Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-06-16
OUR HOSTESS'S DAUGHTER

"Come," 1 said, ri sing and throwing
aside my book" come, Traverse, we
have had work enough. for one day.
Let us take sunset walk on the old
rampa t., and have our tea at that
charming little restaurant under the
beecheS."
Traverse took a last lingering look
at bis sketch, then carefully set back
the easel against the wall, and we
descended the stair from our apart
ments on the upper floor, where we
enjoyed view of the housetops of
the quaint Little town of Neur, ide, on
the banks of the wide and winding
Rhine.
"Stop a moment" Traverse said, as
we reached the first fOOr. We will
see if there are any letters. 1 desired
the Frau Hans ng not to bring them
up hereafter, for, good woman though
she is. her talk is rather overpower-
ing"
We had been recommended to Frau
Hansing's lodgings by fair cousin of
my own who was visiting some half
English, half German relatives near
Bonn.
elf you sstop at Neureide," she
wrote, "my relative, Madame Estorf,
desires me to say that you will find ex-
cellent lodgings with Frau Hansing.
an old and faithful servant Of hers,
who will make you very comfortable. )"
And, despite Frau Hansings love of
talking, of which Traverse mildly COM
pla ned, we had found the promise
amply fulfilled, and had so far no cause
to regret Our choice of lodgings.
The old lady ore1ed the door in an
swer to Traverse's light tap, and her
plump, rosy face as ,umed an express
ion of commits ration and sympathy.
"Ah, mein Herr. SO sorryI No let
ters tO-day-though," she added, cheer
fully, in her broken English, on which
she pr.d herself. "Llkely there will
becomes much letters one day. to-mOr-
row, and then the Herr shall rejoice to
his full cOntentment to hear from his
home"
Over her shoulder / saw that she
had ccrated her little sitting-roOm
with flowers and evergreens.
You are expecting company, Frau
Hansing?"
"Ah, yes, mein Herr; but it is only
my little Bertha--my daughter, who
Is companion to Madame EstOrf. A
nice, dear little girl, and my only
0ne."
And the old lady's eyes shone with
pride and delight as she thus spoke of
her daughter:
"She is with madame, who is now
at Rudesheim, n visit; and, its Icing
80 near, madame has kindly consented
to her coming to US for one week. She
IS very clever an pretty, Is my little
Bertha, though it is I who say IL; for,
was she not brought up by madame,
and In great part with madame's own.
granddaughter, the Fraulein Estorf ?
1t was very kind of them to treat my
title Bertha so well; but. then, 1 my
elf was nurse to the poor little grand
laughter when her own mother died.
Wei. she is great heiress now, as the
Herr knows"
1t was true that my Cousin Julia, in
describing the family in which she was
now staying. had more than once al
uded to this Fraulein Estorf. She
was granddaughter Of the old madame
of the same name, and was the real
owner Of the estate on which they re-
ided near Bonn. with the handsome
'hateau and the valuable vineyards
adjoining. Beyo d this, ! knew moth
ing Of the Fraulein Estorf; though the
probability was that / might some
lime meet her, as in this our summers
loiiday-trip Traverse and 1 were
iiowly making our way up the Rhine
.oward Bonn-which was. In fact, the
objective point Of my travels; for 1
must let the reader into the aecret Of
my engagement 70 my fair English
cousin Julia.
That evening. returnine ratheg late