The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-05-05

| wonderful freshness Of mountain air;
and when. the long wagon of Saltash
! House arrived at the foot of the ravine
| all the younger members of the party
were unanimous in their resolve to climb
!. to Clear Pond, while the older ladies and
| one white haired bachelor, who cared
| little for scenery and much for his ease,
remained quietly on a broad rock by the
lower pool, where thick pine bOughs
sheltered them from the sun, and the
cool odor of dripping water seemed to
disperse whatever heat the July
weather threatened. Two couples had
already gone upward, when Dora and
Grace, attended by Mr.. Horton and
| Ned Schenck, cousin of Dora's began
the climb, Both gentlemen had been
sufficiently accustomed to forest paths
to make the matter easy as far as they
were concerned, but to feet only used
to the walks of the city or the smooth
turf of the croquet ground, this rough
yet slippery ascent looked fearful
enough nor were kid boots the best prep
arati8n, for sharp rocks and moss
strewn with pine needles. It seemed
all but impossible for Dora to attempt
such a task, but her pride forbade re-
treat, while Grace, in despair, suffered
herself to be half carried up the steepest
pitches by Ned Schenck, and lifted
bodily over stones and logs that she de-
clared herself altogether unable to sur
mount. Fortunately for her protector
she was slight, and not tail; he could
easily spare all the strength necessary.
But Dora would not allow herself to be
more than guided, though the guidance
was peremptory.
Put your foot here, Miss Schenck;
now the other on that stone. Give me
/ your left hand, and take firm hold of
that bough to the right"
Dora Obeyed with the most childlike
confidence, for the abyss below her and
the height above were alike terriblei but
she had that best of courage which will
not turn back, though trembling with
terror.
Grace, from below, helpless burden,
saw with sort of pique how well Dora
endured the march, and caught Mr..
Horizons admiring glances at the 1.-the
figure that was at once so brave and
d0cile. To tell the truth, Grace had in
tended the handsome young clergyman
should be her own escort, and was not
at all satisfied at being relegated to Ned
Schenck's care, who was strong and good
tempered, no doubt, but neither COED
looking or rich. 1t was not from pure
desire to tease that Grace called out, in
her soft. drawing tones; Doll, you are
really m.rao'e. Hrver expected to
see YOU mn l u % Implicitly"
Dora was indignant. She knew we'll
that Grace could be spiteful, but the
spite did not hurt her as much as the
answering consciousness that, in spite Of
her fine theories, she had been most i'm
plicitly submissive to Mr.. Horizons es-
cOrt The girlish, silly pride that was
her great fault rose in arms. She did
not answer Grace, but, with resOlute
look on her flushed face, sprang onward |
after her own fashion, stumbling and
clinging as well as she could, every mo- |
ment expecting Mr.. Horton to advise or |
but bent on needing his |
voice no more.
She expected in vain. He said moth |
ing, and the smile on his face would not |
have pleased her; he only followed fast !
behind her till they came to a little |
grassy platform at the head of the |
stream. where the rocks retreated and |
the trees had been swept away directly |
in front of the last and highest fall. |
which descended here at right angles !
with the rest of the stream, behind a
cliff that hid it entirely from the lower
pool.
Grace had stopped far below; she was
heated and tired an angry too. Ned |
Schenck did not care for her; so he sat
down on the other end of the log where |
she had seated herself, and profaned the |
delicate forest odors with cigar. Dora
stopped moment to take breath and ad-
mire the beautiful fall before them,
which dashed its white water down the
sheer black rock, and sprinkled with
white dew the luxuriant ferns and vines
that fringed the bank on either side.
Then she turned to follow the very slight
indication of path upward. MIR. Hor-
ton was ready to follow; but the moment
she set her foot on the rock which was
her first step. and extended her hand to
grasp a Iedge ABOVE, wnicn must De
he cried out, in a loud, impera-
tive voice, "DOra, stopw
The voice was so decisive, so power
full, so full of that command which is
the counterpart of obedience, that with
cut thought of rebellion. Dora stood
ike q statue. In an instant Mr. Horton
put his arm about her, swung her back,
and began to strike rapidly and fiercely
at something on the crest of the ledge;
and in another minute he lifted dead
ratlesnake on his cane and flung it far
down into the stream. Dora turned sick,
and sat down on stone, shudderlng and
pale. Mr.. Horton only said, Excuse
me, Miss Schenck; the danger was too
near for me to be less imperative"
Dora shivered. "If you had not,
should be dead now"
Not at all" laughed Mr.. Horton.
'' know these woods too well to be
ever without the properssSsa rssSsalIeviatiOns for
a snake bite, but never yet used them,
though / have met and killed a good
many. Rattlesnakes are dull creatures
unless they coil to spring, and one blow
with heavy stick viii kill them. Very
few people die OF their bites. / have
only heard Of one case in these regions,
and that was a child who had strayed
alone in the woods"
He purposely heightened his expla-
nation, that Dora might calm herself;
he did not know how it was still thr0b-
bipg through her heart that he had
called her "Dora." Her n8tiTely gen
srous instinct demanded some thanks at
least to be paid, but she could not speak
yet; she was shyly glad, yet angry with
herself for being glad; and trembling so
with the sudden nervous shock, she
could not for some minutes speak
again.
Mr.. Horton stepped down to the
waters edge, and seemed absorbed in
looking at the fall, but his heart beat as
wildly as hers; in that moment of dan
yer he had discovered what deep hold
Dora had taken of his life. He did not
think of her unfitness to be his wife, of
her scorn, her wild impulses, her quick
temper. Like many another man in his
case, he thought only of her beauty and
ts sweetness, and felt that she must
owe him or he would be miserable.
Blessed ordination of thingsl Ii men or