Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-21

that vulgar young man. who had last evening
crowned his other enormities by openly drink
ing beer out of pewter at the table q hote din
ner; but now she congratulated herself on his
absence. 1t must be confessed. Mary was
little dull: no doubt the scenery was beautiful
and her sisters were prepared to join In any
amount OF ioudly-expressed admiration of it,
as they swept past Esthwaite Water and over
Coniston Pass, and through the thckly-wooded
slope that. like shrubbery, surrounds Conis-
ton Water and forms SO rich contrast to the
bare gigantic sides of the Old Man. But she
Frightened up directly.
Il declare now" cried Mrs. Salway, as they
carnc in sight ofthe village hotel, ''f there's not
that dreadful young man! Now, Mary, remem-
Der what l told you"
The child can't be rude to him." said her
father. who had a sneaking preference for Mary,
| ana had seen the faint blush which that figure
lounging there at the porch had brought to her
cheeks long before her mother had noted the
genteman's identity.
I'VE had better wait and let him 90 ND the
hill first" said Agnes, a dark handsome girl
who always attracted a circle of admirers and
mad brought two or three with her on this ex-
petition.
'Nonsense!" cried Mr. Salway. eff we are to
90 up we must start at once; the coach will
leave at 6, and that does not give US any too
much time. What will you and Laura dor" ad-
ded he to his wife.
''Oh, we will walk little way round the lake
papa. do not envy you your climb, especially
fern"
Laura was the studious and learned member
OF the family. seldom visible without spectacIes,
and more attached to ferns and botany than to
| anyone outside her own circle.
1t is very long pull uphill from Coniston
village to the top of the Old Man, towering
nearly three thousand feet above it, and so our
| party found it. They started five, but had not
gone far when the Objectionable young fellow
joined them, and, Selling his opportunity, soon
detached Mary from the rest. l believe that
On this occasion at any rate she made some re-
s;stance. But Agnes had her hands too full of
her SWANS to look after her sister; and as for
Mr.. SaWay, who was stout and more at his ease
upon the pavement 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 long
distance that path cannot be called precipitous.
Nary was lar lighter and more nimble than her
luno-like sister; and SO the pair. in very long
time, took the lead. That the young gentle
man had not been wasting his time, may be in
| ferred from his conversation.
| II wonder whether this week has been as
| peasant to you as to me, Nary"
1T has been very nice. The lakes are de-
lightful'
| "Ah. of course: you must have had a pleas
ant drive this morning." answered he with
some haste.
.oh, yes, pretty WE'LL" assented Mary but
obviously.
II am going away tomorrow"
She turned her face the other way, and dill
gently dup bit of parsley-a very scrub
| 10y bit too, though there were plenty OF splen-
did clusters not tar off. Then she said frankly,
though still with her face turned away:
II ans sorry"
Are you really. dear? Won't your mother
| be glad, though? She doesn't like me much.''
No" said Mary candidly.
''Do you:'
| You have no right to ask me that"
Have not? And why not, Miss Nary"
''Because-becallSe YOU have not told me-
whether you like me.''
Il think called you something, Miss Mary
| Salwav, few minutes ago" CHANGING up and
down the path; they were just in the center of
| the gorge near the Low Water Tarn, there
was no one in sight Mary did not answer.
dear?"
| She shook her head
-! meant 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 sup
port.
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 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 common
| name. isn't it -
Harry" murmured the girl softly; ''and-
| and what else?''
son, never mind that You have not yet an
| swered my question whether you liked me-
Yes, like you"
That won't do, Mary. The question is now
altered to-love me?"
"Yon 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 topt was unoccupied;
and seldom, indeed, had it been gained by two
more happy people. sunny smiling world
stretched round them from sea to sea, the lights
and shadows fitting over the green sides of the
Oid 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 Scawfells summit was
yelled in mist. They stood by the carn and for
a moment almost forgot one another in the
| grandeur of the sight No, not forgot one an
other; rather it was the thought Of the others
presence which tinged with brighter lustre 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 nOthin9s than be-
fore. 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
II suppose 50; We must come up with them,
or mamma will be so angry"
'POOr little Mary!"
Don't, sir! How misty it has become."
by Jove! so has. l ought to have looked
out. Have we not the world to ourselves? But
wish were quite certain which is the side by
which we came up. We must make a start, any
hOw'
Have you ever, when at the top Of a West
moreland hill. found yourself silently, as if by
magic. surrounded by a mist from which a
London fog would, for density and a power of
confusing things, hardly bear off the palm? A
moment ago smiling plain; set with lakes, as
if with jewels. and trimmed with purple hills.
was before you; a little puff of thin mist almost
transparent rises from some neighboring gorge,
| another. and another, and 10! your prospect is
narrowed to few yards, perhaps few feet, of
turf and shade cold CHASTITY cairn of stones,
and beyond-nothing. nothing but mist, sur
rounding your little island like gray ocean,
While all is clear, it is SO hard for a novice in
mountains to realize the difficulty of finding his
way in such state OF things but the difficulty
Is very real. Our hero, who had experience of
it, was quite at fault, nevertheless; he had been
too much occupied with his companion to no.
tice the direction of the wind, or any land
marks which might indicate the side on which
they had come uD. Once safely uDon the ath