The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-07-06
ON HELVELLYN.

lIOllCc HN IedtlCIS Is NuNCu SssStiC, ulS
seat of John Vernon, Esq, and one of the
Mrs. Vernon perused her sons letter,
then read it aloud. It was dated from
London, and ran thus:
DEAR MOTHER: Harry Standsh is at last able
to take few days holiday. and is coming down
to Raven Castle. we shall arrive BY the afternoon
train. and come up the lake by the steamer. Iou
can send James across with the boat, as usual, to
pick up at the pier Your afectionate son,
GERALD VERNON.
Dora Vernon had betrayed symptoms of
bushing during the reading of the letter,
and the quick eyes of her young friend
had soon detected her.
BY the bye, this Mr.. Standish, is he
not the young man whom Gerald intro
duced us to in London?' asked Mr.. Yer
non of his wife.
The same He is so gentlemanly and
nice. am sure you will like him, Miss
Lewis
At this stage Dora left the table and
strolled through the open window into the
garden Her friend soon joined her there.
"Oh, you wicked little thingr' she
cried, selling Dora round the waist. II
verify believe you are in love with this
Mr.. Standish, or whatever his name is,
and have never told me a word about it.
But I've found you out at last. When did
it happen? How old is he: Is he good
looking: Come, tell me everything d.
rectly. insist on knowing"
Fanny, how can you be so absurd! /
have only seen this Mr.. Standish,' as you
call him, two or three times in my life. "
Punctual to time that afternoon the two
1n~Iol OF lsttlo sa<k OF
tached to the grounds of Raven Castle.
men. Gerald Vernon was fair, like his
sister; Henry Standish, darker and
though both were good looking-more
finely featured than his friend They
were warmly welcomed by both host and
hostess. Fanny Lewis, who had been a
school fellow of Dora's, was a stranger to
both; but the glad welcome of the latter,
and the tender chances from the soft blue
eyes. proved to Henry Standish that he at
all events had not been forgotten. He
was cnraptured with all he saw-the
house, the grounds, and all the country
round, which he had never visited be-
fore
On Thursday, the four young couple
were driven over in Mr.. VernOn's wagonet
to the little inn at Wythburn, from which
the ascent of Helvellyn was to commence.
On the way they passed through Amble-
side, then at the height of its busy season
and full of summer tourists; Rydal and
Grasmere, with the little white church
and silent graveyard, where the poet
Wordsworth lies buried, and then up the
long steep of Dunmail Laise, till they
reached the Mays Head at Wythburn,
their destination. Gerald and Dora had
climbed the mountain so often that a
guide was unnecessary, and the two la
dies would not hear of ponies. So they
started off in gay spirits, fully equipped
with stout shoes, baskets for botanical
specimens, and strong Alpine-stock The
ascent began almost at the inn door, and
continued upwards by the side of little
stream that came dancing down the noun
tain-side.
Laughing and talking, slipping and
stumbling, they were soon half way up
the frowning mass, and map-like view
of lakes and valleys, hills and brawling
streams, was beginning to unfold itself at
their feet. At length a point was reached
where a faint sheep-track suddenly left
the pathway they were pursuing and
wound up the mountain in a contrary di-
rcctiOn.
Suppose, suggested Harry, 'that we
divide into two parties and meet on the
summit!'
They separated, and soon each couple
was hidden from view.
They continued their rugged journey
up the bleak mountain side, Dora leading
the way, and Harry stopping every now
and then to secure some rare little fern
that lay concealed among the crevices of
the rock, or to glance below on the glori-
Gus prospect that now lay stretched be-
meath them. At length the path they had
been pursuing brought them gradually
round to the other side of the mountain,
and there joined one of the main tracks to
the summit-the one leading from Leg
berthwaite and Thirlemere, past the Glen
Kidding lead mines. Having reached
charming nook under an overhanging
rock, which commanded a new and mag
niticent view, they agreed to rest for few
minutes, and then mount upward as quick
ly as possible.
To their right lay Red Tarn, 800 feet
Immediately beneath the summit of Hell
ridge of Striding Edge, and on the other
close to where Dora and her companion
were rcsting-by similar barrier, called
Swirrel Edge, having for its eastern ter.
mination the conical-shapedp peak of Catch
cdecam. Beyond lay the lovely lake of
Ullswater, with Stybarrow Crag and Cow.
barrow Park fringing its western shores
while the lofty mountain of Cross Fell in
the extreme distance closed in the hOri-
zon, and stood out boldly against the sky.
1t was a kind of rocky terrace they were
on, overhanging precipice that ran sheer
down for about thirty feet till it abruptly
terminated in a small messy bank. This,
also, in its turn, overhung another preci
pice of considerable depth, making one
faint and dizzy even to look down.
The Young man had all through theil
walk been striving manfully to keep him
self from making the long unspoke1
avowal of his love; but now that they
were alone-here in the cool shade, will
such a panorama before them and tn,
knowledge of their utter seclusiOn from
the outer world-he could no longer re
main silent.
Miss Vernon" he said, after a pause
during which Dora had been occupied il
sorting her ferns and flowers; edo you
remember that night in London when
said goodbye to you for the last time ~
"Oh, yes," she answered quickly.
"Well," l little thought then that
should ever see you again. I felt assured
then that my secret was that SHOULD
never be compelled to divulge it-that
should never suffer the humiliation which
knew could but follow its revelation"
"A secretr' she reiterated, looking q
him wonderingly. do not understand
What secrets'
Can you ask it.'' he answered, taking
her hand. I'm one short week, Dora
may call you Dora?|I had learned Il
love you more than my own life; but
dared not tell my loye-I dared not thinl
" and aor was poor ian asnsh as
rich man." ~ ~,
She was trembling violently, and he
eyes were moistenipg.
20, Dora!'' he cried, passionately
s'those tears give me new hops-new life