Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-09-12
The Mountain Of the Two Levers.

lover who was to win his mistress by
carrying her to the top Of a mountain and
how he did win her.
We think the scene was in Switzerland;
but the mountain, though high enough to
tax his stout heart to the utmost, must
have been among the lowest. Let us
fancy it good lofty hill, in the summer
time. 1t was, at any rate, so high, that
the father cf the lady, proud nobleman,
thought It impossible for young man, so
burdened, to scale it. For this reason
alone, in scorn, he ba6e him do it, and his
daughter should be his.
The peasantry assembled in the valley
to witness SO extraordinary a sight,
They measured the mountain with their
eyes-they communed with one another,
and shook their heads but all admired
the young man /; and some of his fellows,
looking at their mistresses. thought they
could do as much. The father was on
horseback, apart and sullen. repentins
that he had subjected his daughter even to
the show Of such hazard but he thought
it would teach his interiors a lesson
The young man, (the son of small land
proprietor, who had some pretensions TO
wealth. though none to nobility stood, re-
spectiul looking, bu, confident rejoicing
in his heart that he should win his mis-.
tress, though a, the cost of a noble pain,
which he could hardly think Of as a pain,
considering who it was be was. to carry.
II he died for it, he should at least have
had her in his arms, and have looked her
in the face. To clasp her person in that
manner was pleasure he contemplated
with such transport, as is known only to
real lovers; for none others know how
respect heighteus the joy of dispensing
with formality, and how dispensing with
formalhy enobles and makes grateful the
respect.
The lady stood by the side of her faith
er, pale, desirous, and dreading. She
thought her lover would succeed, but on
ly because she thought him in every re-
spect the noblest Of his sex, and that moth
ing was too much for his strength and
valor. Great fears came over her, new
ertheless. She knew not what might
happen in the chances common to ALL
She felt the bitterness Of being herself the
burden 10 him and tho task; and dared
neither to look at her father, nor the
mountain. She fixed her eyes now OH
the crowd which, nevertheless, she be-
held not, aud now on her hand and her
fingers ends, which she doubled up to-
wards her with a pretence the only de-
ception she had ever used Once or
twice, a daughter or motner sIipped out
Of the crowd, and coming up to her, not
withstanding their fears of the Lord Bar
on, kissed the hand which she knew not
what to do with.
The father said: Now, sir. to put all
end to this mummery,' and the lover, turn
ing pale for the frs, time, took up The lady.
The spectators rejoice to see the MAN.
ner in which he moves off, slow but Sc
cure, and as if encouraging his mistress.
They mount the hill they proceed we'll
he halts an instant before he gets mid
way, and seems refusing something then
ascend> at a quicker rate; and now being
at the midway point, shifts the lady from
one side to the other. The spectators
give great shout. The baron, with an
air of Indifference, bites the tip Of his
gauntlet, and then casts on them an eye Of
rebuke. At the shout, the lover resumes
his way. Slow, but not feeble is his step,
yet it gets slower. He stops again, and
they think they see the lady kiss him on
the forehead. The women begin to trem-
ble, but the men say he will be victorious.
He resumes again, he is halfway be-
tween the middle and the top; he rIshes,
he stops, he staggers, but does not fall
Another shout from the men, and he re-
sumes once more two-thirds Of the re-
naming part Of the way are conquered
They are certain the lady kisses him on
the forehead and on the eyes. The wo-
men burst into tears, and the stoutest Of
men look pale. He ascends slower than
ever, but seems to be more sure. He
hslts, but it is only to plant his foot to 60
on again aud thus he picks his way, plant
ing his foot at every step, and then gain.
ing ground with an effort. The lady lifts
up her arms as if to tighten him. See !;
he is almost at the top: he stops, he strug-
giles, he moves sideways, taking very lit
tie steps, and bringing one foot every time
close to the other. Now-he is all but
on the top he halt> again; he is fixed ;
he s,aggers. A groan goes through the
multitude. Suddenly he turns full front
toward the top !; it is luckily almost lev
ell; he staggers, but it is forward. Yes,
every limb in the multitude makes a
movement as if it would assist him: see,
at last, he is on the top: and down he falls
fiat with his burden. An enormous shout?
He has won he has won. Now he has
a right to caress his mistress, and she is
caressing him, for neither of them gets up.
II he has tainted, it is with joy, and it is
il her arms.
The baron but spurs to his horse, the
crowd following him. Half way he is
obliged 10 dismonnt; they ascend the rest
Of the hill together. the crowd silent and
happy. the baron ready to burst with
shame and impatience. They reach the
top. The lovers are face to face on the
ground, and the lady clasping him with
both arms, his lying on each side.
"Traitor ?" exclaimed the baron, ''thou
has practised this feat before, on purpos e
to deceive me. Arise:"
"You cannot expect it, sir" said a
worthy man, who was rich enough 10
speak his mind, "Samson himself might