The Brookhaven leader., 1883-10-18

making me so far at ease that | resolved
to devote my summer vacation to tour
in Europe.
Equipped with bag and hammer,
August found me making Il pedestrian
tour of Switzerland, with special view
to the study of its glacial system and
lithology. | avoided the well-travcled
ways, thus escaping the society of all
other tourists, and | was therefore ut
terlv amazed when one evening, rs
drew near the little house which was
my temporary abiding place, tail
form strobe toward me out of the dark
ness and hearty voice cried out.
Jim! Jim Hill!'
"What is it?' | replied, with q half
nervous start.
"Ah! thought it was my old friend
Have YOU forgotten Tom Byrnc?'
OF course not, for | had met him oc-
casionally since we were boys, and |
was heartily glad to see my former
comrade, always one of the best of COM
panions.
Il saw your name on the book at the
inn, he exclaimed; "was sure it must
be you. At any rate | thought would
start out to meet YOU
"But how came you hcre?" | in
quired, lin this out of the way corner
of the wOrld?'
because it is out of the way. Mabel
and are making q TRIP in search of the
picturesque. You know she is quite an
artist
SO Mabel was with him. My heart
gave curious thump, and for mo-
mcnt | could hardly make sensible
reply.
Eyes he went on; 'shc is so devoted
to her art that it seems to quite absorb
her life. She has not thought of mar
rage, and does not care in the least for
the ordinary run of society. She will
be glad to see you, though he added,
consolingly, ''as you are a man of
science
We walked back together to the little
inn, and presently | was shaking hands
with beautiful and stately woman,
whose bright, dark eyes flashed with the
strange intensity and fire that | had
never seen in any other eyes but those
of Mabel Byrne.
She greeted me very cordially, and
after we three had taken an evening
neal together there followed n delight
ful evening in the little parlOr that Tom
and his sister had secured.
For once in my life felt myself quite
at ease in a lady's society. In the first
place there was Tom to keep me in
countenance by predominance of my
own sex in the company, then Mabel
did not expect me to talk of airy moth
ings, that light foam of the social whirl-
pool which | never yet had been able
to skim. She spoke first of my .icntific
pursuits; she showed so much knowl-
edge of the subject that l really found
myself talking with earneStness and
enthusiasm of the formation of the
country, and especially of the glacial
system and the curious marks of its a.
ton borne by the specimens had col
lected.
She, in her turn, contributed to the
evenings interest by telling me of her
work, and showing me her sketches,
which were really of a very high order
of artistic merit. There was no school
girl weakness in her handling of the
brush, but force and poetic thought
that had won her already honorable rec
ognition in the world OF art.
And you have never heard of,.Ma-
bells paintings until now?" asked Tom
"No," l confessed. you know |
have been quite absorbed in my special
studies"
Yes. and you have not seen Mabel
for ever so long. have you?"
NO. Ireplied, mot since that sum-
mer ten years ago, when was at my
grandmother"
Jolly times we had, too" said Tom,
refiectively. Remember that party at
Mrs. Edwards'?"
A sudden rush of blood to my face
utterly confused me. I stammered
reply, and Tom, to my relief, went on
with some rambling "reminiscences. 1t
was some seconds before l dared to
look at Mabel. Surely she was blush
ing, too.
The next morning we all went on a
trip up the slopes of the mountain.
Mabel in short, gray suit. alpine hat