The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-10-21
A DANGEROUS GUIDE.


Fraulein Schwartz stood at the door of her
cottage looking anxiously down the road be-
tween the mountains. She shaded her eyes
with her brown palm and peered along the
winding way, which was visible for a mile, ex-
cept where it curved round the base of rock
too ponderous to be removed Yes; at last
there was no mistake, there was a traveller
walking toward her cottage.
"Time enough, too" she soiloquized
"Since they opened the new road on the other
side of the hill all the carriages go that way,
and no one comes here except some poor tour
list 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:N
1t certainly seemed hard to the frauein that
diversion of traffic should go so near running
her, for she had forsaken her German home
some years before and settled in Switzerland
in the hope of increasing her income by fur
nishing the eVer-increasing horde of travellers
with necessities in the shape of food and lodg-
ing and luXuries in the shape of carved beads
ndtrinkets of all sorts.
The tourist'who was now plodding up the
negle ted walk was the first she had seen for
two days.
"Good morning, sir" she said, as soon
as Hardy was within easy call. ats a very
warm day, sir.''
"Warm!" calculated Hardy, throwing him
self on a bench; cts melting. I've left a
good part of myself on the road. If this goes
on | must erect a monument to my remains
i'll Switzerland when | 90 home. Drink, nv
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.
"1hat lubrcates the thorax satisfactorily,
he remarked, as he finished. "Now, my good
woman, Pve friend little way behind. Can
you put us up for the night?"
S'Yes, sir, I've two nice clean beds"
"You're sure they're clean?"
80, yes, sir; they haven't been slept in for
long while.n
40, haven't they? You had better run
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 well, for it's
nearly redhot. I'll just e in and have wash
and shave, if you will show me my room"
"This way, sir; it's got beautiful viewn
Hardy picked up his knapsack and followed
her, remarkng to himself:
beautiful view" That's what they always
say when your window opens on the back of
cowshed."
Probably he would not have gone straight to
his room had he CHANGED to look along the
road in the direction of the summit of
the pass, for there stood charming little
maiden marshaling her goats preparatory to
driving them to the Enclosure for milking
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 mOuofonous among the
mountains, and, besides, Nina had special
wish to be seen to-day, for it was her birth
day, and on these festivities she was permitted
to wear necklet which a rich Englishman had
given her two years ago for nursing him when
he was lying ill at the cot age. So Nina left
her goats and ran to find out who had arrived
She reached the cottage and was Just passing
in at the dcDr when she heard footstep
behind her. Curiosity urged her to look
around 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 around her waist and kiss on her
cheek
She darted around in indignation and met
the amused look of Walter, her betro he'd.
why, Nina, are you going to be angry
with me for stealing kiss on your birth
dayi'
80, no, Walter dear; did not know it was
you.''
"Who else did you think it could be, little
one3 All, did not tell you was coming over
the pass to-day so as to see you before return
to the Brunig."
AS he spoke he held out bracelet of carved
wood-not very valuable, perhaps, but it was
his own work. Nina lifted up her little face
to thank him with kiss as he bent to fasten
it around her wrist.
nina, who gave YOU that necklet?n he
asked, as his eye caugh sight of it
"Mr. Linton, an Englshman, two Years ago.
] only wear it on my birthdays"
81 never saw it before "
'You forget we were not betrothed a year
ago. Come, my Walter, you must not be
jealous. / have never seen him since; | do
not know where he is or anything about
him."
But Walters face did mo- resuue ;te ,s,,,
look; he knew something of the free WAYS OF
certain travellers, and did not like to know
that his Nina had taken present from an En-
glish Milford.
~ must go and milk the goats now" CON
tinued Nina; "come and help me-"
But her step-mother's voice at that moment
called her into the cottage.
swat for me minute, Walter" cried Nina
as she ran in. Walter, however, strolled
slowly toward the goa S, thinking he would
begin the milking without waiting till the
fraulen had said all that she wanted.
AS Nina disappeared through the bach
door Hardy came out of the front, his face
covered with lather, and in a state of comica
distress
"Confound it all,' he exclaimed, "my razor
is in Lin on,s knapsack. | thought heard
mans voice here, 100; where is hes'
He was surprised to feel an arm grasp his
but Immediately drop it with little shrek
80. beg your pardon, sir; I thought yol
were Walter"
"Pm sorry to say am not" began Hardy
But Nina commenced to laugh as she saw hi
condition.
al almos' kissed you without looking
she said with a smile.
"Don't let any consideration for me stol
you" replied Hardy CALAMITY, but perhaps
If you could get me a towel the operation
would be pleasantcr for both Of us'