The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-11-15


gy my study, and at the age Of "a ! fonn,
!. myself in comfortable position as assis,
y ant professor 10 one Of our best colleges
. the salary of which. with my income al
ded. making me 30 far at ease that ! 70
/ solved TO devote my summer vacation to |
!. tour to Europe.
J. Equipped with bag and hammer. Aug
}. ust found me making pedestrian tour o
Switzerland. with q special view TO tho
I study Of its glacial system and litho!ogy.
I I avoided the well travelled ways, thus es
i. Gaping the society OF all ether tourists
and vas therefore utterly amazed one
| evening, when. as drew near the house
! which was my temporary abiding plsce,
, tall form strobe toward me out OF the
darkness. and hearty voice cried out:
, "Jim Jim Hill!'
"Wbo is it?' replied with half ier-
vous start
7. 'Ahi tboughtit was my old friend.
Have you forgotten Tom Byrne?'
4 OF course not For had met him oc-
casionally since we were boys, and was
heartily glad TO see my former comrade.
always one the best OF companions.
II saw your name on the book at the
inp," he explained. "snd was sure 1t mast
be you. At sny rate thought would
start out and meet you"
"But how came you herc?' l inquired
lin this out of the way corner OF the
world"
Because it is out OF the way. Mabel
and are making trip in search OF the
picturesque. You know she is quite an
artist?"
So Mabel was with him. My heart gave
a curious tbump, and for q moment j
could hardly make sensible reply.
Yes. he went on, "she is so devoted
to her art that it seems to quite absorb her
life. She has not thought Of marriage,
nor does she care in the least for the ordi.
nary run Of society. She will be glad to
see you though" he added consolingly,
"as you are man OF science.
We walked beck together to the little
inn, and presently l was shaking hands
with a beautiful and stately woman,
whose bright, dark eyes flashed with the
strange intensity aud fire that had never
seen in any other eyes but those of Mabel
Byrns. -
She greeted me very cordially and after
We three had taken an evening meal to.
sttner th, ,re followed delightful evening
in the little parlor that Tom aud his sister
had secured.
For once 10 my lilo fell myself quite
at case in lndy's society. In the first
place there was Tom to keep me in coun.
tenance by predominance Of my own sex
in the company, and then Mabel did not
expect to me to talk Of airy nothings, that
light foam Of the social whirlpool, which
l had never yet been able to skim. She
spoke frat Of my. scientific pursuits; she
showed 80 much knowledge Of the subject
that really found myself talking with
earnestnsss and enthusiasm Of the forma-
tion OF the county, and especially the
glacial system and tho curious marks Of
its action born by the specimens l had
collected.
She, in her turn, contributed to the ev-
ening's interest by telling me Of her work.
and she showed me her sketches. which
were really OF a very high order OF artistic
merit There was no schoolgirl weakness
in her handling OF the brush. buta force
and poetic thought that bad.won her al.
ready honorabls recognition in the world
OF art
"And you have never hearI Of Msbels
paintings until no~7" asked Tom.
NO." confessed. lyon know l have
been quite absorbed in my special studies.
"Yes, and you have not seen Mabel for
ever so long, have your
NO" replie,'. not since that summer,
long years ago. when vas at my grand
mothers."
Jolly times We had too sai'- Tom.
refectively. 'Rsmember that party at
Mrs Edwards2p !
A sudden rush OF blood 10 my face ut
tcrly confused me. stammercd reply,
and Tom. TO my relief, went on with some
rambling "reminiscences 1t was some
seconds before I dared to look at Mabel.
Surely she was blushins, too.
The next morning we all went on trip
mp the slopes Of the mountain. Mabel, in
short, gray suit, Alpine hat and stout
boots; Tom carrying her drawing materi-
ais. Thus We made this and many
another delightful expedition. II
Life took on new colors for me. There
was radiance aud glory about il that l
had mover dreamed OF before. Every day
found fresh reason for admiring my
beautiful compsni,n. aud our walks
through tho dcsp valleys and up the rough
mountain aides we're TO me like enchanted
journeys through realm OF fairies. In
this loyelisst country in the world. With
this most glorious woman by nv side. 4
vss, indeed as one trahshgured with the
light Of the grand passion that took pos
session OF my soul
Al frat knew not what had befalIen
me. thought only that my pleasure ia
Msbel's society sprAsg from a similarity
of tastes aud pursuits and the charm Of
her conversation Bat gradually woke
10 the overwhelming fact that loved her
With the one great lore OF my life. that
seemed TO date from the days Of long ago,
70 have bs+a always with me. and 10 !