New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-06
Ill.

All around the noise of German tongues the
smell of German cigars, the sound OF German eat
ing drinking and cOnviviality. Surely 1t is
nation very much overestimated. So. at least
thought Major Brown, pacing YEARLY up and down
the broad terrace of the Homburg Kur-llaus.
During the past mOnOtOnOuS BOurnemOuth WIN
ter the Majors spirits had. in the most unreaSOn-
able manner increasingly tagged and tagged An
old friend and brOther-Ofcer, paying a flying
visit to that famous health resort. had scarcely
been able to recognize in the morbid, gloomy man,
his former chum who had been the very life of the
regiment. He had spoken seriously TO the Major
himself and to Mrs Drayton. and predicting sagely
that Browns liver was affected. and that there
was nothing like good German watering place for
setting an Indian mp again, had finally succeeded
in perSuading his friend to promise that he would
give the Homburg Kur trial when the season
came round.
When once Major Brown had made this resolu-
tion he became restless and inpatient to carry it
into execution. He was almost incapable of con-
cealing from Nettie'S atIcctiOnate watchfulnesS
his anxiety TO leave BOurnemouth and her society.
He went up to London at Easter and tried 10 re-
cover his spirits by q strong dose of society,
theatre going and pleasurng. But this sort Of
| life soon bored him, and he found that he missed
| the quiet smoklng-roOm OF Sea View Villa, and
| the friendly fox-terrer He returned To Bourne.
mouth only to discover that the smoking room had
undergone thorough spring-cleaning during his
absence, which had left it not nearly so comfort
| able his fancy had pictured it, and that the
fox-terrier. having been slightly bitten in game
with another dog, had been destroyed by order of
Mrs. Drayton, who lived in hourly dread of hydro.
| phObia.
When June came. therefore, Major Brown. no
longer able TO restrain his impotence, started for
| Homburg, although he was warned by his whole
acquaintance that he would find the place bitterly
cold, completely given over TO Germans. and not "A
Pacing up and down the KurHaus
terrace on this June evening, he was
had been entirely fulfilled. lie was sick n death
of the daily routine of baths and water-drinking
the Kur had not worked that miracle for his health
| Id ha Mn 1 IT,.
for the sight of an English face; and, worst of all
| not the loudest chatter OF German mirth German
| talk could drown that low echong refrain which
| continually rang in his ears Wherever he went,
| whether he slept, drank or played. it sounded
sometimes quite near, sometimes very far away
80 wenn es doch INNER so biebe :!
Major Brown turned in his walk sharply and
muttered low imprecation. He would leave
| Uomburg Immediately. The place a dead
| take-in He was rather worse than better since
| he had come there. He would start tomorrow
| for Switzerland and wait about somewhere fol-
warmer weather and the stream OF English visitors
which was sure 10 bring some old friends with il
| He had been a great fool TO take COmpton's
| advice. the man was always talking about what
| he did not understand He believed he was poison
| ing his system with those COMPOUNDED waters
Yes, tomorrow he would GO. tie would md cut
81 "Pooer do mt on Saras shawl for her. IT. i,
so chilly and she will certainly catch cold in that
thin gown"
The low. peevish tones struck suddenly on Major
Browns ear through the din Of foreign voices. In
| a moment there rushed on him an oVerpowerine
darkness and then food Of bright light. HI
was once more in the crowded drawing-room Of
Sea View Villa Standing in his corner he watched
the Bournemouth ladies smile and talk, and OF
his ear there crept Rubinstein's subtle melody
and Sara Levison's voice rang out again.
He passed his hand over his eyes and looked
round in a dazed manner. Quite near him, on hi
right hand, was little group of three people. HI
recognized them all again in a moment. Mrs
| Wilson was languidly tanning herself, although
as She had said, the evening was decidedly chilly
Her son, bending over his cousins chair, was wrap
| ping around her soft, white shawl Miss Lev
| ison's face slightly turned toward him. pale
| Der evening.
Major Brown, quite unconsciously. stood still s.
long gazing at the group that at last, Mrs Wilson
| who sat facing him, was attracted by the sta
| tionary watcher She recognized him immediately
as an Englishman, and put up her glasses to MAKE
q more thorough investigation OF him Then SOM
| shadowy recollection Of his face came 70 her. ans