Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-11-11
A RHINE STORY.

Inc MISSES LadfOrd walked across
the road from the German station b
the small hotel.
And now" complained the elder
Miss Ladford, 81 suppose we shall have
more unintelligible argument at this
ridiculous hotel. Not soul to speak
English or French, and
1--WE shall manage, said her young
sister. hopefully The porter carrying
their luggage pushed open the door. and
they stepped into big, square room,
with pewter covered bar at the side.
A few men were playing with grubby
cards in corner. Tho proprietor
shufiied forward and took his pipe from
his mouth reluctantly.
Bahp' cried the elder Miss Ladford
That's not German" remarked her
young sister oheerfully. "Kellner, Elm
thinner"
II young Miss Ladford had known
the German for hotel proprietor, she
would not have called him waiter. 1t
was unfortunate, because the proprie-
tors brow olouded ut the word "kell-
ner, and he appeared to be instruoting
the porter to take the luggage outside
The two ladies stared at each other dis.
tressedly.
"Can | be of any user"
Mr., Wallisl" cried the young sister
delightedly.
"Mr. Wallis" remarked Miss Lad
ford distantly.
In few words the young man OK
planned everything to the offended hotel
proprietor In few more words he In
formed the ladies that he, too, had ar
rived by the train from Berlin, and
that, finding the last train for Luxem-
bourg had gone, he had said few
words
~ am glad you did that. said Miss
Ladford
and had come straight across to
the hotel. Mr.. Mark Wallis further
mentioned that he had ordered supper
for one while the ladies' were up stairs
he would amend the order and make IL
supper for three. A stout, apple faced
maid appeared and prepared to conduct
them stolidly up the broad wooden
staircase to their room.
"Mr. Wallis" said Miss Ladford,
1--WE quarreled, I'm afraid, at Bal
reuth.
mo, no." replied the young man,
flushing. Don't dignity our argument
to that extent. II was mere difference
of opinion. He glanced at the young
sister, who was following the apple
checked maid,
"You made some unkind remarks In
your journal last winter about my play
ing, and felt bound to tell you that
resented those criticisms. We had boon
good friends too. +"
II tried to DO fair, Miss Ladford. l
had every reason not to DO unkind. /"
EVERY reasonP
Every reason.
She hesitated "A moment and then held
out her hand.
"Shall we forget all about 1t, Mr..
Wallis?"
at will give me great pleasure, said
the young man earnestly. And, being
in foreign land where courtly acts can
be done without creating derision, no
lifted her gloved hand and kissed IL.
Such a supper party that night in the
bare boarded dining room Of the sleepy
little hotel at KaTthaus and such de-
termination ON Mark Wallis' part to
propitiate Miss Ladford-so much gen
eral good humor indeed that the chrome
of the Emperor William on tho walls
stared ~ though half inclined to assume
that the laughter approached leze ma
jesty. Even the apple checked servant
became infected by the general gayety
and served tho dishes with positive
ch .erfulness, browning the evening,
when supper was over and Mark Wallis
had lighted cigar and had said good
night, by Iemarking Las she took the two
pairs Of shoes from the tired young wo-
men and closed their door In oonfden-
tial whisper, Earring crossl" and dis
appeared with the air Of one who has
said reassuring and comforting word
to English women in strange land.
He improves ON acquaintance, re-
marked Miss Ladford.
"Who, dearr"
"Why, Mr.. Wallis Of course"
"Ohr'
~ disliked him extremely when l
met him at first"
Because Of that noticef"
"That WAS the principal cause "
Musical critics." said the younger
lady casually, "havo hard task to per-
form"
And some Of them hardly perform
D,,A Tf,. Ia ut,r. ,,nxu 1aan that
Mr.. Wallis did not mean to DO unfair. Fl"
Miss Ladford went on argumentatively,
Az though trying TO persuade her youn-
ger sister TO abandon All indefensible po-
sition In the debate. $50 much depends,
Alice, on the point Of view In these
matters. MarI Wallis being 10 strong
u Mozart worshiper, you nee, no natu-
rally enough
us Mr.. Wallis going by our train in
the morning.
II hope ~, ;" said Miss Ladford.
"You have changed your opinion.
dear, about himH I'm 10 glad" Alice
LedfoTd kissed her elder sister affeo-
tionatoly.
"A woman who doesn't change her
opinion" said Miss Ladford dogmatio
ally, sis as tiresome an one who never
changes her hats. / don't know which Il
worse"
IL seemed that everybody in the littl'
hotel awoke early the following morn
ing. At $50 the round checked mai,
came up with coffee and rolls, and thes'
they had near to the open window tina
looked on the square In front Of tho sta
tion. Miss Ladford. In admirable spirit
and enjoying now the whole adventure,