Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-04-17

gray sky and patches of vivid green
moss. Zone must take the good and the
bad just as they come, like the rough
and the smooth places on the road. My
friend and are good walkers, and we
enjoy tramp like this in spite Of the
weather"
l had got the idea that tho girls were
sisters, although they were quite unlike
in personal appearance. Bit by bit got
to know more about my damsels errant.
They had walked most of the way from
Innsbruck, through the Bremen pass to
Botzen. There they had taken the train
to Meran, and thence had pursued their
tramp, stopping several days on the road
at Spondelak, Trafoi and Franzenhohe.
"We shall stay at Bormio few days
and rest, and then we shall meet our
bags again. You can't think how glad
we are to see those bags. Woquite love
the very straps and buckles. do you
know Bormio at all?''
I avowed my ignorance.
'Nor do we. There was an American
lady we met at Innsbruck who recon-
mended the Nuovi Bagni to us. I think
she thought us quite mad, but she was
extremely kind.
''Kittie," she added, suddenly ad-
dressing her companion, edo look down
here at that leaping water. That must
be the Adda. %
''Oh, our first Italian river, Betty
How jollyl" cried the enthusiastic Kate,
her gray eyes beaming out from under
her dripping hat brim.
Then she looked down the valley and
tried, l think, to realize that this rain
beaten scene really was Italy.
"Cheer up, Kittie; it will be fine to-
morrow and won't we revel in the sun.
shine when it comes?"
1t was Betty who spoke. The manner
of the girls toward each other amused
me. They seemed to take the role of
guide and consoler in turns. just as, /
have no doubt, they had taken it in
turns to carry the rucksack which had
now in my care.
Independent though they were, the
girls seemed glad of my companionship,
especially when we passed through one
of the dark, cavornous galleries rooted
with stones, built to protect the road
from avalanches They chatted in
friendly, unembarrassed manner, and
the sound of the fresh young voices and
the sight of the two pretty faces did
much to redeem the dreariness of the
long, monotonous road.
The next morning was sumptuous
one was soon dressed AMI out of
doors. caught the sound of a woman's
voice trilling out the refrain of an Ital
ian volkslied
The larklike joyousness of the song
seemed in harmony with the glorious
morning. In dreamy mood l listened.
The singing voice floated nearer. l
caught sight of white straw sailor hat
and pink cotton blouse.
Italian peasant girls do not attire
themselves thus. l am trifie short
sighted, but in very few moments I
was aware that, the early rising song
stress was Miss Kate Morrison. A glance
at the hotel register had informed me of
the names of my fellow pedestrians.
She looked very pretty and fresh. The
mass of light brown haiY was twisted
up neatly at the back of her head.
Clearly the luggage of the two girls had
turned up, for there were no signs of
travel stain about the trim blue serge
skirt and the crisply starched pink
blouse.
I wished her good morning and in
quired for her absent friend.
"Oh, Betty is all right. thanks. only
rather sleepy. l thought it pity to
waste one single hour of this heavenly
morning, and wanted to make little
sketch from the BRIDGE
''An artist as well as singer?'' in
quired, smiling.
"Oh, you heard my ohirruping, sup
pose. One must sing when one feels so
utterly happy. Isn't the air exhilarat-
ing? But must make my sketch. lean
sit OH the parapet-so-and get just the
view l want.
Her busy pencil did its work with
great rapidity, and when l asked per-
mission to look at the sketch / was real
ly surprised at the masterliness of her
touch and her knowledge of perspective.
She closed her sketchbook, and we
walked back together to the hotel. In
the garden we met Miss Betty. She,
zoo, looked dainty and fresh after her
light's rest. The same source of infor-
nation that had made me acquainted
with Miss Kitties name had told me
her 's-Blount.
At breakfast happened to mention
her by name, and fancied look of
surprise crossed her face at the glibness
with which uttered it. But her man
ner showed no displeasure. and | was
encouraged to offer my escort for an ex-
pedition to the town of Bormio. The
quaint, old world place, with its rough
pavements and narrow streets, so Ital
ian in it's aspect, with the yellow wash
ed houses and curious loggias, and
musty. silent church, delighted Miss
Kittie and gave much occupation to her
pencil But Miss Blount. whose artistic
superiority her friend had proclaimed.
did not make any sketches. although,
no doubt, she stored up Impressions for
future use.
Nothing but violent wrench would
have enabled me to leave Bormio /
fingered on, hueging my chains. and
the two girls, for what reason know
not, fingered too.
The place had curious charm. 1t
had the strength and grandeur of tie
mountains and the glory and glamour
of the south. A week passed. during
which the two girls and were almost
always together. Their utter unc0nven-
tionality surprised me, but it delighted
me too Their plans were net fixed, but
something had been said once or twice
about extending their walking tour to
the Engadine, by way of the Bernlna
pass had just made up my mind that
where they went | would go, for the
thought of Betty tramping unprotected
and exposed to tho chance of insult filled
me with dismay. Already assumed to
myself the man s right of protection.
The two girls listened respectfully, al
most obediently. to my advice and made
no objection whatever when l declared
that I, too, intended to visit the Enga-
| dine and would go when they went.