The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-07-04
MAB'S KEEPSAKE.


Tuscany for some weeks with Uncle
Wallace, and we had many plans made
for more extended i~ourneyings, when
our uncle was suddenly obliged to re-
turn to England on pressing business.
As we could not and would not accom-
pany him, he installed us in a quiet lit
tie hotel, gave us a liberal allowance of
pocket money, and left us with strict
injunctions TO remain quietly where we
were until his return. We were to
make no excursions requiring longer
than a days absence for Uncle Wallace
highly d~isapproved of ladies travelling
aloE.e in foreign countries. I was quite
old enough to chaperon Nab whittier
soever she cared to go, but, being argu-
mentative, / agreed to beep her and
myself in strict seclusion until our I'M
Gle rejoined rs.
But, after three days of our own socie-
ty, we both grew horribly mopish.
Nab had made crooked little sketches
of the old cathedral till we both hated
the sight of the hoary ediice, we had
tried all the cakes in the little confec-
TONERS and had read our small library
twice over.
"Efie, there is to be a rural fete at
San Vito on Wednesday, and I am 60
ing" Mabel announced on the fourth
day.
'tSan Vito is eight hours from here"
l SAID deprecatingly.
'I don't care if it is eighty"
"But think of your promise to Uncle
Wallace not to go anywhere"
"We shall be away only one night;
and / shall die of the blues if we don't
have some amusement"
demonstrated to the utmost of my
ability, but was oyerruled In the end, as
i knew I should be. Nab, having had
her W way ever since she was a baby,
was not likely to relinquish her sceptre
at the ripe age Of 30. So the next after
noon, armed with shawl straps and a
small ~yalise, we betook ourselves TO the
railway station and bought tickets for
San Vito.
aMademoiselle should inquire careful
ly the hours of the trains as the time
tables are often inaccurate on this line"
said our smiling landlord as we depart
ed.
One only fellow traveller in the coupe
was a gentlemen of about 30. He was
reading the Times as we entered, but /
noticed that he seemed TO take more in
terest in Mab's pretty face than in the
news. Yet he was not the least imper-
tinent. and he apparently imagined that
his furtive but comprehensive glances
were unnoticed.
Every one admired Mabel-she was
like a sea-shelI, or tea-rose, OF any deli
cately tinted lovely bit of nature-and
4 could not blame this man for being
only human. He Lad pleasant dark
eyes, with plenty of fun in them, sleek
dark hair, q good length of limb, and a
look of the patrician about him from the
toe OF his well-fitting boot to his finely
shaped hand.
As the stranger had been Thoughtful
and kind concerning the disposal Of our
luggage and the arrangement of refrac-
tory curtains, ~politeness demanded chat
i should address him, and we were soon
chatting together like old friends. He
gave MS his card, ON which was engraved
1Hidney Weir, Oaklands, Kent and
he CLEANED from our conversation that
Che Misses Warburton, Of Exham, were
his travelling companions. 1t suddenly
occurred to me that / was playing the
chaperon very badly making such adj
Vances to . perfect stranger, and ! tried
TO frighten Maby 10 becoming propriets
and reserve; but, when / iattered my
self that ] was looking my sternest, she
actually gave Mr.. Weir her pretty little
handto hold while be told her fortune in
the pink palm.
The subject Of bric-brac having come
mp, Mr.. Weir produced o curiously
carved little silver whistle from his
pocket, which he said had once saved
his life in India. It had a peculiar
ehrill note, very penetrating and strik-
ing for so small an article, and, used a.
3 signal Of distress, it had brought helr
when he was o~verpowered BY the en-
envy. He seemed pleased with MAIDS
warm admiration Of the whistle, and
as she was returning il, he said sim
ply
~ should be SO pleased if you woult
accept the little toy as D keepsake.
shall only lose IL If il continued ia jim
gle about with my keys and small
change and perhaps il would serve as