returned with the towel. But in
stead of giving it to Hardy she began t,
signal with it. This was too muck, and Ia
gently took it from her
Please postpone your signals for mo
ment, my little maiden" he said, but sh
took no notice.
why does he turn away and go OF
still 7" she asked,
"WhoF'
"Walter."
me-"