The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-06-07

''Oh, | am glad. 1. too. am almost
English-I am American But / don't
know how can toe helped. really.
Some friend has missed AN appoint
ment?'
Eyes, indeed! Oh. dear! its worse
than that. It's my father"
"You were going by the trainY
There has been some stupid mistake.
I'm sure don't know what | shall do.
We had arranged to start at ten o'clock
this morning, and started first, because
| wanted to do some shopping on the
way down. understood that we were
to rendezvous here. But he did not
come at ten, and | sent dienstmann to
the hotel; and now he has brought word
from the hotel keeper that papa started
by the ten o'clock steamboat. | had
not understood that it was to be the
steamboat, you see; and I'm left here all
alone"
But if you took the next train, you
would still arrive two or three hours be-
fore him; that is-Inay ask where you
are going?"
"Oh. think Schandau is the name of
the place"
'Schandau? Oh, then it's all right
There is a train starts Immediately"
..Yes-but-no. I'm afraid can't do
that"
was puzzled.
perhaps you would like to telegraph
him to come back here for your
Il don't know where to telegraph, Sc
that he would get it, besides But,
excuse me, sir. you are very kind, but j
won't trouble you with my affairs. !
dare say l shall get on very we'll"
She turned away with slight bow,
but she was so evidently nonplussed that
determined to make another effort to
gain her confidence. There was not
much time to lose; the first bell was al
ready ringing.
81 am going on to Schaudau," | said.
If you like, will send you back &c
your hotel in a drosky, and when l
get to Schandau will hunt up your
father and tell him the mistake he has
made. Here is my card.
She looked at it and her manner at
once changed A half repressed smile
gli1n1nered on her face. felt that we
were ON a right footing at last, though j
could not at the time understand how Il
had happened
IL will confess to you, Mr.. Gains
borough" she said, CHANGING up at me
with a charming trustfulness in her
manner. my papa is so forgetfuL We
were not coming back to Dresden. At
ter Schaudau we were going on TO
Prague, and he has gone off with all
our luggage, and-and he has left me
without even any money TO buy my
ticket! At least. did have enough, but
spent it all i'll my shopping"
This cleared up matters at once.
How stupid of me not to have seen il
all befOre!' | exclaimed. Now we have
just time to get the train.
hurried her on with me as spoke,
bought our tickets in the twinkling OF
an eye and without waiting for the
change conveyed her rapidly across the
platform, and with the assistance. Of 3
guard we found ourselves safely en-
sconced in first class carriage just az
the train moved off. My beautiful com
panion, breathless, smiling and yet
seemingly "a little frightened, sank back
on the cushions and felt for the fan at
her girdle l wished to give her plenty
of time to recover her composure, and TO
feel assured that had no intention OF
! taking undue advantage of our positions;
so. having arranged the windows to suit
! her convenience, betook myself to the
other end of the carriage and diligently
| stared at the prospect for fully five min
utes. Nature could endure no more,
| and at the end of that time l was fain to
change my posture.
| stole a glance at my fair American
] " i, IN 10
/ on her side, which consisted at the mo-
| ment of perpendicular cutting about
| ten feet distant from her window. Her
attitude Us she sat there was the perfec-
ton of feminine grace. Her left hand,
loosely holding the fan, dropped on her
Jap. her sleeve, slightly pushed up. re-
vealed the lovely curve of her arm anc
wrist. | am particular admlrer OF
| beautiful wrists and hands, and here
saw INV ideal How exquisitely the
glove fitted, and how artistically the
color har1nonized with the rest of her
costume! The other little hand sup
ported her chin l could just see the
rounded outline of her small cheek, and
the movement of the dark eyelash pro
jecting beyond it.
Beneath her hat the black hair turned
in a careless coil and charming little
downy curls nestled in the nape OF her
neck. She was a thorough brunette.
pale, and yet pervaded with warm color.
Beneath the skirt of her crisp dress
peeped the pointed toe of an inefable
little boot. which occasionally lifted It
self and tapped the floor softly. Sud
denly. in the midst of my adniring In
spectiou, she turned around upon me
and our eyes met. There was an In
stant's constraint and then we both
laughed, and the constraint passed away
not to return.
Il was going to ask you" said L
whether you wouldn't prefer sitting OF
this side? You will find the river bettel
worth looking at than that stone wall "
Il am under your orders, sir, for thu
present; you put me here; and now i
You tell me am to go elsewhere, shall
obey"
She rose as she spoke; the jolting O