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

You do NOT scozn me, then, for my pre-
sumption-you do not cast me from you!
Tell me, dear one, tell me-can it be pos
sible that you love me -
She did not speak, she did not utter a
word, but allowed herself to be drawn by
his strong, manly form in fond, Hnger-
ing embrace, listening to the loving words
that fell from his lips, with looks that told
him all he wished to know.
How long they remained upon that little
| terrace can never be told but Harry STAN
dish at last looked at his watch with cry
why" he cried, "Gerald and Miss
Lewis will think us lost! They must
have reached the summit long before this,
and we have evidently come considerably
out of our way. Had we not better ascend
ut once?" ~
"Oh, yes" said Dora. cit will indeed
take us all our time to reach them, and
then be back at the inn before dusk. Let
us 60 at once"
They made ready for an immediate
scramble up the steep hillside, but before
going Harry eyed small plant growing
at the edge of the path and was on his
knees in moment busily uprooting it.
The Cerastiua Alpinum!'' he cried,
delightedly, land the first have seen. y
YES" Dora answered; cit grows, l
believe, only on Helvellyn. Butdo, do be
careful. You are dreadfully near the edge
of the precipice. Do not lean over, you
will - Ah!'
With a wild cry she rushed forward.
Her companion, too eager to secure the
plant, had overbalanced himself, and with
| cry of terror, had fallen down the abyss.
Dora stood on the brink gazing down
wards, her eyes dilated with horror, una
BILE to move, to speak, to help!
But his fall was suddenly checked by
the shelving rock, covered with moss,
which alone broke the precipitous descent ;
arm twisted beneath his back, and a
wound on his forehead caused by sharp
pointed piece of rock he had struck against
as he fell. She called out to him in her
agony and grief, but there was no re-
spouse. She then cried aloud for help
with all the strength she could summon to
her aid but the only answer that greeted
her was a dull faint echo from the distant
peak Of Catchedecam. What could she
do to save him? She knew that if left
alone there for long without help he must
perish; and rushing frantically from one
end of the little terrace to the other she
strove vainly for means of reaching him.
Her nerves were strung, however, to the
highest pitch. She seemed possessed of a
strength she had never felt before. She
would reach and save him or die herself
in the attempt! With her Alpine stock
for support she half scrambled, half
slid down the rocks, some little distance
from where her lover had fallen, and
where the descent was not quite so pre-
cipitous; tearing her dress and bruising
her face and limbs, but with the strength,
energy and courage that her desperation
had endowed her with, she reached the
messy bank in safety, and rushed painting
to the wounded man.
"My darling-my darlingr' she
walled, as, tearing her kerchief into
strips, she quickly bandaged the poor
wounded head and stopped the flow of
blood. Then, while he was still uncon-
scious, she gently raised him and moved
the arm from its painful position to his
side. She then knew that it was broken,
and moaned aloud in her agony and
despair; for how was he to be got away
away from the horrible mountain, to the
civilized world below, where he might
have help and succor: A dreadful
thought, which she could not suppress,
| suddenly flashed through her brain. Sup
pose they could not get away at all-sup-
pose help should never come! She leaped
from her kneeling posture by the wounded
man, and hastily traversed the little bank
on which they were stationed. twas but
a few yards Icing and a few feet in width.
1t would be next to impossible to get back
again by the way she had come or by any
means above, while below, all around
them, frowned the deep precipice, with
the Red Tarn at the bottom, and the mass
Of broken rocks that formed the base of
Swirrel Edge. Even if she could have
she leave him while he remained in his
then unconscious states But she would
not despair; she would not give way to
useless grief and idle tears. She believed
that God would help her in this her sore
distress, and kneeling down at the foot of
a rock, she poured forth prayer full of
earnestness and yearning faith.
If she had had but little brandy, or
even draught of cold water to wet those
poor parched lips with and to bring him
ing, nothing! Suddenly thought seemed
her lovers outstretched body she gently
pocket. A memorandum book, and -
what was this her fingers seized so eager
ly, while cry of Joy burst from her lips
It was a small flask fashioned 80 as to fit
comfortably in the pocket without fear of
breakage. Unscrewing the lid, she tested
the contents It was full of brandy; and
hastily emptying some into the cup that
was attached, she held it to his lips, and
poured the reviving fluid down his dry
parched throat. Long and patiently did
she await the result.
At last he moved slightly, while faint
moan escaped his lips; then opening his
eyes, he looked steadfastly up at Dora s
pale wan face.
Where am I?-what is the matter ~
at length he moaned feebly, looking wild
ly round.
With great sigh of relief and thank
fulness Dora tenderly held him to her
breast and told him all.
The sun was already sinking over the
western hills, and the strange silence all
around oppressed but did not brighten her.
She had nerved herself to endure the
worst that might befal1 her, and was now
prepared for anything-even death itself.
| At length the crescent moon rose behind
| distant ridge, and the stars one by one
lit up the dark blue canopy above.
ION Helvellyn!' he repeated, hardly
crediting his senses. Then, with sharp cry
of grief, "And it is my fault-all my
fault. You, my poor Dora, here, at night,
on this cold, damp mountain. Oh, l can
never forgive myself; it is horrible, hor-
rible!''
80 Harry, do not think of me. Think
only what would have happened if could
not have reached you. Let US rather thank
| God that came in time.
My preserver!" he cried fondly; my
truest, dearest Lowell"
He was very weak, and his arm panied
him considerably; but he bore it very
patiently, and submitted with q grateful
heart while the girl improvised splint
made from portion of her Alpine-st
hastily broken off for the occasion. Elk
hausted with speaking, he fell into quiet
sleep, with Dora's hand clasped lovingly
in his, and her face watching tenderly be.
80 Il knI 1,v1u rrov