The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-08-01
MAB'S KEEPSAKE.

Nab and bad been idling about in
Tuscany for some weeks with Uncle
Wallace. and We had many plans made
for N re extended journeyings. when
our uncle wts suddenly Obliged TO re
turn TO England on pressing business
As We could not and would not accom-
pany him. he installed us In n ouiei
little hotel. gave Us liberal allowance
of pocket money. and J. f. Us with etIici
inJunctions TO remain quietly where "
were until his return. We were to
make no excursions requiring Longer
that days absence-for Uncle VILLAGE
mighty disspp'oved Of ladies travelling
alone in foreign countries. VS. cd
enough TO ebsperon Msb vhithersOeseT
she cared to go; but. not htiDg sTgu-
mentative. sgreed to keep her and
myself in strict seclus on until our
uncle rejoined us.
But after three days OF our own So
oieIy. We both grew horribly mepisb.
Nab had made crooke little sketche
OF the old cathedral till We b1ih hated
the sight of the hosry edifce. we had
tried all the cafes in the little confec-
toners, and had read our small library
twice over.
"Efie, there is 20 be a rural fste at
San Vito on Wednesday and | am go
ing" Mabel announced ON the fourth
day.
''San Vito is eight hours from here"
| said depTeCaiIngly.
IL don't care if il IS eighty"
But think of your prOmis+ to Uncle
Wallace not 10 go anywhere"
We shall be away only one night:
and | shall die of the blues il We don't
have some amusement
/ demonstrated TO the utmost of my
sbIlity but was overruled IN he end, as
knew / should be. NAB. having had
her own way ever since she was 4 baby,
was not likely to relinquiSh her scepter
at the ripe age of 20. So the next after
noon. armed with shawl straps and n
small valse, We betock O, rsslves TO the
railway station and bought tickets for
San Vito.
"Mademoiselle should inuuile care
fully the hours of the trains, as the
time tables 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 80. He Was
reading the newspaper IS we entered,
but l noticed that he seemed TO take
more interest in Mab's pretty face than
in the news. Yet he was not the least
Imprrtinent, and he apparently imagin.
ed that Lis furtive but comprehensive
chances we're quite unnoticed,
Euaru nna anr pfrad L.
| like Ses-shell, or a tea. rose, or any
delicately- tinted lovely bit of nature
and / could not blame this man for be
ing only human. He had pleasant
dark eye, with plenty OF fun In Them,
and look OF the patrician about him
/ from TIE toe of his weil-6tting boot TO
his finely-shaped hand.
| AZ the stranger had been thoughtful
and kind concerning the disposal of our
luggage and the arrangement OF re
fraetory curtains. pohteness demanded
that / should address him, and we were
soon chatting together like old friends.
de gave us his card, on which was en-
| graved Sidney Weir, Oaklands, Kent
and he CLEANED from our Conversation
that the Misses Wsrburton OF Exham
were his travelling companions. IL
suddenly occurred TO me that ] was
| playing the chaperon very badly in
making such advances TO a perfect
stranger, and / tried 20 brighten Nab
into becoming propriety and reserve;
but when | fattered 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.. Weir produced a curiouse
ly carved little silver whistle from his
pocket, which he said had once saved
bis life IN India. It had peculiar.
shrill mole, very penetrating and strik-
Ing Tor so small al article, and, used as
3 signal OF distress, by the enemy. He
seemed pleased with Mab's warm ad-
mirstion OF the whistle, and, as she
was returning 1t 10 him, he said, simply:
i should be 50 pleased if you would
accept the little toy as a keepsake. /
shall only lose IL II continue TO Jingle
/ II ABOUT with my keys and small change
land perhapsit would serve as a charm
70 ward of danger from you on some
occasion. It's duty to me Is done"
Nab hesitated, but, seeing the disap
l pointed LOOK on Mr.. Weir's face. she
took the trinket, with smile Of thank
and fastened il TO one of her bracelets.
thought il a bold forward thing 10 do.
but knew that my opinion or NV dis
pleasure would make but little differ
ence 10 my younger sister.
| cit was growing late as We drew neal
the little station OF Gimino, where We
should have to change Carriages for
San Vito Our companions destination
was town further along the Gimino
line, so we should soon be obliged 10
separate. | 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
| l. - : -