Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-07-18

at this looking-glass- eye at the time,
please; there isn't room for more on it,"
+" This valley always bring happy thoughts
to me-" said Linton half TO himself
Cant wonder at It," returned Hardy as he
gave finishing touch to his chin. "You were
laid up for week with asprained ankle some
where about here, l think, two years ago,
weren't youi Aud we nearly lost ourselves
last night trying short cut"
THAT was happy time, jack"
"When sprained my ankle was nursed
by the most charming girl. wonder II she
lives here now. We were like brother and
sister before l went away"
"I've seen her, my boy. But you must take
care; she's got strapping young fellow
hanging around who is as jealous as Othello.
Pm afraid I've caused little heartburning
already. o, I'm a sad dogpp
"What fool you are, Jack"
can right, don't you make yourself one as
well. Here's the old dragon"
Fraulein Schwartz had heard voices, and
came out to welcome the new arrival. She
well remembered Linton, and received him
with effusion.
"Nina will be back In minute or two, sir.
She has only gone to milk the goats. She has
grown since you saw her. sir.n
"Ah she was girl then; suppose she is a
woman now.n
"You shall see, sir. Here she comes"
Linton watched her as she came down the
road, not altogether pleased to see atall young
fellow with her.
On the other hand, Walter was SO vexed at
seeing two strangers evidently waiting her
return, that he had half mind TO turn back
and retreat over the pass In anger. But his
jealousy kept him near his betrothed; he could
not let her out of his sight.
swell, Nina,n said Linton, as she came up,
two years ago."
~ am glad to see you, SIR" she replied, dc.
murely, for she felt that Walters eyes were
on her.
"Frauleln Schwartz made me expect to find
you quite woman, but you are still my little
Nina, see. Are you grown too big to be
kissed, nowW
"Don't be fool, Charlie,n whispered Hardy
to him; cant you see that fellow looks as II
he would like to murder youW
But the question had been already decided
by Nina's drawing back her hand from Lin
toms and walking up to Walter. The latter,
however, did not look at her, but gazed mood
lily across the valley.
"a sweet youth, that" remarked Linton,
carelessly.
In the meantime Walter was clenchIng his
hands In his pockets and muttering to him
self: "She told me that she did not know
where he was, aud he was In the house all the
time. And he would have kissed her."
CHAPTER III.
swell, Charlie, suppose We are to push on
to Werhausen to-day" said Hardy, as they
sat outside the ottige next morning over
their breakfast.
"Yes, suppose So Where's Nina vanished
want some more milk"
"You've about pint Left let Nina alone,
my boy. AS 1t is, that fellow Walter seems
to be unable TO make up his mind whether to
be angrier with you or with Nina. Look at
him now; his scowl is enough to turn milk
sour"
80, bother Walter! I've come twenty miles
out OF my way to sec Nina, and shall ignore
Walters existence for the next hour sup
pose we ought to start at nine.o
eyes, and VIC shall have all our work cut
out, for don't mean to try any more short
cuts without guide"
"Perhaps Nina can tell us whether we can
get one. I'm going to see, at any rate.
Ninar'
She came running out and Linton made her
sit down while he questioned her about the
possibility Of obtaining guide to Werhausen.
His excuse for OBTAINING her was not happy
one, for she at once said that Walter was re-
turning in that direction to-day, and would be
glad to guide them.
Hardy looked at Linton interrogatively.
81 wish, Jack, you'd try to arrange It with
him." said the latter; che won't do 1t IL /
ask him, I'm afraid, and time is an object
now"
GAN right, I'll try what 1 can do" replied
Hardy. II thinkhe'll come II only to insure
our being at distance from Nina"
Walter was not very tractable; at first he re-
fused, but presently yielded, apparently be-
cause of some idea which had struck him He
recommended that start should be made at
once, to which no objection could be well
made, so the friends packed up their KNAPP
sacks and were soon ready
"Good by, Nina, said Hardy, holding out
his hand; don't forget me before this after
noon."
" Good by, Nina, ECHOED Linton. Come.
Hardy, Pm ready. BY Jove! though, I've left
my alpenstock in our room. Just get 1T for
me, Walter.n
Walter had brought out the baggage from
the room, so he could not refuse to do as he
was requested The moment he disappeared
Linton drew Nina to him and kissed her.
That's good-by kiss, Nina, for / suppose
you'll be married long before | come TO Swift
zerland again. Mind you, don't tell Walter"
But, as Hardy knew, there was no need to
tell Walter. The bedroom window overlooked
the group, and the lover had been spectator
OF what had happened. Hardy saw his face
for moment with an angry flush upon 1t, but
he did not see the intense haired which shot
from his eyes as he drew back into the room.
However, in few moments he came out APP
parently calm. lie kissed Nina and the frau
lein, who only came out a. the last minute with
the bill which she had been ncocting, and
soon the travellers were only q speck in the
distance to the inhabitants OF the cottage.
Linton did not give thought to the jcal-
ousy which he had excited In Walters mind (;
in fact, he was scarcely aware of its existence.
He did not know that the guides was an in
tensely passionate and suspicious tempera.
ment; that for one thing he knew he imagined
dozen; that he always made his visits to
Nina unexpcc' edly In order to know whether
she had any other admirers but himself Had
he known all this he might have taken seri-
ously the taciturn way in which the guide
piodded on, never Offering an observation, and
replying as little as possible to what was said.
He even refused cigar which Hardy offered
him, very rare thing for guide to do.
:" shan't be sorry when we drop our new
acquaintance, " remarked Linton; he is very
uninteresting."
~ shan't care II that's his worst fault" re-
piled Hardy.
{" He certainly has one rather more annoy
ing; he seems to be able to pick out the worst
bits OF ground In the district. Pm getting
tired already, and We haven't walked three
hours"
"And with one rest. This Is most wretched
sort of wilderness. Have you ever been near
here beforef'
"Never I'm utterly out of my reckoning"
ut seems to me-" said Hardy, shat Wer-
hansen lies good deal more to the north,
while he Is working us continually to the
west.n
TASK him."
Hardy did So but elected no answer, except
that the way they were going was the right
one.
"But look here" exclaimed Linton, testify,
as. they had to help each other over a rock
tive don't want TO do any climbing to-day
we want to get to Wcrhauscn, and the road
can't be over amountain."
"If you are not content to follow mc,n re-
piled Walter, eurlily, sit would be best for YOU
to go your own road"
This was a finish to the conversation, for, as
the tourists had already supposed, they were
utterly out OF the ordinary track, and neither
OF them had an idea OF their position. Linton
received the mans impertinent answer with a
philosophic shrug, reslgning himself to the
unpleasantness OF harder wall than he had
anticipated, but Hardy, who had caught sight
OF his face as he spoke, began to feel seriously
uneasy.
81 say, Charlie, he said, ''don't do anything
to make that fellow angry"
snake him angry! It's the other way, l
think. I'm getting fairly savage with him for
leading us this dance"
81 wouldn't tell him so II were your
"Why notw
"Well, you see, II he were to become un-
"A -