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


through the steaming rain, which had
penetrated even the thick tweed suit I
wore. It had rained steadily for "a
hours, and, judging from the thick,
colorless sky and the white cloud
wreaths that hung about the lower
slopes Of the mountains, there seemed
every probability that spell of bad
weather had set in.
Driven as with goad by the utter
discomfort of the dirty inn I had left
behind me i'll the morning, pressed on
in the rain lashed cleaning toward the
old Roman watering place on the south
ern side of the Stelvio pass, Bad Bor-
milo. There, I knew, the joys of good
food, clean linen and luxurious bath
waited for me. OF course I ought not to
have cast one thought1on these comforts
of civilization, for the Stelvio pass is
one Of the grandest in Europe, and it
had been my privilege to behold the
great Madatsch glacier and the cloud
yelled head of the Ortler Spitz, as I
stood at the top of the pass and looked
over the glories of the Tyrolean Alps.
But I was very wet. very tired, very
hungry, and longed for my Capua down
in the pleasant valley. My portmanteau
had gone on by post-the carry all, om--
niscient post of foreign parts. At Bor-
milo would rest me for three whole
days; good dinners would eat and
sparkling Asti would drink, and I
would make merry with any pleasant
folk chance might throw in my way.
And so the pains and penalties of the
poor pedestrian would be forgotten, or
remembered only as foil to the COM
forts of the present.
l hurriedly pulled myself up at this
stage of my reflections, for anticipation
had made me forget for brief moment
what was then my condition. The re-
lentless rain had worked its way to my
skin Only my feet were dry, thanks to
the waterproof boots and stout leggings
/ wore. I was as yet within some miles
of my goal when overlook two pedes-
trians whose case was much worse than
my own, for these two belated wander
ers were women, and the poor creatures
skirts were wet and draggled and clung
miserably about their limbs Both were
slender and young, and the heavy rain
beat heavily on their heads and shoul-
ders. Bedraggled though they were, l
saw at glance they were ladies, and
few words uttered by one told me that
they were countrywomen of my own.
My interest and sympathy were at once
enlisted.
"Another hour. Betty, at most, and
we can knock off. What tramp we've
had, and how it can rain in this Won
derful countryp'
The girl who spoke (she co1ld only
have been in her early twenties) had q
fair, ruddy complexion, her cheeks look
ed like roses that had had a thorough
drenching, and great lump of light
brown hair, which showed beneath her
soaked gray felt hat was heavy with
diamond drops of water. Both girls
wore neat ulsters, but the rain had evil
IDENTIFY soaked them through, and they
clung tightly to the slim outlines of
their forms.
Iglanoed quickly at the girl addressed
as Betty. She was wet, but even pref
tier than her companion. The steady
tramp of my steps probably caused Betty
some alarm, for she looked nervously
over her shoulder 1t was then that I
saw what very pretty girl she was,
despite her somewhat disheveled state.
On the impulse of the moment I raised
my hat and muttered some sort of salu-
tation:
ooh, you're Englishr' The accent
of pleasure was unmistakable and graft
flying
The exclamation came from Betty,
whose dark eyes were turned full on
me. Evidently the result of the inspeo-
tion was favorable, for Betty smiled and
showed row of cleaning little teeth,
whose whiteness was accentuated by the
rich red Of the lips that enframed them.
The young lady's complexion was slight
ly Drowned by exposure to the sun, but
the lashing of the rain had brought a
flush of pink to the smooth cheek, whose
perfect contour was apparent as she
turned toward me.
Eyes, am English, said in a COM
Portable, elder brotherly tone, calculat-
ed to win the confidence of these two i'll
dependent damsels errant, land l am
on my way to Bad Bormio. -
$50 are we, and we are so horribly
wet, and the road seems as if it would
never end.
cit is long tramp from Trafoi,
remarked.
'Ch, we only came from Franzen
hohe this morning. We had some lunch
at Santa Maria, and we hope to reach
Bormio by dinner time, said the other
girl, whose name | afterward knew to
be Kate, ''for, to tell you the truth, we
are both awfully hungry"
"What hotel are you bound for?"
inquired
1.-THE Nuovi Bagni. +"
"Ah, am going there too. Will you
allow me to walk with you and to carry
that bag?' I added, pointing to fair
sized rucksaok strapped to the supple
back of Miss Betty.
After little demur the rucksack was
unstrapped and attached to the haver-
sack 1 carried. l saw with satisfaction
that the slender figure, relieved OF its
burden, drew itself more erect and
moved forward with greater ease.
The two girls, tramping unprotected
along that lonely road which winds
down from the summit of the pass to
Italy, seemed quite free from any fear
Of danger. The discomfort of rain soak
ed clothing, boots heavy with mud, and
the fatigue consequent on the long
tramp seemed to be the only cause Of
complaint they had.
''You see, when one is on a walking
tour. one can't stop for weather. . re-