Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-02-02

member of the family, seldom visible
without spectacles, and more attached
to ferns and botany than to anyone out
side her own circle.
1t is very long pull up hill from
Coniston village to the top of the Old
Man towering near three thousand feet
above it, and so our party found it.
They started five, but had not gone far
when the Questionable young fellow
joined them, and, Selling his opportuni-
ty, soon detached Mary from the rest.
1 believe that, on this occasion at any
rate, she made some resistance. But
Agnes had her hands too full of her
SWANS to look after her sister, and as
for Mr.. Salway, who was stout, and
more at his ease upon the pave
ment of the Stock Exchange than
the side of Westmoreland fell, he had
enough to do to mind his own business
up the winding path, even though for a
long distance that path can not be called
precipitous. Mary was far lighter and
more nimble than her Juno-like sister;
and so the pair, in no very long time,
took the lead. That the young man
had not been wasting his time may be
inferred from scrap of the converse
ton.
81 wonder whether this week has
been as pleasant to you as to me,
Mary?n
alt has been very nice. The lakes
are delightful"
"Ah, of course; you must have had
a. pleasant drive this morning?" an
swered he with some haste.
ooh, yes, pretty WE'LL" assented
Mary, but obviously.
81 am going away tomorrow.
She turned her face the other way and
diligently rooted up bit of parsley-a
very scrubby bit too, though there were
plenty of splendid clusters not far off.
Then she said frankly, though still with
her face turned away"
ST am so sorry"
care you really, dearp Won't your
mother be glad, though? She doesn't
like me much"
NO." said Mary, candidly.
ado you?''
"You have no right to ask me that"
"Have I not2 And why not, Miss
Mary?"
Observation-Disclosures you have not told
me-whether you like me-
~ think called you something, Misc
Mary Salway, few minutes ago."
glancing up and down the path; they
were Just in in the center of the gorge
near the Low Water Tarn, and there
was no one in sight. Mary did not an
swer. "You've forgotten, perhaps, what
it was, dear?''
She shook her head.
Imeant it. "You are very dear to
me-"
"You've only known me nine days"
His arm, which had been assisting her
up the steep path, was now giving her
much surer support.
"And to know you day, my darling,
is to love you"
And Mary, her arms full of parsley
fern, was kissed before she could escape.
Then q little reaction of feeling took
place on her part.
81 don't even know your NAME" she
said, standing still.
"Of course not; Harry: It's rather
a common name, isn't it?"
Harry?n murmured the girl, softly !;
"and-and what else?''
ooh, never mind that. You have not
yet answered my question whether you
liked me-
Yes, like you
"That won't do, Mary. The question
is now altered to-love me?"
You have answered it for yourself,
| think. Do you suppose [ should have
let you do what you have if had not?''
And they went on up the hill.
When they reached the top it was I'M
occupied; and seldom, indeed, had it
been gained by two more happy people.
A sunny, smiling world stretched round
them from sea to sea, the lights and
shadows fitting over the green sides of
the Old Mans brethren; while below,
lake beyond lake reflected the sky, and
round them, peak beyond peak, the
mountains stretched as far as eye could
reach. Only Scawfell's summit was
yelled in mist. They stood by the cairn,
and for moment almost forgot one an
other in the grandeur of the sight. No,
not forgot one another; rather it was
the thought of the others presence
which tinged with brighter luster the
brightest sunbeam on the distant lakes.
No wonder that they sat down by the
cairn, taking no very careful note of the
passage of time, and talked more of
those sweet nothings than before. At
length Harry looked at his watch, and
discovered that they had but an hour in
which to make the descent if they wished
to catch the coach.
The others must have given it up
and turned back, Mary
"I suppose so. We must come up
with them, or mamma will be so an
cry"
"Poor little Mary!"
"Don't sir! How misty it has be-
| GOMEZ"
"By Jove, so it has I ought to hare
| looked out. Have we not the world to
ourselves? But wish 1 were quite ce.
tain which is the side by which We
came up. We must make a start, ant.
| how
Have you ever, when at the top of p
Westmoreland hill, found yourself
lently, as if by magic, surrounded by
mist, from which a London fog would
for density and power of confusi1
things, hardly bear off the palm?
moment ago smiling plain, set witt
lakes, as if with jewels, and rimmd
with purple hills, was before you;