Year: 1873

A TRAGEDY OF TRAVEL.


Five and twenty years ago my wife
and 1 were crossing over into Italy.
After We had been slowly ascending for
some time, we got out of the carriage.
thinking we should get on quite as fast,
and perhnps more pleasantly, on foot ;
and, by taking short cuts across the
zigzags, we soon got ahead of our con-
veyanoe. had been over this same
pass twice before, when happy-I
mean an unhappy, bachelor, and I re-
membered 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 tho pass. AS
we toiled on we overlook a gentleman,
apparently and Englishman, and little
boy. I believe that, feeling pretty
sure, from the general appearance of
the man, that we were compatriots, I
said something or other TO him, re-
marked that it was fine evening, or
that the scenery was grand, I forget
what. He, however, made some mono
syllable reply, and did not appear in
clined 10 fraternize, 30 we passed on.
Still, took a hasty note of him. He
was man apparently Of twenty-eight
or thirty years of age, Of delicate frame
and almost feminine countenance. One
thing particularly noticed, ne had a
slight but peculiar mark under the left
eye, what Box or Cox might have called
strawberry mark, The boy that was
with him, child of not more than six
years old, was evidently his son, for
both and my wife traced a very strong
res mblnnee between the pair; and the
little fellow looked very pale and tired
as his fnther dragged him up the steep
ascent We soon left them far behind,
and my wife remarked that it was a Gu
rious 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, and she
natur lily Thought it very hard that
such a young child should be forced to
make such n tedious journey on foot.
However, when we arrived at our desti-
nation, we thought no more of them /;
and, after a pleasant and appetizing
supp r, in which red tiout, read them
now in the bill, formed no unimportant
item, we strolled out again and watched
the white glories of the rising moon
spreading over the highland valley in
which we were. When we entered the
hotel again, and wenS into the sale q
man0e' for some coff e, we discovered
the younger of our fellow-toilers sitting
meekly by himself in corner Of the
room. A table was spread for supper
before him, and he was patiently await
ing 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 saw
the tears stealing in my wife's eyes as
she whispered to me, ''Ho has no moth
er TO take care of him." This,
thourht, was hasty conclusion to ar
rive at and said so. My wife, wiser
than i, suppose, shook her head and
entirely disagreed with me.


We fingered over our coffee for some
time longer than necessary. The pa
tient child sat silent in the dark corner;
now and then the blue eyes wandered
inquiringly towards the dor, but
found no answer there. An hourpassed
away but his father, if tho man we had
seen was his father, and OF this we had
no doubt, never came.


at can't stand this, John, - said Laura
TO me Indignantly. Z" II somebody
don't i've that poor child his supper,
I'll give il him myself.


demonstrated. mildly, "I don't
think We have any right to interfere, my
dear. No doubt his father is taking 8
nap mp stairs, and he viii wake up and
be down directly


"Nap, indeedI retorted Laura, IA,
ther savagely. Indeed, I had no idea
till then that my sweet bride could be
30 savage, if she chose. MAP, indeed
with that darling starving in uncom,
planning silence. I've half hlind tc
ask which is his room, and give him q
rousing that he won't easily forget


This, Thought, would be a highly
improper proceeding on Laura's part,
and ventured 10 say 30. She con
tented herself with repeating, with
greater vehemence than before, "Nap,
indeed 7"


At that moment We heard the heavy
sound of the diligence, and the gay
juggling Of the hoTses's bells, as il stop.
ped at the door Of the hotel. Cold and
mufiied 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 ont again. The horses had
been changed and, with good deal
of sraacking OF whips and loud pealing
of bells, the huge diligence pursued
its road 10 Italy.


The pale-faced. golden-haired child
still sat quietly in the corner. Once SE
twice the tired head sank upon the lit
tie shoulder, and for q moment or two
he dropped asleep. Then he would
wake uP again end stare Vt the unkind