The Irish standard., 1892-10-08

She appeared to be entirely alone, but
she was scanning with Ill concealed
eagerness the crowd that was entering
the station as if in search Of a familiar
face, When her glance fell upon me !
fancied that she took an impulsive step
in my direction, but she checked herself
Immediately and looked away While
was hastily debating within myself
whether or not it would be the thing
for me TO go up and ask her if she need
ed any assistance. saw dienstmann
or carrier come up the steps, and taking
off his cap deliver her note She tore
it nervously open. threw back her veil
ilnpatiently and ran her eyes over the
contents. Beautiful she was. indeed!
My anticipations had been behind the
truth on that score. Such strange. mys-
teal. dark eyes underneath level. black
eyebrows had never seen. But Just
then there was an expression of disnlay
and distress in them that made ME half
forget to remember their fascination.
She now addressed the carrier. SEEM
ingly in broken German, for he evidently
did not we'll understand her, and the an
swer he made appeared to increase her
embarrassment Her slender foot tapped
the stone pavement; she read the note
once more, crushed it up in her hand
and then her arms fell listlessly at her
sides with an air almost OF despair. She
locked this way and that helplessly.
Nv f,io
myself had observed her bewilder,nent,
and thought perceived that certain
fat old jew. wearing number OF gilt
tering rings and d very massive watch
chain, was inclined to take advantage of
it. This decided me on my course Of
action: l came quickly forward. us If l
had just caught sight OF her and lifting
my hat with an air Of respectful &C
craftsmanship said in French:
ST madelnoiselle will permit mo, l.
may perhaps be Of some use.
''Her veil, either accidentally or Of de-
sign, dropped again over her face as she
turned it toward ME, knew that she
was scrutinlzing HE with 4 woman's in
tuitive sight. and tried to look as guile
1888 dIlu IcSljECll III do fhIi Sttie 1CiG'
In moment she asked:
monsieur est il Francais?'
''I'n all Eng]ishnlan, answered.
blushing a little. dare Say, at her ina
piled criticism of my imperfect accent.
"Oh, an1 glad! /, too. am almost
English am American. But don't
know how can be helped really.
Fr;o tnr
ment?'
eyes. indeed! Oh. dear! it's worse
than that. Its my father
'You We're going by the train?>
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 a dienst,nann 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-lnay | ask where you
are going?
ooh, think Schandau is the name of
the place."
''Scllandau? Oh, then it's all right.
There is train starts immediately"
s'Yes-but--~no. I'm afraid can't do
that
Twas puzzled. ..-
"Perhaps you would like to telegraph
him to come back here for your
Il don't know where to telegraph, SO
that he would get it. besides But,
excuse me, sir. you are very kind, but
won't trouble you with my affairs. |
dare say shall get on very we'll.
She turned away with a 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.
II am going on to Schandau." said.
ST you like. ! will send you back to
your hotel III IL drosky, and when
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 depressed smile
glinmered OH her face. l felt that we
were on right footing at last, though |
could not at the time understand how it
had happened
II will confess to you, Mr.. Gains
borough" she said glancing up at me
with charming trustfulness in her
manner. ''My papa is SO forgetful. We
were not coming back to Dresden. At
ter Schandau we were going on to
Prague. and lie 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 in my shopping.
This cleared up matters at once.
How stupid Of me not to have seen it
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