The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-06-10

Possibly, however, he was invaluable
as q servant and his unpropitiating sS-
terror might cover an honest and faith
full heart. Only, should such turn out
to be the case, would never again put
faith either in physiognomy 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
her, would see to it that monsieur the
valet formed q part of any ones house
hold rather than ours.
Meanwhile the ferryman had poled
and padded Us across the river, on the
shore of which q swarm OF hotel porters
stood ready to rend us limb from limb.
But Mr.. Birchmore put them all aside
save one, to whom he pointed out my
trunk and gave him some directions
which did not hear. .f.s....
81 take the liberty, he then said, turn
ing to me, "to 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 recommendations, but II
quiet and GOODNESS are what you are
after, not to mention the medicinal
spring water and a private brass band,
the Badehaus is the thing"
1.-THE Badehaus be it, by all means.
| This attention surprised me, not because
| l misdoubted 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 80 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 II
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 a
strip of meadow, with 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
been there alone, methought the charm
of the place would have been complete.
"What delightful little villas these
are!" l exclaimed. Aren't they better
than any hotel-even the Badehaus?'
eff 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 ledger. II you are not
broken into a 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
Iong-we shall move tomorrow morn
ing. If had expected you, II should
have been happy to have arranged mat
ters otherwise But the fact is, I have
engaged rooms at one of the farmhouses
spoke of, and tomorrow they will ex-
pect Us"
Nv spirits fell at this news like q
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 nd of me. That he would
| 90 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 unpremedi-
tated expedient, and his inviting me up
to the Badehaus was only q polite miti-
CATION of the shock.
II am very sorryF" was all 1 could
say. .-..
Kate turned her face a little toward
me ct the words and her eyes met mine
sidelong. Only that look-she did not
speak-but l saw. or thought / sow,
enough in IL TO make our parting at such
brief notice q sentimental impossibihty.
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 as
| O barbarian than lose her as a man of
the world. How to execute my deter
mination was a problem TO be solved at
my leisure.
We saunteTed 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, l 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..
| Birchmore'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 ez-
| cellently well. He waited on US in per-
feet silence from the beginning of the
meal to the end, though several times
peremptorily addressed by his master.
! There was to me something disagreed
bly, impressive in the fellows very tact
turnity-it seemed to indicate reserved
power. Kate, 1 noticed, was careful
never to speak to him, but l saw his
glance several times directed fxedly
upon her.
After dinner Mr.. Birchmore produced
a cigar and said:
Il must take a drosky over to our
farmhouse. Doyou young people care
to come, or would you rather stay
here?"
AZ think I'll stay, papa, please" an
swered Kate.
"And l, to see that nobody runs away
with her." added, with an easy smile.
''Slurk, get me q carriage" said Mr..
Birchmore, and nodding a goodby to us
he went out.
''How far is it from here-this farm
house, Miss BirchmoreT' asked when
we were alone.
81 believe about two miles"
81 should like to know its exact situs-
ton"
why didn't you go with papa, them
Cant you imagineT
She had been Rbsently puckering her