The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-11-30
SELECT STORY.
ROMANCE OF THE HOTEL STAR.
CHAPTER |.

ROMANCE OF THE HOTEL STAR.
CHAPTER I.
The muddy yoiture drawn by the
lazy horse clattered over the cobbled
pavement of the village, and l, seated
therein, took IN such details of the
prospect as was unobscured by the
broad round shoulders of my chari
oteer to my right a sheer precipice of
some two hundred feet in height,
crowned with shocks of ruddy foliage /;
to my left bare landscape that but a
month ago had been rich with golden
grain; overhead steel-blue sky, dap
pied with shifting clouds. The long
avenue of fir and poplar stretched be-
fore me in wearisome monotony of
green and susset, and the road was
moist with rottng leaves.
Three miles of muddy road, three
miles of monotonous frs and poplars,
an hour of shake and jingle of the
crazy vehicle, and we rolled into the
village of Pastal. The round shoulder
ed driver checked the lazy horse at the
portals Of the Hotel of the Star, a
huge whitewashed edifce, its walls
pierced by innumerable windows, and
surmounted By unglazed attics, which
stared blindly at the dreary fields be-
yond the Swollen stream, turgid with
late rains. There were half a dozen
iron topped tables and as many chairs
and benches, all in state of clammy
perspiration, under the damp awning
above the windows of the salon. At
one of the windows there was face,
which flushed and paled as l descend
ed from the carriage, and as / entered
the public room the same face met me
at the door, Not an unhandsome face,
if judged by the standards of form
and color, but one which expressed ir-
resolution and moral shiftlessness, if
ever face did yet.
'Mr Gordon what in the name of
wonder brings you here?"
business" l replied; important
business"
"lndeed with whom?"
The question was superhuous, as his
shifting glances and irresolute voice
would have told any onlooker
"With you" l answered. He look
ed at me swiftly, and lowered his eyes
again. "We can talk here, l sup
pose 7"
Eyes" he said, sullenly enough.
"There isn't soul in the house who
understands English. Hasn't been for
the last fortnight"
He drew chair to the tireless
stove, and sat chating his hands in ev-
ident discomfort. | took seat at
some little distance.
SLOWS Mary?" he asked presently,
without looking up.
"Well in health"
He was silent again for minute,
and then broke out querulously:
Cant You say something to a fel-
low? What's the matter p
81 have come with the intention of
saying something; and you ought to
know what the matter is, Why have
you not written 7"
81 have written
"She received your last letter a
month ago"
!, He uttered an inarticulate growl by
way of answer and | repeated my
question.
"What is there to write about in a
hole like this?"
"Walter, my lad / answered quiet
ly, ignoring the puerility OF his excuse
and the insolence of his tone, sit won't
do"
"What won't do?"
"Your conduct. And you must
alter it. l have come here at some
personal inconvenience, and if / am to
be of any use at all you must behave
frankly. Now what's the matter
Some new ENHANCEMENT, l suppose 7"
"By Jove, sir, it's not my fault
upon my soul, it's not. like Mary 8
thousand times better than than
| like her. But she won't take No fo
an answer What's poor devil to dt
with woman like that 2"
"Have You ever given her No fo
an answer 2"
He answered nothing, but sat mood
lily staring at the fire
"Will you ever have an ounce o
pluck or a shred of common hor
esty?'
lie growled again and shifted hi
feet uneasily.
"Who is she? What is her name
"Madame Malines, answered Wa
ter.
"Malnes I l know the name. Hav
| ever met heri'
Everybody knows the name, She
the widow of Malines, the Frenc
Academician, the dictationary fellow
Indeed But he was an old MAJ
surely. How old is she 7"
"Twenty-eight or thirty, l SUI
pose"
"Where did you meet hers"
"Here, about six weeks ago, and 81
made dead set at me-confound he
the moment she set eyes ON me. L
the unluckiest beggar that ever live
| think
"What do you mean by made
dead set on you
"Why, monopolized me, and hunt
me about wherever | went.
l. ''She is in the hotel at present y
"She will be soon. She's gone fer
drive"
"Well, l asked presently, "what q
lpour intentions p