Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-08-28
AN ILLUMINATION.

The rocking chair in its perfection is
found only in its native land, America
The European variety of the species is
but tolerable imitation, having nei-
ther the comfort nor the elegance of the
original article. Still there are rock
ing chairs in Europe, and company in
Austria turns out very good semblances
indeed of bent wood with cane trim
mings.
was the first one out from the big
hotel to the terrace in front, and there
fore had my choice of all the chairs
scattered so profusely around, and if
none of them was so good as the big red
rocking chair of the American hotel ve-
randa, yet the Austrian article standing
empty beside the little round metal ta-
BILE was not to be despised, so I sat
down in it and Lit my cigarette. The
waiter, who had followed me out, bring
ing cup of black coffee, now poured
out liquor glass of the aromatic, pen.
etrating green decoction, pouring it SO
deftly that it came exactly to the brim
and did not spill drop.
1 have always admired the expertness
of the European waiter, either with cof-
fee or the more expensive .monkish iq-
nor.
There was small hedge at the edge
of the terrace, and thought had tax
en- the last seat toward the western end,
but found Twas mistaken. Behind me
on the terrace was gray green bush,
and behind that bush and sheltered from
the hotel lights stood another round
metal table and two chairs.
k1,e. I1rfal
steps with their arms around each other
persons still in their teens. They were
aged 90 or thereabouts, and they took
their places behind the bush, apparent
ly not noticing that was within hear
ing distance. By this time many people
were coming out in twos and threes and
little groups, and many began walking
about the graveled terrace. the wise.
however, securing good places at the
little tables before the rush for seats be-
gan.
The deep gorge of the Rhine had I'LL
ed with darkness, which the thin crest
of the silver moon hanging in the sky
had not light enough to penetrate. just
before going to dinner / had noticed
how lovely this gorge was. with the deep
green river fecked with white foam
from the falls and the many tints of
its surface rejecting back the splendor
of the sunset sky. Now all this was
gone, but almost directly below us the
Rhine falls showed white and feecy In
the gathering darkness. We were some
hundreds of feet above them, but their
roar came up to us like the long sus-
tanned note of an organ.
The falls of the Rhine are the great
est in Europe, but you can't expect a
man brought up on Niagara to wax very
enthusiastic about them. Still will
say this-that they are very pretty little
falls about 60 feet in height, more like
rapids than cataracts. but probably it
would not be quite safe to shoot these
Rhine rapids in a canoe, haven't very
much respect for them, but they were
pretty and white and fleecy and fragile
as looked down on them from the ter
race of the big hotel.
You see, said one of the girls from
behind the bush, as soon as her par.
ents realized how serious the case was
they took her at once to Switzerland.
"Ah. " said to myself. ''some poor
invalid who came here with the hope ot
getting we'll, and who probably staid to
die -
.iHer father left the strictest injunc-
tions that no one was to know where
they were. None of the people at the
Office knew where the family had gone
except the confidential clerk, who, for.
warded the letters .
.'But why, said the other girl,
did they come to so public a place a
the Rhine falls? I shonld have Thought
they would have been sure to have beer
found ont.
No. said the other girl, who mus
have been quite 81 years old and wht
knew a great deal, of course .tNo; thl
right way when you are hiding is to q
to the most public place you can It i
always IN the most out of the wa,
places that you find people you don,
want to meet. .
"Oh, hol' said to myself. 1T i
not a case Of illness then It looks NOR,
like case Of defalcation on something
of that sort .
They took those rooms with the lopt
balcony in front, and they had all theil
meals served there Ioften saw the poo
| girl sitting on the balcony. for thel
never allowed her to go out. but watch
ed her like couple of old cats I thinl
they expected her to forget In the mids
of scenery like this. but it was quit
evident that she forgot nothing
AS II, said the younger girl witt
some Indignation in her voice as Il
the sight of the Rhine falls would max
M. for the sight Of the person one loves ,
] Disappointment, ..it is neither a case Q