Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-21
MAPS KEEPSAKE,

Nab and had been idling about in Tuscany
for some weeks with Uncle Wallace and we
mad many plans made for more extended Jour-
neyin2s, when our uncle was suddenly obliged
TO return to England on pressing business. AS
we could not and would not accompany him
ne installed US in quiet little hotel. gave US a
liberal allowance OF pocket money. and left us
WIN STREET injunctfons to remain quietly where
We were until his return. We were to make no
excursions requiring longer than a days alb
sence-for Uncle Wallace highly disapproved
of ladies' travelling alone In foreign countries
L was quite old enough to chaperone Nab
whithersoever she cared to CO. but. not being
| argumentative, agreed to keep her and my
self in strict seclusiOn until our uncle rejoined
us.
But, after three days of our own society," we
both grew horribly mopish. Nab had made
crooked little sketches OF the old cat hedral till
We both hated the sight OF the hoary ediice, we
had tried all the cakes in the little confectlOn-
| ers, and had read our small library twice over.
| ''Efie, there is to be rural fete at San Vito
| on Wednesday, and | am going Mabel an
| nounced on the fourth day.
''San Vito is eight hours from here" said
| deprecatingly
II don't care if it is eighty.
but think of your promise to Uncle Wallace
| not ii go anywhere"
I'VE shell be away only one night; and
| shall die OF the blues If we don't have some
| amusement"
| l demonstrated to the utmost of my ability, but
| was Overruied IN the end, as / knew should
| be. Nab, having had her own way ever since
| she was baby, was not likely to reiinquish 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 sta
| ton and bought tickets tor San Vito.
| ''MademOiseile should inquire carefully the
| hours OF the Trains as the time tables are often
inaccurate on this line" said our smiling land
| lord as we departed.
| Our only fellow traveller in the coupe was
| gentleman of about thirty. He was reading the
| Times as we entered, but 1 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 apparently imagined
| that his furtive but comprehensive chances were
| quite unnotced.
| Every one admired Mabel-she was like sea-
| shell, or 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. good length of limb. and a look Of
| the patrcian about him from the toe Of his we'll
| 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 refractory curtains. polIteness
| demanded that l should address him, and we
were soon chatting together like old friends.
| He gave us his card, on which was engraved
| from our conversation that the Misses Warbur-
| ton, OF Exham were his travelling companions
! 1t suddenly occurred to me that was PLAYING
the chaperone very badly in making such ad-
| vances to perfect stranger. and l tried to
| frighten Nab into becoming prOprlety and re-
serve; but, when l lattered myself that 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..
@ u1yo
| whistle from his pocket. which he said had once
saved his life in India. It had peculiar shrill
note. very penetrating and striking for so small
| an article. and, used as q signal of distress it
| had brought help when he was oyerpowered by
| the enemy. He seemed pleased with Mabs
warm admiration of the whistle, and, as she
| was returning It, he said simply
II should be so pleased if you would accept
| the little toy as keepsake. l shall only loose
| 1t II it continues to jingle about with my keys
and small change; and perhaps 1t 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 disappointed
| look on Mr.. Weirs face. she took the little
trlnket, with smile Of thanks, and fastened it
| to one of her bracelets. | thought it bold
| forward thing to do; but / knew that my opin-
| ion or dlspeasure would make but little differ
encc to my younger sister
1t was growing late as we drew near the little
station of GiminO, where we should have to
Change carriages for SanNito. Our companions
destination was town further along the Gin
Inc line; 80 we should soon be Obliged to sepa-
rate / was secretly pleased: but to Mr. Weir
and Nab the time was slipping away altogether
too quickly Arrived at Gimino we made the
very unpleasant discovery that the San Vito
train had gone on without US and that there
would be no other till o'clock in the morning
What will you do?' asked Mr. Weir az
| have ten minutes to spare before nv train
goes; if | could be of any service TO you in en-
gaging room at the hotel or In any other
way. | should be most happy"
81 think it would be better not to go to the
hotel" said Nab; I'VE should never wake ND
for the early train. and We have not the time to
wait tor the next one"
'Yes,"I answered. "we could get some re-
freshment here, and stay in the waiting-room
I'll our train comes 1t Is II o'clock now. and
| the time is not so very long. We can take
| comfortable nap in the watinQ-rOom.''
Something In Mr.. Welrs manner BETRAYED
| that he did not quite approve Of our plan, but
he was too polite to say anything against it.
| He called a waiter to attend to our wants and
| In answer to the second sharp call from the
| locomotive. took his leave. lingering long
over the hand-shake with Nab, and disappeared
| in the darkness.
81 wish he hadn't gone / feel lonely in this
| strange place" said Nab, with little shiver
"NCnsense, child 1t would have been OBJ
| trusiye and indicate if he had remained You
forget that we are only friends of a day. Why
| should he alter his plans for us ~
l.
ease. The little coffee-rOOm was gradually
filling with rough-lOOking men who watched
us-the only women In the place-turtirely and
curfOusly. speaking language which we but
| little understood. The hotel was mile dis
tant, and we could not take refuge in it at that
hour Of the night, even if we had known the
way.
NAB, how foolish Of you to wear your
diamond ring on journey of this kind-it
attracts attention." / said In an undertone. as
the light caught the brilliant on her finger when
| she raised her coffee-cup.
1 happened TO glance out of the window at
that instant, and. to my horror saw a man with
evil black eyes and griZzled hair staring intent
ly at Nab and me with wicked look about him
which could not forget. AS caught his eve
he SUNK away in the darkness, aud presently
the railway porter came to escort us to to the
waiting-rOOm.
at Is against the rules of the road to allow
the waiting-rOOm to be occupied mt night =" he
began, but if you will be content without
light, and with both doors locked on the out
side, have no objection to your waiting there
for your train"
This was appalling, to be locked up for five
hours in shabby little Italian wating-roOm In
total darkness. BY feeling the man we prevailed
upon him to allow us to bolt the outer door on
the inside. so that We should feel little less
like prisoners.
The guard walks up and down the platform
| till daylight, so you can feel quite safe" said
| the porter, consolingy as he wished us good
night and shut the door Of the dark little den