Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-03-19

mo. l suppose not. A m0mentary look
of surprise in the dark orbs he was eXamin-
ing with so unconscious a scrutiny awoke
him, and his own eyes were lowered in con-
fusion. Il hope" he said, making an effort
to recover himself, that you have not far
to CO."
1--WE have still four leagues" she answer
ed.
Surely, that is impossible on a night like
this
''Oh no." said the girl, with light laugh.
I'VE shall be there in two hours; and from
here the roads are very good indeed"
At this instant the Baron who had left the
room, re-entered, powdered all over with
snow-fakeS.
''Would you believe" he cried "that they
are yet hundred PAGES away with the car
riage? La bande-what do you call it?-of
the wheel has fallen away, and the wheel
has gone to pieces. Sacre chien! We shall
reach home after midnight"
"Would it not be BETTER" said the young
Englishman, speaking with tolerable self
possession now that he had man to talk
to, ito put up here for the night? The
weather is extremely inclement."
II have asked already" said the Baron
testify; "and they have but one bedroom"
Mine is perfectly at your disposal" cried
the youngster. mo. Really it isn't any
thing. l have to start at five in the morn
ing, and shouldn't dream of going to bed.
l shall get them to give me counterpane
here, and 1 shall sleep on the sofa. l shall,
indeed, in any case"
''You are too kind" responded the Baron
hesitatingly; 81 could not, really
Il assure you l am not surrendering any
thing. 1 should not go to bed in any case.
l shall be quite comfortable here"
SIN that case" said the Baron lingering
ly. II am quite infinitely obliged to you,"
he added in hurry, as if he feared the offer
might be withdrawn.
Perhaps it was not absolutely true that
the young Englishman would not, in any
case have gone to bed that night, but he was
quite rejoiced to be able to surrender his
room to this charming girl. He made an ex-
cuse, and slipping out of the little salon,
caught Fifine in the corridor.
''Mouseur the Baron and the young lady
will rest here for the night" he said. II
have surrendered my room to the young
lady. You will give me counterpane, and
l shall sleep on the sofa. Put mademoiselle
into my room. 1t is the most comfortable
one in the house. You had better light a
fire in the stove."
1t was far pleasanter to give up his room
to the young lady than to the fat old Baron.
LET me thank you once more for your
obliging courtesy" said the Baron, when he
re-entered the salon. "And permit me. Miss
Olivia Johnstone, my niece. Mr.. Arthur
Lawrence is the grandson of my old friend,
Olivia. My niece is so good, Mr.. Lawrence,
as to permit that smoke upon all occa-
sions."
He produced an enormous meerschaum
and silken tobacco-bag from the pockets
of his great coat, and having divested HIM
self of that garment, sat down solemnly to
smoke. The traveller turned to the young
lady with less embarrassment than he had
hitherto felt and shown"
''The country about here is very beautiful
even in the depth of winter. suppose that
in the summer time it is sort of fairy
land?"
1T is lovely in all seasons" she answered.
''The people call it the little Switzerland,
but that is absurd, and does it an injustice.
1t has its own beauties, but it is not in tho
least like Switzerland"
mot in the least" said the young man, a
little absently. He was thinking more of
her eyes, than of any landscape beauties.
Fine, frank, courageous eyes, they were not
bold, but expressive of an innocent courage.
Mr.. Arthur Lawrence had not the remot-
est idea of falling in love, or the fainteSt
conscious inclination that way, and ii such
an accident were to befall him it would not
be because he had gone out of his way to
seek it,
do you not" asked the Baron, find your
furs uncomfortably warm within doors,
Olivia?'
"a little" said Olivia, rising, and moving
toward the door. The young fellow ran to
open it for her, and she thanked him with
a smile. She was not long away, but yet
she was absent long enough to allow him to
recognize difference in the room. To the
mind of the young man she came back look
ing prettier than ever, with bit of soft lace
about her throat, and pale blue silk rib
bon.'
As she came in she turned upon him sud-
denly with beautiful smile.
DO you entirely devote yourself to the
rescue of the homeless, Mr.. Lawrence? 1
learn that we are the second recipients of
your bounty this evening""
''Oh, the Chinaman?" he said, awkwardly.
81 had him here for the fun of the thing?'
SIT would be pleasant" she answered,
with that elderly air which girls love to as
sumo upon occasion, especially with young
people of the opposite sex, 'it would be
pleasant if everybodys idea of fun were as
kindly. But Chinaman in the Ardennes?
What is he doing here"
''He was singing in the street." he said,
with an embarrassed smile, without a soul
to listen to him."
Does he speak the language? Any of the
languages spoken here?'
1--WE tried him, Fifine and l." he respond
ed, growing more at case, with English,
German, French, Flemish, and Walloon,
and he knew none of them. Fifine is the
waitress" he explained.
'Yes, know. Poor thing! Had he no
money!"
Il suppose not. He was hungry"
"It was late when you saw him?'
Eyes, it was late for Montcourtois. 1t
was eight O'clock"
1T is dreadful night" she said, with a
little shudder. Uncle, do you hear the
wind?"
Il hear it," grunted the Baron, sleepily.
II think that again it freezes" he added,
arousng himself little.
"You must not imagine, Mr. T,aWrence -