The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1892-07-09


and his daughter from my immediate
companionship. Yet so far was this
from being the case that he had taken
some pains to secure our being together
for of course the Badehaus must be his
own quarters. glanced at Kate, who
had taken her fathers arm and was pac-
ing beside him thoughtfully. with down.
cast eyes. Was she glad as well as l!
We passed through a narrow alley,
between two friendly buildings, which
seemed strongly inclined to lean on one
another's shoulders; crossed the rough
cobblestones Of the little market place
and, gaining the farther side OF the
bridge, found ourselves on broad,
level walk, which skirted the southern
side of the small valley wherein the VII
lage lies. On our right hand was a
series of succeed villas, built against
the steep side of the hill; on our left q
strip of meadow, with brook brawlinS
through it; and beyond this again the
Struggling array of the village and the
hill on the other side. Overhead the
spreading branches of low trees kept
off the glare of the sun. Had Kate and
/ been there alone. methought the charm
of the place would have been complete.
What delightful little villas these
are!" exclaimed. Aren't they better
than any hotel-even the Badehaus?'
IF you think of spending any great
time here-I believe they don't let for
less than n week. But probably these
are all full at this season. Higher up
the valley, two or three miles beyond
the hotel, you will find detached farm
houses, whose owners would no doubt
be glad of ledger. If you are not
broken into travellers hardships,
though. you'll prefer the Badehaus."
81 think | shall prefer it as long as
you are there"
"Well, I'm sorry to say that won't be
long-we shall move tomorrow morn-
ing. If had expected you, II should
have been happy to have arranged mat
tiers otherwise. But the fact is, have
engaged rooms at one of the farmhouses
spoke of, and tomorrow they will ex-
pect u.s."
My spirits fell at this news like
feather in vacuum, and dare say my
face showed it. There could be no
doubt now that Mr.. Birchmore was re-
solved to get rid of me. That he would
20 tomorrow to some distant farmhouse
/ did not question, but as to his having
intended any such thing before he saw
me alight from the train l confess |
didn't believe it. 1t was an unprcmedi-
tated expedient, and his inviting INC up
to the Badehaus was only polite miti-
CATION of the shock.
Il am very sorry!" was all l could
say.
Kate turned her face a little toward
me at the words and her eyes met mine
sidelong. Only that look-she did not
speak-but | saw, or thought / saw,
enough in it to make our parting at such
brief notice sentimental impossibility.
At whatever sacrifice of the laws of
ceremony and civilized reserve, deter
mined that my acquaintance with her,
so well begun, should not thus be nipped
in the bud. would sooner win her a.
barbarian than lose her as man of
the world. How to execute my deter
mination was problem to be solved at
my leisure.
We sauntered on to the hotel, chat
ting discursively; my mind was too
much preoccupied to be thoroughly
aware what we were talking about.
Arrived at our destination, | followed
my trunk to my room, having arranged
to take an early dinner with my friends.
1t was nearly two hours before we met
again. The dinner passed with the
same sort of desultory conversation that
we had affected during our walk. Mr.
Birchnore's manner was serious and
rather cold. Kate, too, was subdued
and grave; not the brilliant, laughing
Kate of the railway carriage. We were
waited upon at table by the saturnine
valet, whom his master called Slurk-a
name that seemed to me to suit him ex-
cellently well. He waited on us in per-
feet silence from the beginning of the
meal to the end, though several times
pere.nptority addressed by his master
There was to me something disagreed
bly, impressive in the fellows very tact
turnity-it seemed to indicate reserved
Doyar Kota I potica1 wna caraful