Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-06-14
NO. l40.
Gales and Skftehes.
NATHALIE BYRNE.s ROMANCE.
Continued from vesterday.)

could not avoid hearing your soliloquy.
II you really wish to 60 to the top of the
rock. and will trust yourself to my care,
! think l can take you up and bring You
down safely"
IL did not know that any one was
near" says Nathalie. blushing. Who
does net feel absurd when overheard au-
dibly communing with his or her own
spirit? | am much obliged to you, but
don't care to climb the rock, believe"
mo doubt yon think it very presumptu.
Gus of me 10 offer my services" says The
stranger, smiling. but 1t seems pity
that young lady with such an adventu-
rous spirit should not be grati6ed; and.
having been up there several times, felt
sure | could take you safely. Accept my
apologies, however"
lie bows again-a bow which speaks
volumes to Nathaie's society bred per-
ceptions-and returning to the cushion of
moss, takes up book and moves away.
Nathalies eyes follow Kim with an ex-
preston of regret. 1t was presumptuous
in him TO offer to take her to the top of the
ock. but granting that he had no sinister
moLives-and he does not look like man
capable of sinister motives--the offer GER
t,Inly showed very obliging spirit and
she feels that in declining 1t she has lost
her best chance of reaching that desired
eminence. Of course, it Is out of the
question to accept such q service from an
entire stranger, who may be, and who
looks rough enough to be, anything
dreadful; but 1t would be great triumph
over Jack, and-and, in short, she fet Is
that Mrs. Grundy has once more stood be-
tween herself aud something which she
would have heartily enjoyed.
"What slaves we are TO conventionali-
ties y she thinks. despondently. .Here
am. out here alone. and yet, so great is
the force of training, that l have acted
exactly as / might ii Aunt Georgy were
sitting by. That man is q gentleman
his voice, his accent, his manner, all tell
it-and, though he is evidently very low
in the scale OF worldly prosperity, that is
no reason why l might not have found
him much more entertaing companion
than those tiresomc men at the Springs.
And lost the opportunity of an adven-
ture-a real adventure-all for conven-
tionality. Nathalie Byrne, you are hum
bugw
IN this conclusion, however, there is not
much consolation, and certainly no prog
ress towards climbing the rock. Must
she go back without having ascended it.
after all She sits and looks ut it: and,
as she looks, the flame of resolve mouots
high again. She will not go back without
making an effort, at least, to do what no
other woman has ever done. She is all
alone now it is not likely that another
man will rise out of bed of moss to in
terfere with her; and she will make the
attempt. let the consequences be what
they may.
She does not give her resolution time to
falter, but. springing up. begins the ascent
at once. She is very good climber. and
mounts with comparative ease for prob
ably twenty feet then comes about thirty
feet of very hard climbing; then a few
| feet farther, with courage and nerves fail
| ing: and then-a stop!
What is she to doP The question is q
very serious one, for looking around, she
| sees no possible foothold by means Of
| which she can mount higher. and to de-
scend seems quite as difficult. 1t Is no
trihe for the steadiest head TO be perched
on on narrow ledge fifty or sixty feet
above the earth. and Nathalie feels mist
come over her sight as she glances down.
ward.
She leans against the rock. which rises
| nearly hundred feet higher. and, with
her heart in her throat. asks herself what
can she do. Shall she call for aid in the
vague hope that the man whose assistance
she declined may be lingering near? or
shall she cry, like the child she
feels herself to be ? Crying will do no
good she thinks, choking back some
tears which are very near the surface; 81
must call" Then she lifts her voice, and
with as near an approach to shout as she
can accomplish. cries
Help"
1t is clear, ringing shout which an
| swers from among the greenery below,
restoring her heart to its right place in
moment and banishing from her mind all
| thought of tears.
1T is that man - she says to herself.
II knew it"
What she means is that she knew the
man had not gone far, and what she chief
| ly feels is keen modification at being
found in such a helpless position. She
glances downward-yes, it is the same
figure which she saw a little while ago
that is now striding toward the rock, the
! same sunburned face which is lifted up
ward. the same clear eyes that take in her
position.
Hold on" he cries. Il will come to
You"
lie begins to climb as he speaks, and
Nathalie forgets her perilous situation in
watching his agile movements. He
swings himself from point to point with
so much ease and rapidity that she recalls
accounts which she has read of
feats of cragsmen, and feels sure that he
has had some such training. In q mo-
ment or two he has reached, not her side
exactly-for there is no room for him on
| the narrow place where she stands-but
point sufficiently near to render her as
sistance. Odd enough. his first words are
an echo of her last ones
Il knew you would do it," he saws.
$50 | thought l would remain with
in call in case of an accident. Lucky l
did, else you would have been obliged to
stay here all day, and perhaps all night.
too. You have missed the climbing points
and you could not have GOT . foot higher
iCsutisued % fDustA paro,I