Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-07-13

90 ~ Woic, hcopihS Suhu az NY b0"-
side, ON the lookout for any change
that might come over me, when awOke
and the eyes thai first met mine were
the bright eyes OF my fair watcher
TheOphile. Yes, there was that sweet
face, recognized now by me for the first
time for many days; and languid as l
was, L recollect well mastering just
sufficient energy to say in whisper,
'Theophiler From that moment | be-
gan to rally. The malady had run a
certain course, and the crisis was past.
Signs of returning appetite began to
show themselves, and my slumbers
forthwith ceased to be disturbed with
the terrors that had been wont to haunt
them. The doctor, however, who, by
the way, treated my case most skillfully,
warned my friends that should need
great care, and that any injudicious ex-
ertion might cause a relapse that would
probably prove fatal. So / had to
make up my mind to short season of
convalescence, and TO be treated still
as an invalid while strength gradually
returned. The contemplated trip to
Switzerland had been interfered with;
but now that l was getting better it
was talked about afresh, and it was de-
cided we should start for Basic as soon
as should appear equal to the journey.
My uncle, who arrived soon after l
was first taken i'll, was disposed to take
blame to himself for having caused our
detention at Colmar, but for which, per-
haps, should have escaped this attack
of fever. 1t was still, however, July.
and so plenty OF the summer remained
for carrying out our projected excur-
sion.
Truth to tell, l was by no means
eager for the time of our leaving to ar
rive. The interim of my convalescence
was pleasant enough, Theophile being
to some extent my attendant as well as
companion. Her piano-playing l found
more grateful than ever, and then by
way of variety she would take up an
English book, and read or attempt to
read it with the sole object, l believe,
of amusing Inc with her pronunciation
of the language. Many soft sentiments
passed, too, between us; more it may
be than were suspected, or would have
been quite approved by Others. That
we liked each other was no secret, but
the depth of the attachment which had
sprung up between US was hardly
realized by my relatives. But this
pleasant time was not to last. At the
expiration of three weeks-from the
time when my illness took favorable
turn, was pronounced by the doctor
quite well enough to take an easy jour-
ney, and indeed he recommended my re-
moval without delay. So the day came
for us TO take leave Of Colmar and the
Bertrands. l shall never forget that
day. | felt the parting terribly. My
father and uncle had started on foot for
the station, while my mother and L were
to follow in the fly which was waiting
at the door. Adieu, Theophiler was
all could trust myself to say, but /
made bold in saying so TO salute, after
the manner OF the country, the cheek
of this sweet French girl, while with a
moistened eye and a perceptible tremor
in the voice, she family replied. 'Au
revoirp and. we drove away. Was l
ever to see Theophile againr
We travelled as far as Basic that day,
and from thence we started the follow
ing morning on two months tour
through a country justly termed the
playground of Europe, presenting, as it
does, charms in the way of scenery,
ETC., which probably no other land
under the sun has TO offer, especially to
those visiting it for the irst time. Had
we come direct to Switzerland, as we
had at first intended, how delightful
would this trip have been to me! But
our detention at Colmar by the way,
tended to modify considerably the en-
jOyment which it would otherwise have
afforded he, and more than once was l
asked somewhat reprOachfully how it
was / did not manifest more interest
in all that Was SO new and SO enchant-
ing in the way of scenery. Berne, and
Interlaken, and Lucerne, and Cha
mouniX, and Geneva were all visited in
turn, till October with its chill air over
taking US, il WAS decided that we should
turn hoIneward, and seek the comfort
of the English tireside.
For some days il had been matter of
debate which route we should select
for the return journey, and it had been
resolved that we should take the rail
direct to Paris, and there expend the
residue of loose cash our party happen
ed TO retain. But 1t so happened that
my uncle, who was troubled with some
ailment or other, had while at Colmar
consulted the French medecin that at
tended me, and having been treated
more skilfully by him than Ivy others
at home whom he had consulted, ex.
pressed wish to see the man again
Out OF consideration for us he proposed
that we should 20 to Paris without
him, while he went round by ColmaI
to meet us at the French capital. And
| really think this suggestion of his
would have been adopted but for me
The possibility of seeing Theophllt
once more-just once-had, 1 an
afraid, something to do with it; but
ventured to give it as my opinion that
it would be much better if we KEEP
with Uncle George.