The Irish standard., 1892-10-15

fnl heart. Only, should such turn out
to be the case, ] would never again put
faith either in physi ognomy or my own
instinct of aversion. disliked to think
Of this i'll favored mortal being in daily
association with my lovely Kate Birch
more-for already, in my secret soul, |
called her mine-and | made up my
mind that if ever fortune granted me
the privilege Of making her what called
ner, would see to it that monsieur the
valet formed part of any ones house
hold rather than ours
Meanwhile the ferrynan had poled
and padded us across the river. on the
shore of which swarm Of hotel porters
But Mr.. Birchmore put them ali aside
save one, to whom he pointed out my
trunk and gave him some directions
which did not hear.
81 take the liberty" he then said. turn
ing to me, Ito so far do the honors of
this place as to recommend you to the
most agreeable hotel in it. the Babe
haus, at the farther end of the village
and about half mile up the valley.
These hotels that front the river would
give you better fare perhaps and less
unpretending accommodations, but if
quiet and GOODNESS, are what you are
after, not to mention the medicinal
spring water and private brass band,
the Badehaus is the thing"
The Badehaus be it, by all means.
This attention surprised me, not because
! nisdoubted my friends courtesy, but
because had imagined that his courtesy
would not stand in the way of an unob-
trusive attempt to withdraw himself
and his daughter from my Immediate
companionship. Yet SO far was this
from being the case that he had taken
come 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 thoa1ghtfully, with down
cast eyes. Was she glad as we'll as I?
We passed through 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 viii
lage hes. On our right hand was q
series Of stuccoed villas, built against
the steep side of the hill: On our left a
strip of meadow, with a brook brawling
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
I been there alone, merhought tAe charm
of the place would have been complete.
"What delightful little villas these
are!'' exclaimed. Aren't they better
than any hotel-even the Jadehaus:?''
IF you think of spending any great
time here-I believe they don't let for
less than a 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 a ledger. If you are not
broken into travellers hardships,
though, you'll prefer the Badellaus.
II 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, IL 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." ...
NV spirits fell at this news like a
| feather in a 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
go 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 | confess !
didn't believe it. It was an unpremedl-
tated expedient, and his inviting me up
to the Badehaus was only polite 1niti-
cation of the shock.
II am very sorry!" was all | 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 l saw, or thought saw,
enough in it to make our parting at such
| brief notice a sentimental impossibility
i At whatever sacrifice of the laws of
ceremony and civilized reserve, l deter
mined that my acquaintance with her,
| so we'll begun, should not thus be nipped
| in the bud. would sooner win her as
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.
/ It 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. MIR.
Birchmore's manner was serious and
| rather cold. Kate. too, was Subdued