The Hickman courier., 1882-10-20
A DANGEROUS GUIDE.

A DANGEROUS GUIDE.
cuAPTRRI I.
Fraulein Schwartz stood at the door OF he
cottage, looking anxiously down the road be
tween the mountains. She shaded her eyei
with her brown palm and peered along tn,
winding WAY. which was v sible for mile, er
cept where 1t curved round the base OF q rocl
too ponderous to be removed Yes; at las
there was no mistake, there was q travele
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
ist who can't afford TO ride or an artist who
carries his brushes on his back and little
enough besides Who is going 10 buy m,
beautiful carvings that got from Paris now,
i wonder,'
II certainly seemed hard to the franlein that
diversion OF traffic should go so near ruinins
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
and trinkets of all sorts.
The tourist who was now plodding np 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. "It's a very
warm day, sir"
'.Warnl' calculated Hardy, throwing him
self on bench; 'it's melting. I've left a
good part of myself on the road. IL this goes
on | must erect a monument to nv remains
I'm Switzerland when I 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 be
seized and drained.
'.lhat lubricates the thorax satisfactorily. ,,
he remarked, as he finished. 'sNow, nv good
woman, I've friend little way behind. Can
you put us uD for the ghtl'
"Yes. sir, I've two nice clean beds.n
you're sure they're clean ~
80, yes. sir; hey haven't been slept in for
long whi'e."
warming pan through them, then, If you have
sucu an article; IL not, my has on the end OF
an alrenstock will do just as WELL for it's
nearly red-hot. I'll just g in and have a wash
and shave, IL You viii show me my room'
This way, sir; ms got q beautiful view.''
Hardy picked up his knapsacl1 and followed
her, re.narSing to HIMSELF
beautiful view,'' That's what they always
say when YOUR window opens on the back of q
cowshed."
s,i Probably E, he would ssye gone s.raisSt =
road n5s f02nn IN the the di-ee11I Ire the ssminS
the pass, for there stood a charming little
maiden marshaling her goats preparatory to
driving them TO the inclosure 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 mono 'onous among the
1DOuutIlDS, duu. DtSlltS. NlDa la0 q special
wish to be seen to-day, for 1t was her birth
day. and on these festivities she was permitted
TO wear a neclSlet which rich Englishman had
given her two years ago for nursing him when
he was lying i'll at the 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 door 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 betrothed
"Why, Nina, are YOU going to be angry
with me for stealing kiss on your birth
40, no, Walter dear; did not know IL was
you.''
.'who else did you think It could be. little
one! An, did not tell you was coming ever
the pass to-day so to see you before l return
TO the Brunign
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 a kiss as he bent TO fasten
it around her wrist.
NINA, who gave YOU that neckletr' he
asked, as his eye caugh- sight of it
'Nr. Linton, an Englishnan two years ago
only wear IL on my birthdays"
81 never saw IL before y
You forget 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 not resume it's 1av
look; he knew something OF the free wsvs 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,n con-
tinued Nina; "come and help men
But her step-mother's voice at that moment
called her into the cottage.
"Wait for me minute, Waltern cried Nina
as she ran in: Waller, however, strolled
slowly toward the goa s. thinking he would
begin the milking without waiting till the
frauiein had said all that she wanted.
As Nina disappeared through the hack
door Hardy came out OF the front, his face
covered with lather, and In state OF comical
''Confound it ALL :, he exclaimed. ssmy razor
ts in Lin,on's knapsaelx. thou<ht heard q
mans voice here, too; where is hei''
He was surprised to feel an arm grasp his,
but immediately drop 1t with little shrek.
80. | beg your pardon, sir; thought you
were Walter.r
" I'm sorry to say am not" began Hardy.
But Nina commenced to laugh as she saw his
condition.
'sI almost kissed you without lookIns,u
she said with a smile
sDcn't lei any consideration for me stop
you" replied Hardy gallantly, 'but perhaps,
II you could get me towel the operation
would be pleasanier for both of u.s."
Nina had tripped away before he finished,
stead OF giving 1t to Hardy she began to sig-
nal with IT, This was too much, and he gently
took il from her.
ssPlease pos pone your signals for moment
my little maiden," he said, but abe took no
notice.
= Why does he turn away and 20 on stilp'
she asked.
"a Rh0ln
ss Walter.n
me.n
Nina ran away In the direction of the goats
and was soon out of sight.
=" Corydon and Phyllis have had a slight
row." unused Hardy However l suppose
they will make 1t up again. 1t must be a seri-
GUS business toquarrel with the only available
1over within twenty miles, Helloi here's the
lazy fellow crawling up at last Come along,
old tortoise.''
A handsome young RAN, with light, wavy
hair and moustache, came slowly up, and sat
down on the beach with sigh OF relief
= I've been resting, Jack, !" be said.
hadn't.''
-. - You walk at such pace, you know"
my razori Lend me your knapsack Look
here, YOU sit out here for i've minutes and re- |
cruit yourself with some milk while shave -
Hardy disappeared into The house, but q |
moment after his head appeared out of the |
window over the bench on which his chum |
was lying
.Tnsr is irst-rate," he remarked "I can |
80 on shaving and listen to your inspIrine |
4cnvefsatfon at the same timen
What beautiful soeneryio exclaimed Lin
$on, looking down the valley.