Year: 1873

Five and twenty years ago my vile and
were crossing over into Italy. Alter we had
been slowly ascending for some time we got
out of the carriage, thinking VIC should get on
quite as fast and perhaps more pleasantly on
foot; aud by taking short cuts across the zig
gags we soon got ahead of our conveyance.
had been over this same pass twice before
when happy--I mean an unhappy-bachelo
and l remembered the bypaths pretty we'll ;
and we were soon in sight of the inn where we
intended to pass the night, not very far from
the summit of the pass. AS we toiled on we
overlook gentleman, apparently an English.
man, aud little boy. believe that-feeling
pretty sure, from the general appearance of
the man, that we were compatriots--I said
something or other to him, remarked that it
was a fine evening, or that the scenery was
grand-I forget what. He, however, made
some moDOsyllable reply, and did not appear
inclined to fraternze, so we passed on. Still
L took hasty note of him. He was man ap-
parently of twenty eight or thirty years of
age, of delicate frame, and almost feminine
cOuHtenance. One thing particularly noticed /;
he had a slight but peculiar mark under the
left eye, what Box or Cox might have called a
berry mark. The boy that was with him
"a child OF not more than six years Cld-was
GtlueulIy Ills SOtlt IOt UOlti anu Wllc IEdCcQ
a very strong resemblance between the pair; and
the little fellow looked very pale and tired as his
father dragged him up the steep ascent. We
soon left them far behind, and my wife remarked
that it was'a curious circumstance that these
two should be thus going over the pass, for we
had seen no other carriage on the road which
could belong to them, aud she naturally thought
1t very hard that such young child should be
forced to make such tedious journey on foot.
However, when we arrived at our destination We
thought no more of them and after pleasant
and appetizing supper, ia which red trout
read them now in the bill-f0rmed no unimpor-
tant item, we stroled out again and watched
the white glOrles OF the rising moon spreading
over the highland valley in which we were.
When we entered the hotel again and went
into the sale munger for some coffee, we
discoveled the younger OF our fellow. .t0ilers
sitting meekly by himself in a corner of the
room. A table was spread for supper before
him, and he was patiently awaiting the arrival
of his father


His large blue eyes looked tired and sad his
golden curls hung tangled over his shoulders ;
no tender hand had cared for him after his
weary work, and l saw the tears stealing into
my wlfe's eyes as she whispered to me g. He
has no mother to take care of him." This
thought was hasty conclusion to arrive at.
and | said so. My wile-wiser than l. sup
pOse-shook her head and entirely disagreed
with me.


We fingered over our coffee for some time
longer than necessary. The patient child sat
silent ln the dark corner now and then the
blue eyes wandered inqulrin2ly towards the
door, but found no answer there. An hour
passed away, but his fsther-if the man we had
seen was his father, and of this we had NO
doubt-never came.


" cant stand this, john" said Laura to me
Indignantly. Ii somebody don't give that
poor child his supper Ill give it him myself. "


demonstrated, mildly, " don't think we
have any right to interfere, NY dear. No
doubt his father is taxing a nap up stairs, and
he will wake up and be down directly"


Nap, indeed y retorted Laura. rather saw
agely. Indeed, | had no idea until then that
my sweet bride could be so savage, if she chose.
" Nap, indeed with that darling starving in
accomplishing silence. I've half mind to
ask which Is bis room, and give him rousing
that he won't easily iol get.


This, thought, would be highly improper
proceeding on Laura part, and ventureG to
say so. She cOntented herself with repeating,
with greater vehemence than before, "Nap,
indeed !"


AT that moment we heard the heavy sound
OF the diligence and the gay jingliug of the
horses bells as it stopped at the door of the
hotel. Cold and muffled passengers-for we
were some seven or eight thousand feet above
the level of the sea-came into the room and
partoOk of various drinks, but they soon cleared
out again. The horses had been changed, and
With good deal of whips and loud pealing OF
bells the huge diligence pursued its road TO
Italy.


The paIe.faced, golden haired child still Sat
nIfifalv in tho cnrnar Ouoa ~. Il 1
head sank upon the little shoulder, and for a
moment or two he dropped asleep. Then he
would wake up again and stare at the unkiDd
door, which at no opening brought him any
relief. ''


After the diligence had been gone some
twenty minutes, and Laura had got into a state
of hdgets which threatened to pass all control.
the landlord and head waiter came into the
room, looked at the little boy, and then talked
together volubly in whisper, looked at the
boy again, and shook their heads in myster.
lou. manner. Then the landlord advanced
straight to where we were sitting. -


-" A thousand pardons for asking the cues.
tioD, but do monsieur and madame know a1v.
shlng of the little gentleman yonder2"


No; nothing beyond that monsieur and
madame passed the little gentleman and his
father as they ascended the pass. 4"


is monsieur aware that his father ia an
Englishman2" ''i~HffI'


Well, monsieur had guessed as much, but
could not say more.


Well, 1t is very strange. IL is some time
since these two arrived. The father engaged q
room and ordered supper. The father had said
that his luggage would he deposited by the
diligence but the diligence had come and
gone, and though particular inquiries were
made, the conductor was quite sure that there
was no luggage, such as had been described, tc
| be deposited at this hotel"


- There must have been some mistake"
Not possible. The authorities are very
Pere2" - =


Gone to sleep in his Gambler, probably"
suggested. =


. But not at all tis empty. There is moth.
| ing Whatever 10 it," In fact, the gentIeman n
was seen TO leave the hotel the moment after
ne had ordered supper and given instruction
about baggage, and had not returned. 't n