News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-07-05


work that | feared he might not con.
slider this phase of the matter"
is this all ?' asked Roger. rising.
Yes" replied the doctor, land
while you are putting me down for a
meddlesome old fogy don't forget
what have said. | was once badly
bitten myself, Roger, and | don't
want to ste another man suffer as
did then. 1t is of course one of those
bygone experiences l am none the
worse for it now" and tears stood in
the kind-hearted doctors eyes, "and
then, too, | married her after all,
which in this other case we are con-
sidering as impossible, am sure"
Roger grasped the doctors hand
firmly and was gone.
With Karoama, Mr.. and Miss At
comb had Travelled so little that they
were hardly prepared for the admira-
ton and curiosity her beauty and
striking presence excited wherever
she was seen, and to Roger was often
due the diplomacy and skill which
warded off annoying publicity and
attention, and be concocted all kinds
of subterfUges to escape introducing
to her old acquaintance, whom they
frequently met.
81 leave this matter to you Roger"
said his uncle. "Karoama is evident
ly best pleased to escape notice and
you can manage it without offense
better than l, l think"
On deck she was always closely
yelled and her meals, always sent to
her stateroom, enabled her to escape
much cabin curiosity.
A party of Jews were almost IN
quenchable in their interest in her,
and a sharp-eyed man kept her under
a close system of espionage.
IL have a great mind to toss that
old busy-body overheard" said Rog-
er to his uncle, referring to the sharp
eyed man, on their fourth day out.
"That man over there ? 1t seems
he is a detective, so some one told
me, and the best way to manage
him is to let him alone. He ought
to soon tire of watching such a quiet
party as we are"
''See him watch Karoama now, and
there, he has taken out a little book
and is making notes about her dare
say" exclaimed Roger. Iwish | could
thrash him."
"Softly, softly" said his uncle.
Don't let us have any FUSS" but he
felt somewhat disturbed himself.
Great Scottl' said Roger. "He
has taken that vacant deck chair
next to hers. Let me co." he said,
as he felt his uncle's hand on his
shoulder.
"Roger," said his uncle, 81 beg of
you to make no disturbance" and
crossing to where Karoama sat, I'M
conscious of all this, he escorted her
below deck and placed her beside Miss
Mary.
1t was not long before the sharp
eyed man came below also, and this
time auntie, standing near her young
lady, observed his looks of interest
in her charge.
"Here, you ole lynx" she suddenly
exclaimed, darting toward him and
shaking her fist in his face, "if you
don't leave dis here staring off I'll
turn kittIe of hot water on you"
The man turned and hurried away,
while a general litter followed his re-
treat.
Thus Swallowed and commented
upon, they reached Bordeaux, thence
by rail TO Marseilles and across the
big sea to Alexandria.
At Marseilles a gray and study
worn professor took boat with them
and as he seemed to have planned a
trip identical with theirs and also
appeared interested in Egyptology,
Mr.. Atcomb sometimes allowed him
to join their party, though Karoama
avoided him entirely, Roger innately
detested him, and auntie shook her
fist behind his back whenever she
thought no one was looking.
"Why, auntie, what's the matter?'
asked Mr.. Atcomb, coming upon her
suddenly, engaged in this grim pan
tomime.
81 don't know, sab, sure" said
auntie, dropping an apologize cour-
tesy, "but don't like dat man, sab. !"
"That harmless old gentleman,
auntie He can't hurt no one" said
Mr.. Atcomb, yet he tried to shake
him off after this, without any sue
cess.
By the time they reached Cairo Ka-
roama had frightened visihly. Her
lethargic condition vanished and she
spoke more frequently, both in her
own tongue and in short, crisp, En-
glish sentences. She made singular
friendships with the dogs that haunt
ed the hotel neighborhood, with the
cats, the donkey-boys and the groups
of fellahin as they pursued her here
and there for more "backsheesh."
Modern Egyptians seldom under
stood word she addressed to them
in her ancient tongue and muttered:
Strange, strange!" as they over
heard her use it in connection with
Mr.. Atcomb, "for was this or was
this not their language" they asked
themselves.
Roger had engaged one of the
smaller dahabiehs for their limited
party, and the long, experienced
Haggi was the devoted manager of
their well-ordered expedition up the
Nile.