Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-01-12
The Mountain of the Lover..

lhe Mountain Of the Lovers.
We forget in what book it was. mspy
years ago, that we read the story Of low,
err VINO was to win his mistress by carry-
ing her to the top ola mountain. and Row
he did win her. nv"
We think the scene was in Switzerland.
but the mountain, though high enough "a
tax his stout heart to the uttermost, mus,
have been among the lowest. Let us fancy
it good lofty bill, in the summer time
IL was. at any rate, so high that the father
OF the lady, proud noble, thought it i'm
| possible for young man so burdened TO
scale it. For this reason clone. in scorn
he babe him do it, and bis daughter should
be his.
The peasantry assembled in the valley
to witness 30 extraordinary sight. They
measured the mountain with their ewes;
they communed with. one another and
shook their heads; but all admired the
young man; and come of his fellows, look.
ing at their mistresses, thought they could
do as much. The fathe. was on horse-
back, apart and sullep, repentiue that he
bad objected bis daughter even 10 show of
such = hazard, bui he th0nehtit would
teach bis inferior a lesson. The young man
1.-THE son of a small land proprietor, who
had some pretentions to wealth, though
none to nobility stood respectfully looking
but confident, rejoicing in his heart that
he should win his mistress, though at the
cost of noble pain. which be could hardly
think OF as pain, considering who it was
he was to carry. If he died for it,, he
should at least have had her in bis arms.
and have looked her 10 the face. To clasp
her person in that mann or, was a pleasure
he contemplated with such transport as is
known only to real lovers; for none others
know how respect hightens the joy of dis
pensipg with formally, and how dispensing
with formality ennobles and makes great
full the respect.
The lady stood by the side of her father,
pale, DESTROYS, and drea6;ng. She thought
her lover would succeed, but only because
she thought him in every respect the no.
bless Of bis sex, and that nothing was too
much for mis- strength and vaIor. Great
fears came over her, nevertheless. She
knew not what might happen in the chan
ces common to. all. She ielt the bitterness
of being herself the burden TO him and the
task and dared neither to look at her faith
er or the mountain. She fixed her eyes
now on the crowd (which, nevertheless.
she beheld not), and now on her hands
and fingers ends, which she doubled I'M
toward her with prsteuce-the, oply de-
ception she had ever used. Once or twice a
daughter or mother slipped out of the
crowd. and coming up to her, notIith
standing their fears oEtbe lord baron, kis
ed that hand which she knew not what to
do with
The father said, Fow, sir put an end to
this mummery;' and the lover, turning
pale for the first time, took up the lady.
The spectators rejoice to see the manner
in which he moves on, slow, but sure, as
il encouraging his mistress. They mount
the hill; they proceed well; he haits an in
slant before he gets midway. and seems
refusing something; then ascends at quick
er rate; and now being at the midway
point, shifts the lady from one side to the
other. The spectators gave a great shout.
The baron, with an air Of indifference.
bites the top Of his gauntlet, and then casts
on them an air of rebuke. At tie shout
the lover resumes his way. Slow but mt
feeble is his step, yet it gets, slower. He
stops again, and they think they see the
LADY KISS him on the forehead. The yo.
men begin to tremDIe, but the men say be
Will be victorious. He resumes again: he
is half way between the middle ard top:
he rushes, he stops, be staggers; but be
does not fall. Another shout from the
men. and be resumes once more two-thirds
OF the remaining part Of the way are con-
quersd. They are certain the lady ki,ses
him en- thefOrehead, and oG the ewes. The
women burst into tears, and the stoutest
men turn pale. He ascends slower than
ever, but seems more sure He halts, but
seems more sure. Hats, but it is only to
plant his foot to go Oh again; and thus he
pickle bis foot to 60 on again; and thus he
picks his way, planting his foot at every
step and then gaining ground with an ef-
fort. The lady lifts up her arms as if to
Tighten him. See he is almost at the
top; be stops, be struggles, he moves side
ways, taking very little steps, and bring
one foot every time close to the other
Now be is all but on the top; be is fixed;
he staggers. A grOan goes through the
whole multitude. Suddenly he turns full
front towards the top; it is luckily almost
level; be staggere, but it is forward
Yes, every limb in the multitude makes a
movement as if it would assist him. See
at last he is Oh the top. and down he falls
with the burden. An enormous shout. He
has won, he has woni How be has a
right to caress his mistress, and she is car.
ressing him, for neither Of them gets M.
if he has tainted, il is with JOY, and it il
iu her arms.
The baron puts spurs to bis horse, the
crowd followed. Half way he is Obliged
to dismouut; they ascend the rest of the
hill together; the crowd silent and happy;
the baron ready to burst with shame and
impotence. They reach the spot. The
lovers are face to face on the ground, the
lady clasping him with both arms, bis ly
ing on each side.
Traitor exclaimed the baron, thou
hast practised this feat before, on purpose
to deceive me. Arise
you cannot expect it, SIR said worthy
man, who was rich enough to speak his
mind; Sampson himself might take his
rest after such deed
Part them,' said the baron.
Several persons went up, not to part
them, but to congratulate, and keep them
together. These people look close; they
bury their faces upon them. God forbid
they should ever be parted more, said a
venerable man, they never can be He
turned his old face streaming with tears,
and looked up at the baron: Sir they are
dead.'-Leigh Hunt.
Population Of the Earth.