Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad

dations; but while most of the passengers were writing hurried letters in the second deck gallery, which were to be sent back by the pilot, Mr. Merrick took occasion to interview the c

, half famished because breakfast had been disregarded, they trooped in to luncheon; the best waiters on the ship attended to

cle John's plate. The handwriting of the address Louise, who sat next h

e communication, especially as he had so rec

ise and I decided to keep him dangling until we could learn the truth of this matter, for you can easily understand that with her exceptional attractions there is no object in Louise throwing herself away upon a poor man, or one who cannot give her a prominent position in society. Imagine my horror, John, when I discovered last evening that my only child, whom I have so fondly cherished, has ungratefully deceived me. Carried away by the impetuous avowals of this young scapegrace, whom his own father disowns, she has confessed her love for him-love for a pauper!-and only by the most stringent exercise of my authority have I been able to exact from Louise a promise that she will not become formally engaged to Arthur We

" asked Louise, when he had

as he crumpled the missive a

s she say

onsense. Eat your soup, my

ncle John guessed that Louise knew the tenor of her mother's letter as well as if she had read it over his shoulder, and it comf

was starting for a holiday. Whatever might be the truth of the girl's "entanglement,"-and he judged that it was not all conveyed in Martha Merrick's subtle letter-Louise would surely be free and

ohn, with his rosy, smiling face and kindly eyes, surrounded by three eager and attractive girls of from

le John chatted brightly with every man and Patsy required no excuse of a formal introduction to confide to every

thy and successful. But the little man was so genuinely human and unaffected and so openly scorned all toadyism that they s

one of the party except Louise was at all affected by the motion. The eldest cousin, however, claimed to be indisposed for the first few days out, and so Beth and Pa

lannel shirt, but there was an odd look of mingled refinement and barbarity about him that arrested the girl's attention. He sat very quietly in his chair, reserve

be American

an," was the

the same as Italian. I can't speak your lingo myself," she continued, "although I am studyi

arched her unconscious face with his k

do yo

," she replied,

l," he responded, angrily. "Europe

ime being, at least. Uncle John had bought an armful of guide books and Baedeckers, but in the hurry of departure she had never glanced inside them. To go to

what part of Euro

he ticket, Patsy. I can't remember the name j

hin faced man, with a scarce

ated Patsy, turn

, Patsy; but the trip is all arranged, in beautiful style, by a friend of mine who ha

d yet?" enquired

thering? We aren't there yet. By and bye we'll get to Eu-rope an' do it up brown. Whatever happens, and wh

augh. "I'm not worrying the least mite. But when

-ro

n?" misc

as plain as the nose on your face, P

He wasn't at all a pleasant companion, but for that very reason Patsy determined to make him talk and "be soci

know," she said to him; "because I ca

ly around. Then he

d Valdi-Vic

name, Mr. Valdi-or

sho

onounce

N

w what I mean, and that I intend to be p

around her. A young lady from Cleveland, who had two big brothers, was impelled to introduce herself to Beth because of the young men's intense admiration for the girl's beautiful face. When it was found that they were all from Ohio, they formed a friendly alliance at once. Marion Horton w

e found an admiring group around her cousin that included most of the desirable young fellows on the ship. Beth sat enthroned like a queen, listening to her courtiers and smiling encouragement now and then, but taking little part in the conversation herse

al success that he adopted all the boys on the spot, an

ttle provoked that she had isolated herself so long in her cabin when there was interesting sport

d effective, she had a decided advantage over her more beautiful cousin. When Louise really desired to please she was

le heart Beth's image was firmly enshrined, refused to change his allegiance; but in truth the girl enjoyed herself more genuinely in the society of one loyal cavalier than when so many were clamoring for her favors. The two would w

uite content; then she laughed softly and watched matters take their course, feel

of white houses that reached from the shore far up the steep hillsides. On the sixth day they sighted Gibraltar and passed between the Moorish and Spanish lighthouses into the lovely waters of the M

taken altogether, a distinct disappointment to them; but the ride through the town in the low basket phaetons was wholly delightful. The quaint, narrow streets and stone arches, the beautiful vistas of sea and mountain, the swarthy, da

bewildered them they returned to the ship breathless but elated at hav

ed her way toward the port of Naples, passing to the east of Sardinia and Corsica, which they viewed with eager interest becau

at he always welcomed the girl on his own exclusive deck, and this

get to Naple

captain. "See, it is over in that directio

the gray cl

Vesuvius. At Gibraltar we heard that the volcano is in

we could see an erupti

in shook

no great calamity that causes thousands

said, quickly. "I had

approached the Italian coast the gloom perceptibly increased. A feeling of uneasiness seemed to pervade the sh

e rail which overlooked the steerage with his eyes glued to the grim s

to the bankrupt government. I know; for I have studied

"You seem pleased with

wn mind. He had brought three nieces for a holiday to this foreign shore, and here at the outset they were confronted by an intangible danger that was

visibly as they neared the Bay of Naples. Beth couldn't drink her tea, for tiny black atoms fell through the air and floated upon the surface of the liq

black with volcanic dross and a gloom as of midnight surrounded them on every si