The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-16
CHAPTER x.
THE pIsAGRREABLE MAN is sRKN IN NEW


LIGHT
One specially fine morning knock came
st Bernardine's door. She opened IL and
found Robert Allitsen standing there try
ing to recover his breath.
II am going TO Loschwitz village
about - miles OF, " he said. And have
ordered sledge. DO you care to como
toop"
IF may pay my share, !" she said.
"Of course" ne answered. II did not
suppose you would like to be paid for any
better than should like TO pay for you"
Bernardine laughed.
''When do we starti" she asked.
"Now," he answered. Bring a rug,
and also that shawl Of yours which is al
ways falling down and come at once with
out any fuss. We shall be out for the
whole day. What about Mrs. Grundy'
We could manage to take her IL you wish
ed, but she would not be comfortable sit
ting among the Photographic apparatus,
and certainly should not give up my seat
to her.
"Then leave her at home, !" said Bernar-
dine cheerily
And % they settled IL.
In less than quarter of an hour they
had started, and Bernardine leaned luxu.
riously back to enjoy to the full her first
sledge ride.
II was all new to her-the swift pass
ing through the crisp air without any SEN
sation Of motion; the sleepy tinkling of
the bells on the horses heads; the noise
less cutting through of the snow path.
All these weeks she had known nothing
of the country, and now she found herself
In the snowy fairy land of which the Dis
agreeable Man had often spoken 60 her
around vast plains Of untouched snow,
whittier than any dream of whiteness, jew
elcd by the sunshine with priceless dia-
monds, numberless as the sands of the
sea; the great pines bearing their burden
Of snow patiently; others, less patient,
having shaken themselves free from what
the heavens had sent them to bear, and
now the streams, flowing on reluctantly
over ice coated rocks and the ice cathedrals
formed by the iciclcs between the rocks
And always the same silence, save for
the tinkling of the horses bells.
On the heights the quaint chalcts, some
merely huts for storing wood on others
farms or tho homes Of peasants; some dark
brown, almost black, betraying their age;
Others of apaler hue, showing that the sun
had not yet mellowed them into deep
TlCE COlOTs ANU Ou III 0ilke the IIlnQe OF
iciclcs. A wonderful white world
IL was o long time before Bernardine
even wished to SPEAK. This beautiful
whiteness may become monotonous after n
time, but there Is something very awe in
spring about IL, something which catches
the soul and holds IL.
The Disagrceable Man sat quietly by her
side Once or twice he bent forward TO
v,r%facf ha xUhov, th., sls..l - .w....
lurch.
After some time they met procession
Of sledges laden with timber and August.
the driver, and Robert Allitsen exchanged
some fun and morriment with the drivers
in their quaint blue smocks. The noise OF
the conversation and the excitement Of get
back to speech again.
II have never before enjoyed anything
90 much" she said.
So you have found your tongue" he
said. do you mind talking litSle nowi
feel rather lonely"
This was said in such pathetic, nr.
rrievcd tone that Bcrnardlnc laughed and
looked at her companion. His face wore
an unusually bright expression. Ho was
evidently out to enjoy himself.
"You talk, she said, land tell me all
about the country"
And he told her what ne knew and.
among ether things, about the avalanches
He was able TO point out where some had
fallen the previous year. He stopped In
the middle Of his conversation 20 tell her
20 put mp her umbrella
II can't trouble 20 hsia ~ for you" hs
saiA sbvt ] don't nisd Sssniax e. Ths