The Portland daily press., 1882-09-23
A Dangerous Guide.
CHAPTER /,

mile, excep- where it curved around the base
of a rock too ponderous to be removed.
Yes; at last there was traveller walking
toward her cottage.
thine enough, too" she soliloqJized.
sSince they opened the new road on the
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 l got from
Paris now, wonder?"
1t certainly seemed hard to the fraulein
thai div ersien of traffic should go so near
running her for she had forsaken her Ger
man home some years before and settled in
Switzerland, in the hope OF increasing her in
come by furnishing the ever Increasing horde
OF travellers with recessaries in the shape-of
food and lodging and Injuries in the shape
of carved beads and trinke5s of all sorts.
The tourist who was now ploding up the
neglected walk was the first she had seen
for two days.
'Good morning, sir" she said, as soon as
Hardy was within easy hail. cts very
warm day, SIR"
''Warmr' calculated Hardv, throwing
himself on bench 'sit's melting. Pve left a
good part of myself on tie road. If this
goes on | must erect monument to my re-
mains in Switzerland when go 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 throat satisfactorily,
he remarked as he finished, ssNow, my good
woman, I've friend little way behind.
Can you pa6 US up for the night ?'
'Yes sir; I've two nice clean BEDS"
"Yoa're sure they're clean ?'
"Oh, yes, sir; they haven't been slept in
for long while.''
''oh,' haven't they You had better run
warming pan through item, then, if you
have such an article; if not, my hat on the
end of an alpenstock will do just as well,
for it's nearly red hot. I'll jus5 go in and
have wash and a shave if you will show
me my ROOM"
''This was, sir; it's got be utiful view.''
Hardy picked up his knapsaclz and follow
ed her, remarking to him1e'f:
Beautiful viewl That's what they al
ways say when yodr window opens on the
back of cowshed.'
Probably he would not have gone straight
to lis room had be CHANGED to look along
the road in the direction of the summit OF
the pass, for there stood charming little
maiden marshalling her goats preparatory
to driving them to the inclos Ire for milking
But though he had not seen her, she had
caught sight of him, and after her goats
were safely housed she tripped down to the
cottage to see who had arrived.
Life was rather monotonous among the
mountains, aud, besides, Nina had a special
wish to be seen to-day, for it was her birth.
day, and on these festivals she was permitted
to wear neckled which rich Englishman
had given her two years ago for nursing
him when he was lying i'll at the cottage
So Nina left her goats and ran to find GU
who had arrived.
She reached the cottage, and was JUS
passing in at the door when she heard {
ofoosvep behind her. Curiosity urged hel
to look around, but maidenly dignity for
babe the step, SO size passed on, wondering
if the stranger wolld speak. He did not
but she felt an arm steal round her wais
and kiss on her cheek.
She darted around in indignation and
met the amused look of Walter her be
trothed.
"Why, Nina, you are not going to be an
CRY with me for stealing a kiss on you
birthday?'
''Oh, ne, Walter dear; 1 did not know i
was you.'
''Who else did you think it could be, littl,
one? All, | did not tell you | was cominl
over the pass today so as to see you before
returned to the Brunig.'
As he spoke he held out bracelet o
carved wood-not very valuable perhaps
but it was his own work Nina lifted III
her little face to thank him with a kiss a
he bent to fasten it around her wrist.
Nina, who gave you that necklet?' b.
asked as his eye caught sight of it.
''Mr. Linton, an Englishman, tive year
ago. only wear it on my birthdays
II never saw it BEFORE"
You forget we were not betrothed veal
ago. Come, my Walter, you must not BE-
jealous. / bsve never seen him since; de
rot know where he is or anything about
him.
But Walters face did not resume its gay
look; he knew something of the free ways
OF certain travellers, and did not like Il
z know that his Nina had taken a presen
from an English MILFORD.
81 must go and milk the goats now" con
tir1ed Nina, "come and help me-"
But her stepno hers voice at that mo
ment called her into the cottage.
''Wait for nee minute, Walter" CRIED
Nina, as she ran in. Walter, however
strolled slowly toward the goats, thinkin,
he would begin the milking without waiting
till the fraulein had said all that shI
wanted.
AS Nina disappeared through the bacl
door Hardy came out of the front, his face
coyeredswith lather, and in state of com
ical distress.
"Confound it ALL" he exclaimed, smy
razor is in Linton's knapsack. thought
heard mans voice, too; where is hep
He was surprised to feel an arm grasp his
but Immediately drop it with a little shrek.
ooh beg your pardon, sir; thought you
were Walter"
''Pm sorry to say ] am not" began
Hardy, but Nina began to laugh as she saw
his condition.
ST almost kissed you without looking
she said with smile.
''Do not let any consideration for me STOP
you, 'repliod Hardy CALAMITY, ''but, perhaps
if you could get me towel the operation
would be pleasanter for both of us"
Nina had tripped away before he finished
and seon returned with the towel, bat in.
stead of giving it to Hardy she began to sig
nal with it. This was too much, and be
gently took it from her.
t'Please POSTPONE your signals for mo-
mem, my little maiden," he said, but she
took no notice.
"Why does he turn away and go on stiIl?'
she asked.
"Who?'
"Walter."
81 give it up. Perhaps because he sees
me-"
Nina ran away in the direction of the
goats, and was soon out of sight.
"Corydon and Phyllis have had slight
row." unused Hardy. However, | suppose
they will make it up again. 1t must be a
serious business to quarrel with the only
available lover within twenty miles. HelloI
here's the lazy fellow creeping up at last.
Come along old tortoise"
A handsome young man, with light wavy
hair and musta:he, came slowly up, and sat
down en- the bench with a sigh of relief.
GIVE been resting, jack" he said.
"Twould be more worthy of remark If
you hadn't"
''You walk at such pace, you know"
$50 do you, and a jolly slow one it is.
Where's my razor? Lend me your KNAPP
sack. Look here, you sit out here for five
minutes and recruit yourself with some
milk while l shave"
Hardy disappeared into the house, but a
moment after his head appeared out of the
window, over the bench on which his chum
way lying.
'This is first-rate," he remarked; 81 can
go on shaving and listen to your inspiriting
conversation at the same time.'
"What beautiful sceneryp' exclaimed
Linton, looking down the valley.
ga l." returned Hardy, "and the milk is
on level with it,"
''We shall have this view from our
ROOM"