, 1888-10-07
together again. II only for a brie. mo.

meet.
Remember, 10 o'clock promptly to.
morrow morning. Monsieur Joliceur."
said the young lady, as she stepped out
into the bright sunshine.
Without fail. madame; you may al
ways trust the promises of Aristide Joli.
c9ur, YOU humble servant" replied the
horsey Adonis. with his hand on his stom,
ach and a ravishing smile fitting up the
ends of his waxed mustache. "Ahl these
American ladies; they are indeed angels
of loveliness," the remise proprietor con
tinued, as Miss Moore and her companion
disappeared through the massive stone
gateway. such grace. such esprit, and
so well bredl None of the petty bicker
ing over a fair price that people of other
nations permit themselves"
This eulogy was uttered for Mr. Meals
benefit. whom the master of the remise
regarded with benignant s%uavity. know
ing that he had egregiously cheated two
of the handsome young strangers
trymen, and seeming further prey in this
third representative of the rich republic.
These ladies'. Nine, Lee and her
charming niece, are going to drive to
Mentone tomorrow, over the Corniche
road. / hope they will have a fine day
Paolo shall take them over by the LAWYER
road and return by the Col du Tigre
There is still snow up there; but to-mor.
rows sun will melt 1t, and it will be safe
enough for the return trip"
You are a garrulous, specious old ras.
cal" Mr.. Neal concluded, mentally; but
I'm immensely obliged to you for your in.
formation" Then, after agreeing to an
extortionate price for his horse the follow.
ing day, he took his departure in the wake
of the fair bearer of the carnations.
The next morning at 10 o'clock sharp q
~ harn,cha iroyun hy a we'll ro,I;
toned pair of white horses drew up be-
fore the Hotel des Painters. A dignifed
looking old coachman occupied the box,
with a 10-year-o old boy humbly ensconced
among the horse blankets at his feet.
Mrs. Lee and Miss Moore made them
selves thoroughly comfortable in this
vehicle. and set off upon their drive over
the magnificent highway. for the building
of which the world owes a lasting debt oil
gratitude to the Corsican hero.
Now, you dear, croaking old thing.
confess that you are glad / persuaded you
to come today" said pretty Margery, pat.
ting her aunt's plump. white hand coax
ingly.
Zone should not sing before one has
fairly entered the woods" replied the
elder lady. oracularly.
You are really in~corrigible, aunt.
What more could you desireH We have
good. gentle looking horses with sound
legs; a patriarchal coachman with sobriety
and honesty craven on his serene brow:
and the weather-could anything be more
perfect Look at that gentian blue sky,
and the violet and pale green shades in
the sea; and the grim gray ribs of the
rocks, and the on the mountains
beyond, and-oh, everythingl'
The girls eyes and cheeks glowed with
this purest, most of healthful pleasures
the enjoyment of an exquisite, varying
landscape seen for the first time. The
angry, volcanic crags peering over into
the placid, deep blue sea; the silvery
pallor of the olives contrasting with the
dark, polished green of the fig trees; the
daring sweeps of the road leading along
the stony spine of the mountains. Quaint
little villages clinging like a collection of
wasps' nests to the rocks; vehicles of all
sorts, picturesque and elegant, passing to
and fro. Here, a tiny. tinkling donkey
laden with green and yellow crockery
jars; there, the four horse break whisk.
ing it's load of curious strangers over to
taste the fascination of Monte Carlo.
At the first descent of any Importance
from the box and applied a primitive but
effective drag to the wheels-a pair of old
shoes tied to stout ropes.
II believed that young person wes
brought along solely for ornament; l see
now that l was mistaken" said Margery,
with a gay laugh at the shockingly bad
old shoes. 1t was so easy to laugh this
brilliant, in~vigorating morning.
After luncheon at Mentone, in q pretty
garden close to the sea, they began the
homeward journey over the highest part
of the road so appropriately named, cling
ing to the serrated rock as a cornice fol
low the Irregularities of a dentated roof.
Always higher, past the village of Rocca
Bruna, said to have slipped down en-
masse from a plateau above to it's present
position. Past Esa, with it's melancholy
cluster of deserted cottages. Here and
there the ruins of q fortress perched
proudly aloft as an eagles nest. At La
Turbie, the tower built ages G for the
worship of Jupiter, Jeannot clambered
down again, and, pulling off his cap,
loosening at the same time a crop of
glossy, dark curls. babe the aides good
night. Here, a branch road led away
from the sea, over the Col du Tigre, with
a view over a white world of snowy
mountains. Though carefully mended
and kept, after the manner of all French
roads, this branch was rarely used except
for return carriages to Nice, the slope be-
ing a long. steep pull for upward bound
horses.
The dusk and quiet of evening became
very impressive among these silent
heights, and Margery drew closer to her
u in vague distrust of the deepening
shadows. Patches of half melted snow
began to appear on each side of the way;
not q living creature was in sight, or
sound audible, save for the occasional
vhir of a birds wings.
Alas. for Mr.. Meals plan for a canter
over to Mentone as discreet outrider to
the object Of lis silent devotion, Miss
MarSery Moore. The horse promised
him for the occasion was brought home
lame, and owing to the press of the car.
nival season. another animal such as Mr.
Neal required vas not forthcoming.