The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-07-03
A CURIOUS KEEPSAKE.
Mab'S Strange Adventure at an
Italian Railway Station.

mad many plans mace doI GioAS SAtcHNSN jour
neyings, when our uncle was suddenly obliged
to return TO England on pressing business. AS
we could not and would not accompany him,
he installed as I'D quiet little hotel, gave us a
liberal allowance OF pOcket-money, and left us
with strict iniunctions TO remain quietly where
we were until his return. We were 10 make
no excursions requiring longer than days alb
sence-for Uncle Wallace highly disapprcVed
OF ladies travelling alone in foreign countries.
j was quite old enough to chaperon Nab
whlthcrs0ever she cared to 60, but not being
argnmeBtatiEe, / agreed to keep her and my
self in strict seclusion until our uncle rcjoined
Us,
Bat after three days of our own society, we
both grew horribly nopish. Nab had made
crooked little sketches OF the old cathedral ill
we both hated the sight OF the hoary edilce,
we had tried ali the cakes in the little conlec-
TONERS, and had read our small library twice
over.
Ehie, there is to be q rural fete at San Vito
on Wednesday. and ! am going" Mabel an
noHnced GA tie fourth day.
San Vito is eight hours from here" j said,
deprecarngly.
don't care il it is eighty"
But think Of your promise to Uncle Wallace
not to 20 anywhere
We shall be away only one night: and 7
shall die Of the blues ii we don't have some
amusement"
demonstrated 10 the utmost Of my ability,
lHG MAS oVerruled in the END, as ! knew /
should be. llab, having had her own way ever
snce she WAS q baby, was not likely to re-
linQnish her scep.er 81 the ripe age OF twenty.
50 tic next afternoon. armed with shawl straps
and small yaiise, we betooz ourselves to the
railway station and bought tickets for san
VITO.
AIaaemoiselle should inquire carefully the
hours Of the trains, as the timetables are often
inaccurate on this line said our smiling land
lord as NC departed.
Our only ieliow-tIavcler in the coupe was
gentleman OF about thirty. he was reading
the lgaa5s rs we entered, but ] noticed that he
seemed TO Eske more interest in Mabs pretty
face than ia the news. Yet he was not the
least impairment and he apparently imagined
thar his flrtiVe but comprehensive glances
were quite ann0ticed.
Every one admired Gabel-she w2s like
sea-shel, or a tea-rose, or any delicateiy tinted
lovely bit OF natare-and j could not blame
this man sor being only human. He had
pleasant dark eyes, with plenty of fun in them,
sleek dark hair, good length Of limb, and a
look OF the patFician about him from the toe Of
his weil-ftting boot to his finely shaped hand
As the stranger had been thoughtful and
kind concerning the disposal OF our luggage
and the arrangement of refractory curtains,
p0iiteness demanded that ] should address
him. and we we're soon chatting together like
OLD friends. de gave Us his card, OH which was
engraved. Sidney Weir, Oaklands Kent"
anc he Cleaned from our conversation that the
Misses NarlurtOn, Of Exham, were his travel
ing companions III suddenly occurred 10 me
that 4 was playing the chaperon very badly in
making such advances TO a perfect stranger
aud ] tried to frighteR Nab into becoming
PForIIetv and reserve; but. when / iattered
myself that 4 was looking my sternesI, she ac-
tuallv gave Mr. Weir her pretty little hand to
hold while he told her fortune il the pink
PAIN
Tho subject Of bric-a-brae having come up.
Mr. Weir produced q curiously carved little
silver whistle from bis pocket, which he said
lau once saved his life in India. III had a Pc
cnliar sllril4 note Very penetrating and stTlk-
ing for 81 sE4all an article, aud, used a. q sig
nal ~ distress, Il had brought heip when he WAS
operpoHer4a LIT tine enemy. Heseened pleased
with 4laps warm admiration Ok the whistle,
.ud IS she was reguTning il, be said simply
should be 50 pleased ii you would accept
thc little Toy O. = keepsake. i shall only lose it
"A u continues io jingle about srith ny keys and
small change ala perhaps j would serve Is a
charm To ward of danger from YOU Oh some
occasion It dGlE 10 me j. cone"
Nab hHsItaIeG but, seeing the Disappointed
look on DR. Nairs face, she took the lIttle
tFiRkel, VIZ q smile of thanks, and fastened 1t
to one 81 apr bracelets. / thCught il a bold,
forward thing % do; but ] knew that my oYin-
ion lispsassure would snake but little differ
IL was growing late as IRE drew near the
litile station al Gilile, where we shouid have
10 change carriages for san Vito. Cur con-
panH0a' acstiuatl6n was t0R-n further along
TIC Gimin0 line; 50 we shogla soon b. obliged
70 separate WAS secretly pleased: buG 10
Dit. Meir and Hab the time was slipping away
altogether too quickly. Arrived al Gimino we
made ke very unpleasant discovery that the
e2n $40 train had gene on without Us and
that there would DC 40 other Til five o'clock
ig tie morning
WHAT Will r0p dog" asked Mr. Weir "I
haEetcn minutes to spare before my train goes;
Al Z cOli1 Tie ~ any service u Toa in engaging
room ar tile hotel or in any other way, ]
SHOULD 5e EOst happy
think il would be better not TO 70 to the
hOtel, said BlAb; we should never wake up
for the early train aud we have not the time to
wait for Gle nezt one"
Yes j answered, we could get some re-
freabments here, and stay IN the waiting-rooIn
Ill Cur train comes. it is eleven o'clock now,
and the tiEe j. not 50 very long. We can
tlke q comfortable mp in the waitng-room.
Something Ia Biz. Meirs manner BETRAYED
taaf h4 ald l0t quite approve 81 our plan, but
d. WAS TOO polite 70 say anything against it,
lie called 2 waiter To attend to our wants, and.
~ answer ~ Tie second sharp call from tho
locomotive took his leave, lingering long over
Tue h4nd-slake with Nab, and disappeared ID
tha darkness
wish lie hadn't gone. feel lonely in
this straaae place, said Nab, with little
Eaiger.
Nonsense, childi It would have been OBJ
trnsiFl and iHtelicate If he had remained
you ioFget that we are only friends Of day
Why should be alter his plans for usg"
spoke boldly; but ], TOO, was very I'll al
ease. Ile lIttle eoitee-rocn was gradually I'LL
Ing witt rDnGl-lepziDg men. who watched rs
the oniy women I'D the plGce-turtivelv and
CIT pEag- speaking language which we out
lutte understood. Ihe hotel was a mile distant
and W. could not take refuge In it at thai
hour 81 tie nigAt even ii we had known ths
WAY
4lah, how foolish Of you to wear your dia
ni0lll riAg on journey Of this kind
attracts attention" ! said. in an undertonc
a. the light caught the brilliant on her finger
when Sic raised her coGee-cHp
happened 70 glance out Of the window a
that iDsiaut- and, to my horror. saw man
Wit cFi black eyes and grizzled hair starin.
iEtenNg at Nab and me With wicked Tool
about min which 4 could not forget As
caught LIS eye he SUNK away in the darkness
and presently the railway porter came to escor
EE 10 tile waiting room.
+" Jt is against the rules Of the road 10 ALLOW
tho waiting room 10 he occupied at night d
began. but If yen viii he content without
Aght, and with both doors locked on the cut
SIDE 4 have NO objection 10 your waiting Their
for your train.R
Jhig waB appalling, % be locked up FOR fv
hours Ia q shabby little Italian Waiting-g0on