Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-07-18
A DANGEROUS GUIDE.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
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 mile, ex-
ccpt where 1t curved round the base OF rock
too ponderous TO be removed. Yes; at last
there was no mistake, there was q 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 10 buy my
beautiful carvings that got from Paris now,
/ wonderp'
II certainly seemed hard to the fraulen 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 ia the shape of carved beads
andtrinkets OF all sorts.
The tourist who was now plodding up the
neglected walk was the first she had seen for
two days.
Good morning, sir" she said, as soon
warm day, SIR"
"Warm!" calculated Hardy, throwing him.
self on bench; "it's melting. I've left a
good part of myself on the road. If this goes
on must erect monument to my remains
In Switzerland when | 20 home. Drink. INV
good woman am parching."
But before he had finished asking for II she
had brought him large jug OF milk, which he
seized and drained.
"lhat lubricates the thorax satisfactorily
he remarked, as he finished. snow, my good
woman, I've friend little way behind. Can
you put us up for the night!"
ayes, sir, I've two nice clean bedsn
YOU'RE sure they're CLEANUP
80, yes, sir; they haven't been slept In for
long while.n
warming pan through them, then, IL you have
such an article; If not, my hat on the end Of
an alpenstock will do Just as well, for it's
nearly red-hot. I'll just go in and have wash
and shave, IL you will show me my room.n
This way, sir; it's got beautiful view"
Hardy picked up his knapsack and followed
her, remarking to himself:
beautiful view!" That's what they always
say when your window opens on the back of a
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, Tor there stood a charming little
maiden marshalng her goats preparatory to
driving them TO the inclosure for milking
But though he had not seen her, she had
safely housed she tripped down to the cottage
to see who had arrived.
Life was rather mono!onous among the
mountains, and, besides, Nina had a special
wish to be seen to-day, for It was her birth.
day, and on these festivities she was permitted
to wear a necklet which a rich Englishman had
given her two years ago for nursing him when
he was lying i'll at the cottage. 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 IL the stranger
would speak. He did not; but she felt an
arm steal around her waist and a 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
dayr
40, no, Walter dear; did not know II was
you"
"Who else did YOU think IL could be, little
onel All, did not tell you was coming over
the pass to-day SO as to see you before l return
to the Brunig."
AS he spoke he held out a 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 fastcn
IL around her wrist.
"Nina, who gave YOU that neckletp he
asked, as his eye caught sight of It,
"Mr. Linton, an Englishman, two years ago.
only wear 1t on my birthdays"
81 never saw 1t before"
"You forget we were not betrothed 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 its gay
look; he knewsomething of the free ways OF
certain travellers, and did not like to know
that his Nina had taken present from an En-
glish MILFORD.
81 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.
"Wait for me minute, Walter" cried Nina,
as she ran in. Walter, however, strolled
slowly toward the goas, thinking he would
begin the milking without waiting till the
fraulein had said all that she wanted.
As Nina disappeared through the back
door Hardy came out OF the front, his face
covered with lather, and in state OF comical
distress.
"Confound It all, he exclaimed, "my razor
is in Unions knapsack. I thought heard a
mans voice here, too; where is heln
He was surprised To feel an arm grasp his
but immediately drop it with little shrek
go, ! beg your pardon, sir; I thought you
were Walter"
"Pm sorry to say am not" began Hardy.
condition.
az slmoss kissed you without looking"
she said with SMILE
Don't let any consideration for me stop
you" replied Hardy CALAMITY, "but perhaps,
II you could get me towel the operation
would be pleasan or for both of us.n
Nina had trippcd away before he finished,
and soon returned with the towel. But in
stead Of giving 1t to Hardy she began 10 sig
nal with 1t. This was too much, and he gently
took IL from her.
"Plcase postpone your signals for moment
my little Maiden" he said, but she took no
notice.
"why does he turn away aud 20 on stillp'
she asked
"Whon
walter"
II give 1t up. Perhaps, because he sees
Nina ran away In the direction of the goats,
anc was soon out of sight,
"corydon and Phyllis have had slight
row." unused Hardy. "IIowevcr, I suppose
thee will, make it up again. 1t must be a seri-
Gus business toquarrel with the only available
lover within twenty miles. Hello here's the
lazy fellow crawling up at last. Come along,
old tortoise"
A handsome young man, with light, wavy
hair and moustache, came slowly up, aud sat
down on she bench with sigh OF relief.
I've been resting, jack" ne said.
"'Twould be more worthy OF remark II you
hadn't"
lyon walk at such pace, you know"
$50 oyou,bndIajo jolly slow one II Is Where's
my razorl Lend me your knapsack Look
here, you sit out here for five minutes and re-
cruit yourself with some milk while shaye.n
Hardy disappeared Into The house. but
moment after bis head appeared out OF the
window over the bench on which his chum
was lying.
This Is first-rate,p he remarked. 81 can
90 on shaving and listen 10 voyfr insnirino