Litchfield enquirer., 1881-08-25
HOW I STOPPED RUNNING.

The diligence arrived at last at Callaz, ana descended in front of an enlarged chalet, which was told was the only hotel in the place. It stood half way up slope, and be. hind it lowered mountain.
 On walking up to the door the first person saw was MT. Smith seated in the verandah ; but looked round in vain for any appearance of Janet. There was no coldness at least on Mir. Smiths part toward me, for he received me quite warmly.
 "Well. sir, call this curious. coincidence. It's wonderful. as said to Janet yesterday, when she told me you had arrived, how friends do meet in these outlandish places And then 10 think of your turning up here It's the gout but there's something else that l don't tell Janet about. It's heart too-that's what the real mischief is.'
 ''I am sure Miss Smith is anx ious," I said.
 ''Bless me, she isn't Smith; she doesn't take at all after our race. She was Morton Her father married my sister when she was quite young. Young people are foolish, MT. Hunter but my sister Jane was the prettiest girl at Payneton. MT. Morton was a clergy man; very eccentric man; as full of learn ing af an eggs full of meat, but no common sense. not a grain. Poor Jane died when Janet was born. She wasn't married above a year, and lost sight of MT. Morton and the little one. He was not of our sort, but relat- ed to the grand folks, and so brought up his daughter after his own fashion. However, he died at most inconvenient time, sir. Janet was seventeen, and he didn't leave her pen- ny, but debts in plenty. He wasn't bad man either; but, there, it's not our way of providing for children. We'll, the grand peo- pie didn't want Janet when they saw how she was left, and when l heard of it I came for ward. settled up. the fathers affairs, and then offered Janet home. I wasn't at all the thing, and wanted some one to look after me. So Janet came, and better girl there can't be, though she never gets used to our ways quite. AS the doctor ordered me here, 1 fancied we should be merrier comiLg with MT. Cooks party but it's not her way. She seems deal happier with noe alone, up in these quiet parts"
 was deeply interested in hearing all this. After all, was not mistaken Janet was a lady, and had been brought upas one.
 "Where is Miss Morton now ?" asked.
 "Well she ought to be in, for she went up the mountain some time ago, to see the sun set, or something. She needed some fresh air, told her, for really last night she seemed quite moped."
 1 rose, saying that as MT. Smith. was anx- ious, 1 would go in quest of his niece. Be- fore he could refuse, hastened away.
 More than half way up the mountain was covered with short turf, at first intermixed with flowers and brushwood. Then these ceased, and one came npon overgrown bould. CTS and loose stones, enlivened by the Alpine rose. Further up again vegetation ceased entirely, and the mountain crest rose in bare ruggedness to the sky. Janet would cer- tainly not have reached to that region. She ho cnainn tho of from nra slope, for the sky was cloudless. l hastened on. But found the climbing much more difficult than 1 expected. not having waited to provide myself with an alpenstock. planted my nailed boots firmly into the turf, and progressed steadily.
 At last Preached a kind of ledge, or hollow, and turning round for moment, beheld the great snow range of the Mont Blanc, and further back the St. Bernard group flooded in the wonderful crimson glow well known to Swiss travellers, a perfect earthly Para, disc. Was Janet seeing it too? l felt sure she would appreciate it~ But where wasshe had missed her? Above me rose 8 very steep bit climbing up and over that another ledge.
 Suddenly Isaw, high above me, the fiutter of dress. 1 could not quite distinguish who it was, yet l felt sure it must be Janet. 1 wav- my arm. and then, whether she was startled or whether she slipped over something, know not, but at that minute l saw her fall. She made a violent effort to save herself, but let go her alpenstock which rolled rapidly away from her. Then, losing all control over her movements, she half slipped, half rolled down the fearful declivity.
 1 was some way off. Also she was not just above me. but somewhat to the right, where no second ledge would stop her course. In an instant made up my mind. 1 rushed on as fast as possible in downward direction to the right. In this way 1 might perhaps reach some point where l could stop her de- scent If not, she might be killed or serious ly injured by striking against some boulder. I flew on, keeping my eyes on her. Now and then she was partially stopped by some small impediment but again precipitated downward by the struggles she made to regain her foot ing. 7
 It takes long to describe, but it did not take many moments to reach spot below, only just in time to catch at her dress. But alas had not time to secure my own footing was dragged by her weight and fell, still re- taining my grasp, however. A Aviolent effort, in which every muscle of my body seemed to be exerted, and then managed to cling to the ground, and throwing out my left arm clutched at boulder We were saved no fear now. of again slipping, for, curiously enough Sainst this very boulder Janet's al- penstock had been caught secured it, and planting it firmly in the ground, managed to raise Janet. She. was for 8 few moments quite stunned. but happily had not tainted Very soon she looked up and recognized me.
 Thank you" she said simply; ''it was so very horrid going down like that and not be- ing able to stop oneself" She shuddered a little, then with great effort she rose, but was trembling too much to walk alone. She