Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-09-01
Mab's Keepsake.

made for more extended journeyings,
when our uncle was suddenly obliged
to return to England on pressing bus
mess. As we could not and would
not accompany him he installed us in
a quiet little hotel, gave US a liberal
allowance of pocket money, and left
us with strict injunctions to remain
quietly where we were until his re-
turn. We were to make no excur-
sions requiring longer than a days
absence-for Uncle Wallace highly
disapproved of ladies travelling alone
in foreign countries. / was quite
old enough to chaperone Nab whith-
ersoever she cared to go, but, not be-
ing argumentative, I agreed to keep
her and myself in strict seclusion un-
til our uncle rejolned US. 2
But, after three days of our own
society, we both grew horribly mop
ish. Nab had made crooked little
sketches of the old cathedral till we
both hated the sight of the hoary ed
ifice, we had tried all the cakes in
the little confectioner's, and had
read our small library twice over.
'sEfie, there is to be a rural fete
at San Vito on Wednesday, and I
am going" Mabel announced on the
fourth day.
"San Vito is eight hours from
here" | said, deprecatingly.
81 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 overruled in the
end, as | knew / should be. Nab,
having had her own way ever since
she was baby, was not likely TO re-
linquish her scepter at the ripe age
of twenty. So the next afternoon,
armed with shawl-straps and small
valise, we betook ourselves to the
railway station and bought tickets
for San Vito.
'Mademoiselle should inquire care
fully the hours of the trains, as the
timetables are often inaccurate on
this line," said our smiling landlord
as we departed.
Our only fellow traveller in the
coupe was a gentleman of about thir-
ty. He was reading the Times as we
entered, but / noticed that he seemed
to take more interest in Mab's pretty
face than in the news. Yet he was
not the least impertinent, and he APP
parently imagined that his furtive but
comprehensive glances were quite un-
noticed.
Every one admired Mabel-she was
like sea-shell, Oh tea rose, or any
delicately tinted, lovely bit of nature
and could not blame this man for
being only human. He had pleasant
dark eyes, with plenty of fun in them;
sleek dark hair, a good length of
limb, and look of the patrician
about him from the toe of his we'll
fitting boot to his finely-shaped hand.
AS the stranger had been thought
full and kind concerning the disposal
of our luggage and the arrangement
OF refractory curtains, politeness de-
manded that / should address him,
and we were soon chatting together
like old friends. He gave us his
card, on which was engraved, ''Sid-
ney Weir, Oaklands, Kent" and he
CLEANED from our conversation that
the Misses Warburton, of Exham,
were his travelling companions. 1t
suddenly occurred to me that 1 was
playing the chaperone very badly in
making such advances to a perfect
stranger, and tried to frighten Nab
into becoming propriety and reserve;
but, when I fattered myself that 1
was looking my sternest, she actually
gave Mr.. Weir her pretty little hand
to hold while he told her fortune in
the pink palm.
The subject of bric-a-brac having
come up, Mr.. Weir produced curl
ously carved little silver whistle from
his pocket, which he said had once
saved his life in India. 1t had
peculiar shrill note, very penetrating
and striking for so small an article,
and, used as signal of distress, it
had brought help when he was over
powered by the enemy. He seemed
pleased with Mab's warm admiration
of the whistle, and, as she was re-
turning it, he said simply:
81 should be so pleased if you
would accept the little toy as a keep
sake. [ shall only lose it if it con-
tinues to jingle about with my keys
and small change; and perhaps it
would serve as charm to ward off
danger from you on some occasion.
It's duty to me is DONE"
Nab hesitated but seeing the dis
appointed look on Mr.. Weir's face,
she took the little trinket, with a
smile of thanks, and fastened it to
one Of her bracelets. 1 thought it
bold, forward thing to do; but /
knew my opinion or displeasure
would make but little difference to
my younger sister.
1t was growing late as we drew
near the little station of Gimino,
where we should have to change car
r;oroc for Con Vito Ou, o<>r,,,oy