es and the spot where his one incentive to labor dwelt.

After three weeks of manifold hesitation the family at last concluded to
let it be Paris, and thus Southeastern Europe was thrown open to the
recalcitrant. It being now quite middle June, he took his way southward
with a leisure born of the warm summer sun, and spent a month _en
route_. The Storks of Strasbourg and the Bears of Berne both ate of his
bread before the final definite checking of his trunks for Lucerne took
place. But the cry at his heart for the Vierwaldstattersee and the
Schweizerhof became of a strength beyond resisting, and so he turned his
back upon the Jungfrau and his face towards the Rigi, and slept beneath
the mist-wreaths of Mount Pilatus that very night.

* * * * *

It was the next morning that Rosina, walking on the Quai with an
American man (not the one on the "Kronprinz," however), first observed
an especially tall and striking-looking individual, and wondered who he
was. With her the wonder was always straightway followed by the ask, so
she voiced her curiosity forthwith.

"That man?" said her companion, turning to make sure who she was
referring to, "that dark man with the gray gloves? oh, that's Von Ibn.
He's to be very great indeed some day, I'm given to understand."

"Hasn't he stopped growing yet?"

"There is 'great' and 'great,' you know. He is in for both kinds, it
appears."

"Because of his 'von'?" demanded Rosina, whose thirst for knowledge was
occasionally insatiable.

"No, because of his violin."

"Does he play?"

"You show ignorance by asking such a question."

"He plays well, then?--is known?"--

"He is a composer."

She turned abruptly to the side and sank down on one of the numerous
seats before which the endless procession of morning promenaders were
ceaselessly defiling.

"Let me look at him!" she cried below her breath; "how more than
interesting! He appears just as one might imagine that Paganini did
before he made his famous bargain."

The American stood beside her and waited for the object of their
watching to turn and pass again. He was quite willing to humor his
charming country-woman in any way possible. He did not care who she
might take a fancy to, for he was himself engaged to a girl at Smith
College, and men who fall in love with college girls are nearly always
widow-proof.

Presently Von Ibn came strolling back. He was very tall, as befitted one
half of hi