The Argosy — page 325: what you’re looking at

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304 “ Ghitering Gold.” Spanish duenna!” So thought Mr. Etheridge as the trio left the house together. ‘“‘One might really imagine she grudged every look and word not offered as incense at her own beautiful shrine. But I suppose all beauties are alike in demanding’ universal adoration, and resenting its being withheld by even the humblest individual.” This shadowy opposition was exactly what was needed to open Mr. Etheridge’s eyes to the true nature of his admiration for plain, pleasant Miss Nellie ; and once having grasped the fact that he really had at last “fallen in love,” his business habit of prompt and de- cisive action impelled him to learn his fate with as little delay as possible. During the two following days he waited and watched for a favourable opportunity ; nor, though the least vain of men, could he well doubt that Miss Nellie was far from unwilling to accord him that grace. A dozen times the two were on the point of rambling away on- some well-devised pretext, and a dozen times did Olive’s lovely face assume a look of steady determination as she prepared to accompany them. But when two people are mutually bent on such an interview, even the cleverest of duennas will assuredly find herself outwitted in the long run. - The path to Leukerbad was not ready quite so soon as they had hoped; and late one evening Olive, who had been sum- moned upstairs for a conference with their landlady, found on her return to the sitting-room that it was empty, nor could she find any clue to the whereabouts of its late occupants. Meanwhile the fugitives were standing on the edge of the mighty wall of rock which looks down upon Leukerbad and towers nearly two thousand feet above it in perpendicular majesty. Far in the distance, across the fertile plain at their feet, the rays of the setting sun rested on the lovely chain of Monte Rosa, and every silver peak blushed crimson in the soft rosy light. They gazed almost in silence till the last bright gleam had died away and only a pale glimmering sheen remained. “Our last evening on the Gemmi,” said Nellie, softly and sadly. ‘‘’T'o-morrow—good-bye to the poor old Wildstrubel, and back again to tables d’hote and civilization.” “Will it be good-bye to me also, Miss Nellie ?” There was a meaning in Robert Etheridge’s grave voice which no woman could mistake. | “Good-bye to you, Mr. Etheridge? Well, of course in one sense it must be. We can’t go wandering about the country together in shepherd and shepherdess fashion, you know. Switzerland is not Arcadia, after all.” Nellie sighed softly. ‘‘ But we shall certainly hope to see you again somewhere, in the great someday, as the Fates may determine for us.” “The Fates obey our wishes sometimes if we will to have it so,” said Robert, slowly and pointedly. | ‘‘ Miss Nellie, you have not known me long, but I think you know me well. Could you trust me Gomicbooks.co