Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-06-09
The Triumph of Love in Death.

ago, that wc road the story Of a lover who
was to win his mistress by carrying her to tho
top of 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 IT was,
at any rate, so high that the father of the
lady, a proud .noblcinan, thought it impossi-
bic for q young man, so burdencd, to scale it,
For this reason alono, in scorn he badc him
do it, and his daughter should be his
The pcasantry assembled in the valley to
witness so extraordinary a sight: Ihoy
measured the mountain with their oycs; they
communcd with one auother and shook their
heads, but all admired the young man and
some Of his fellows, looking at their mistress,
thought they could do ms much. The father,
on horseback, apart and sullon, repcnted that
he had subjected his daughter even to the
show Of such q hazard, but he thonght it
would teach his interiors lesson.
The young man, (thc son of small land
proprietor, who had some prctcntions to
wealth, though none to nobility, stood rc-
spcctfully looking but confident; rejoicing in
his heart that he should win a mistress,
'hou:,i "o VIZ Co'o VI +" uoDic pali, WAlcn TIC
could hardly think Of as pain considering
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 pleas
urc he contemplated with such transports as
is known only to real lovers for none other.
know how respect hcightens the Joy of dis
pensing with formality, and cnnoblcs and
makes grateful the respect.
The lady stood by the side Of her father,
pale, icsirous and drcading She thought
her lover would succeed, but only because She
thought him every way the nobcst of his
scxj and that nothing was too much for his
strength and value. Great fears came over
her, nevertheless. She knew not what might
happen in the chances common to all She
felt the bitterness of being herself the bur
den to him and the task she dared not look
at her father nor the mountain. She fixed
her eyes on the crowd, (Which, nevertheless
she bchcld no) and now, on her hand and
her fingers ends, which she doubled up to-
ward her with prctcncc only deception
she had ever used Once or twice daughter
or mother slipped out Of the crowd, and
coming up to her, notwithstanding their
fears Of their Lord Baron, kissed the hand
she knew not what to do with
The father said, " Now put nm cud to this
mummcry." The lover turned pale for the
first time and took up the lady. The spccta-
tors rejoiced to see the manner in which he
moved off, slow but secure, as if encouraging
his mistress. They mount the hill; they
proceed well he hats an instant before he
gets midway, and seems to refuse, something
then he ascends at 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 the air of rebuke.-
at the shout the lover resumed his way
Slow, but not feeble in his step, yet it grows
slower He steps again and they think they
see the lady kiss him on the forehead--
The women began to trcnble, but the men
say he will be victorious He resumes again;
he is half way between the middle and the
top; ne rushes, he stops, he staggcrs, but does
not fall; another shout from tho men, and ho
resumes once more two-thirds of the re-
naming part OF tho way are conquered
They are certain the lady kissed his forehead
and eyes.
The women burst into tears and the stout
est men turned pale. Ito assembled slower
than ever, but seems to be moro sure; he
halts, but it is only to plant his foot to go on
again, and thus ne picks his way, planting mis-
foot on every step, and then ga;.,ing gTonuii
with an effort. The lady lifts up her arms as
if to tighten him; he steps, he struggles, and
moves sideways, taking very little stops, and
bringing ono foot every time close to the 9TH
or. Now he is all but on the top; he halts
again, he is fixed, he staggers, groan goes
through the multitude; suddenly he turns
full from toward the top; it is luckily almos,
level he staggers but it is forward. Yes, ev-
cry limb in the multitude makes movement
asif to assist him see, at last he is on the top,
and down he falls with his burden. An
enormous shout--he has won Now he has a
right to caress his mistress, and she is caress.
ing him, for neither Of them get up. If she
has tainted, it iswith joy and in his arms.
Tho Baron nut spurs To his horse the crowd