The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-06
LOVERS MOUNTAIN,


We forget in what book it was, many
years ago, that we read the story of a
lover who was to win his mistress by
carrying her TO the top OF mountain,
aud how he did win her, and how they
ended their days on the same spot.
We think the scene was in Switzer-
land, but the mountain, though high
enough 10 tax his heart to the uttermost,
must have been among the lowest. II
was, al any rate, 50 high that the father
| of the lady, a proud noble, thought it
impossible Tor young man so burdened
to scale it. For this reason alone, ia
scorn, he bade him do it, and his daugh-
ter should be his.
The peasanlry assembled in the valley
| to witness SO extraordinary sight. They
measured the mountain with their eyes !;
they communed with one another anu
snook their heads, but all admired the
young man, and some of mis- aCtendanls,
| cooking at The village damsels, thought
they could DO AS mucn. Ine rather was
on horseback, apart and suilen repent.
ing that he had subjected his daughter
even to the show OF sucl a hazard; but
ne thought it would teach his interiors
| u lesson.
The young man (the son of a small
landed proprietor, VINO had SSme pre-
LentlOns w wealth, though none ~ no
DllitN stood, espectiui-Iooklng but
cOuhuent, re ejOlciug III his heart That he
should win ms lady-Ioye, though at the
cost OF a noble PAIN, which he could
hardly think OF as pain, considering
who it was lie was to carry. Ii he dIeu
| for it, he should at least have mad her in
his arms, and have loVkeu her in the
face, which he contemplated with such
t ansport as Is known only to real
lovers; Tor none others know how re-
specL heightens the joy of dispensing
with iormallty, and how the dispensing
with formaliLy ennobles and makes
grateful the respect.
The lady stood by the side of her fa-
ther, pale, ANXIOUS, yet hopeful. She
thought her lover would succeed, but
only because sac thought b III In every
respect the nohiesG OF his sex, and that
nothing was too much for MS strength
and Valor. She knew not what might
happen in the chances common to all.
She felt the bitterness of being herself
the burden 10 him ana the task; and she
dared neither to lOuk at her Iatner nor
the mountain. She fixed her eyes now on
the crowd which, nevertheless, sne be-
held nOt), and now on her hand and her
inger ends, which she doubled up to-
ward her with pretty pretense-Lhe
only deception she uad ever used. Once
or twice daughter or mother slipped
out of the crowd, and, coming UP to her,
Notwithstanding tnelr fears OF the loru
baron, kissed that hand which she knew
not what to do with.
The father said, "NOw, sir, to put an
end to this mummery;" and the lover,
turning pale tor the first time, took up
the lazy.
The spectators rejoice to see the man
ner in winch he moves of, slow but Sc
cure, and as if encouraging his lady
love. They mount the hill; they pro-
ceed well; he halts an instant before he
gets midway, and seems refusing some-
| thing; then ascends at quicker
| rate, and now being at the midway
point. shifts The lady from one side
| to the other. The spectators give a
great shout. The baron, with an air OF
| Indifference, bites the tip Of his gaunt-
let, aud then casts on them an eye Of
| rebuke. At the shout, the lover resumes
| his way. Slow but not feeble in his step,
| vet it gets slower. He stops again.
| The women begin to trembie, but the
| men say he will he victorious. He re-
sumes again; he is halfway between the
middle and The top; he rusnes, he stops,
| he staggers; but he docs not iall. Anoth-
er shout from the men, and he resumes
| once more; twu-tnirds OF the
remaining part of the way are con-
| Quered. They are certain that the lady
Kisses him on the forehead. The women
burst into tears, and the stoutest men
| look pale. lie asCendS slower than ever,
| but seeming 10 be more sure. He halts,
| cut IL is only to plant his foot TO 60 on
again; and thus he picks his way, plant
1 l..
ing ground with an effort. The lady lifts
he is almost at the top! He stops,
he struggles, he moves sideways,
laking very little steps, and bringing
| one foot every LIme close to the other.
| NoW-he is all but ou tue tOpl He halts
again; he ls fixed; he staggers. A groan
| goes through The multitude. Suddenly,
! he turns full front toward the top; it Is
| luckily almost level; he staggers, but
it is forward. Yes; every limb in the
multitude makes movement as If ii
| 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! ne has won! But neither of them
gets up. Ii he has tainted, it is with
Ijoy, and it is in her arms.
The baron put spurs 10 his horse, the
|
obliged to dlsmount; they ascend the
rest of the hill together silent and hap.
py, the baron ready to burst with shame
| and impatience. They reach the top.
| The lovers are face TO lace on the ground,
the LADY clasping him with both arms,
| his lying on each side.
"lraitorV' exclaimed the baron, "thou
hast praciiced this feat before on pur.
pose TO deceive me; arise!'
You can not expect IL, my lord" said
| a worthy man, who was rich enough to
speak his mind; "Samson himself might
take his rest alter such a deed"
part themW said the baron.
Several persons went up, not to part
them, but to congratulate them. These
people close; they kneel down; they
bend an ear; they bury their faces upon
| them.
"Heaven forbid they should ever be
parted morev said venerable man
''they never can be-" He turned his OLD
face, streaming with tears, and looked
up at the baron: "My lord, they are
deadW
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