The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1882-06-15
THE SCARLET GLOW.

THE SCARLET GLOW.
II wish l could take you both with
me- said Mr.. Hanway, as he kissed his
children goodbye, and stepped into the
carriage that was to bear him up among
the mountains on visit to an old
friend; but Fletcher here will take
good care of you. Amy, and am sure
neither of you will forget what I've told
You about keeping away from the
boats
Fletcher was ten and Amy eight. and
the two, with their father. who was a
wldower, were stopping at a cozy little
hotel on the shores of a lovely lake in
Switzerland
1t was only on very rare occasions
that MIR. Hanway permitted himself to
be separated from his children during
their travels abroad, but as the hotel
where they had now been staying for
nearly week was a very home-lke one,
and as he expected to be back in time
for supper, he felt that he could safely
leave them to amuse themselves for a
few hours.
Thus cast upon their own resources,
the brother and sister read story books
and played in door games until dinner
time. At the table We're some Amer-
can tourists just from the summit of
the highest mountain in the place, and
to their lively descriptions of the views
to be had therefrom, and of the pretty
hooks scattered all over it, both chill
aren listened with eager ears, and when
one OF the young ladies' held up a bunch
of tho 1nrahinCt wild +o,,,or,b
which she had gathered by the road
side, Amy whispered to her brother that
she really must 60 little way up that
very afternoon.
But papa isn't here to take u.s." OBJ
jec'ed Fletcher, who longed to 90 as
much as his sister, although he was old
enough to understand that his father
would not like to have them leave the
hotel in his absence.
Papa didn't tell us we muslin t
climb mountains - only boats" re-
turned Amy, cunningly. And, be-
sides, didn't he say you could take care
of me? and don't you think you camp
and the artful little tease looked up at
her stout young brother with most
confding air.
Under these circumstances, what
could Fletcher reply but that he was
most certainly able to protect her, and
that he would do so for little way, a
very little way, up the mountain, as
they must be sure to be at the hotel
when father came back.
Greatly delighted at having gained her
point, Amy ran Off for her hat as soon
as desert was over, and having stuffed
apaper of candy into her pretty little
arm basket, announced herself ready.
And then the two set out, Fletcher,
with his alpenstock, leading the way up
trough the town, on by the winding
path through the woods, up, up, until
the beautiful lake came into view below
them.
Let's rest here a minute" proposed
Fletcher This fat rock'n make a
nice seat; and while we eat some candy,
I'll teach you the names of the snow
mountains over yonder."
So the expedition halted while the
Captain pointed out what he thought
was Mont Blanc, the king of all the
peaks; the beautiful Jungfrau, with it's
silver horn. and But turning to see
If Amy was looking in the right direc-
iiohs lSeShCl ioullt ICl cNcS ClOSSus
and her head just sinking to his shout
der.
Poor little thing, she's tired out. I'll
let her have short nap before we start
down again" So, while Amy slept, her
brother ate chocolate drops and studied
the Alps.
Now, it would have been quite ro-
mantle and Babes-in-the-W oodsy if he,
too, had been overcome with drowsi-
ness, thus leaving them both lying there
asleep on the mountain-side until an
elf, giant, or some other rarely seen
creature, came to wake them up and
conduct them to wonderful grotto.
studded with diamonds and paved with
pearls. But as this is not a fairy tale,
nothing of the sort occurred, for Amy
presently woke up of her own accord,
and finding the basket empty, recollect-
ed what she had come for, upon which
the two began searching for wild flow
ers.
At first Fletcher rather affected to
despise the occupation, but after they
had gathered few, he found them so
pretty, and it grew to be so exciting to
wonder where they would chance upon
some more, that he speedily became as
absorbed in the hunt as Amy herself,
and both wandered over the mountain in
every direction.
At last the pretty little basket was
filed to the top with still prettier con-
tents, and at the same time Fletcher no.
ticed that the sun was very near the tip
of one of the snow mountains.
"Come, Amy he exclaimed, "we
must hurry back, or papa'll be there be-
fore u.s. and taking her by the hand he
set out for the path by which they had
assembled.
But why can't We 60 down right
here?" asked Amy. eth be such
fun to 60 sort O sliding down hill"
II guess we needn't Slide" returned
Fletcher, "for here kind of path we
can take; so now hold on to me tight,
and be careful not to slip;' and down
the two started over the rough way. for
the mountain side was covered with
stones. little and big, which the feet of
the children sent rolling and crashing on
ahead of them in quite noisy fashion.
With each advancing step the path
grew fainter and fainter, until it finally