National Republican., 1884-11-01

whito neck.tie, emerged from the me.
dieval door, porte soon sknrried along z
the psrapet balcony to the turret with
Mrs. Wiiton's box on his shoulder.
~ feel young again." sighed the lady.
"These battlements are delicious. This
castle was once the stronghold of some
robber baron of tho middle ages, when
the courts of Savoy and the archbishop OF
Geneva fought perpetually. Fancy! The
robber knights would have swooped
down on poor little mo and my luggage
at an earlier date. Now the spot has been
civilized into modern hotel, with wine
card and extra charges for service and
candles. l saw n cook in a white cap
looking ont of n dungeon keep, where he
makes soups and rsgouts. How d. you
find 1t, Flossy2'
Flossy, poodle Of sagacious aspect,
barked and tiukled tho silver bell at.
tached to his neck ribbon. The group on
the terrace had watched the stranger with
sharp scrutiny and ready criticism.
"a lady alone" grumbled DIR. Speiser,
in his Alsacian French. perhaps she
camo here to meet somebody. Who
knows? Last summer / encountered q
tourist in wig; she had run away from
her husband"
"Figuro to yourself, monsieur" ex-
claimed Mile. Baud-a large, yell
low woman, with tho bluo.black hair and
energetic features of q Marseillaise. We
made the acquaintance of charming g
creature at Ouchy. She was so spirituelio,
go elegant, and she proved TO be tho pre-
miere ddnseuse alta Vienna theaterW
A q o'clock table d'hOto drew together
the inmates OF the hotel. Hither came
DR.. Speiser and Nile. Baud with her
demure young people. Hither camo
Prof. Defoe, shy, and measuring his
words in careful French sentences. For
tho rest, there was q sprinkling of inva.
lids, recently boiled in the fervcnt waters
Of Aix-les. Bains, and sent here to solid
ify, after the cure. while still in q state
of pulp much resembling soft-sbell crabs.
A musical composer from Milan, with
hair on end, psrtook of the meal with
abstraction, as IL an opera was passing
through his brain between tho courses,
while madame his wife, with many yell
low and red bows on her dress, flirted
with her ncighbors.
Tho lady of the turret chamber was
seated opposite Prof. Defoe. She was fair
and girlish in appearance, despite her
widows cap. Dr. Speiser saw her start
and tremble when she glanced at her
vis-a.vis. What did that mean? The
professor had fne head, dark beard
tinged with gray, and aquiline nose,
crisped by Alpine sunshine. The latter
did not look up.
Evening succeeded. DR.. Speiser Sun oked
his meerschaum on lower path, once the
castle moat. The boiled ones from AK
had already crept under their blankets
The composer was storming a tinklinQ
piano. The professor leaned on the para.
pet in meditation.
The chateau rose on the cliff. sharply
defined by moonlight. Shadows filled
the rocky chasm once tenanted by the
wolf and the eagle. The scent of wild
thyme and hay was waited from adj jaceni
meadows. The valley world below wa:
obscure, save where q cluster Of light:
defined q town. Occasionally shower oi
fireworks rose in the air to break in
golden stars-ebullition of some nation a.
fete-and u green light was shed over the
Jura flank. Voices mingled on the ter.
race.
"He was the victim of conspiracy
said the lady of the turret chamber.
"Yes. know" replied Prof Defoe.
you do not believe in his innocence ~
she added.
Hush, Edith; wo may be overheard p
Silence ensued. DR.. Speiser pricked up
his ears. Ha! the victim Of q conspiracy
It is an age of conspiracies. Pessimist Of
vast experience, he decided that the lady
had tracked the unfortunate botanist here.
Mrs. Wilton sat beside Mile. Baud
on tho terrace next morning. Sun.
shine sparkled on the castle towers, the
FURNISHED weathercock, and balconies
shaded by striped awnings. The plane
trees spread great parasols above their
heads, vases adorned the coping, while
tho pink bloom of oleanders perfumed the
air. Delphiae aud Angelique showered
compliments aud caressing attentions on
the stranger. Alphonse brought his album
and begged her to write verse in Eng
lish. She wrote:
=" And have vowed never to see him more
To see him more;
And even as she spoke her thoughts,
From old habit ofthe mind,
Went slipping back to the golden days
When she had known him first"
Professor Defoe approached.
Good morning. Mrs. Wilton" he said,
with anxiety.
Good morning." she replied, coldly.
Warmth crept into his manner as her
own chilled. He presented posegsy Of
grasses, and the great silver thistle known
hs tuo uftttHuut ut " WVHthyHts n
of many years." he explained, nervously,
as she withdrew.
There were mushrooms in the source
last night" proclaimed DIR. Speiser from
neighboring bench. "My forthcoming
pamphlet will treat of the danger OF
using the wild mushroom"
Later Professor Defoe found Mrs. Will
ton in tho rustic pavilion on the cliff.
"a re YOU alone, Edith ?"
alone in the world" she replied, with
dim eyes,"
"Poor child! I have lived in Canada
since-the loss of my property"
The mans face reddened; the woman's
hardened.
"Of course you blame him."
Doubtless he was to be pitied."
1--WE do not need your pity" she cried,
with anger.
The following morning Prof. Deroe slept
late. He had decided to leave by the after
noon diligence.
"A-a-ch p he exclaimed. as he drew on
his walking SHOE taken in from tho mat
outside the door. A crooked pin thrust
through note had pierced his foot. "A
billet-doux has been dropped in my shoe"
He unfolded the note and recognized
tho writing Of Edith Wilton. Had no not
cherished bundle of letters in that writ
ing in his Canadian home? Did not the
romance Of his life center in these faded
relics? He had loved her, in her maiden.
hood, with all the intensity of quiet na-
lures. A verse was inscribed and line
scribbled below.
al. The window"
The professor rubbed his eyes. What
did it all meanF Clearly Edith expected
him to remain at the castle. He mused
long over the contents Of his shoe There
arc moments in life when a man does not
analyze too closely the means by which
his own hopes become realized. After
breakfast he scrutinzed tho windows of
the chateau. What easement could be
meant unless that of the turret? He
skirted the base Of the tower on the mar
row ledge OF path. DIR. Speiser was seated
on the wall gazing down into the valley.
THAT man is always hanging about"
muttered the professor. Flossy, the