New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-10
EDELWEISS.

and stern, aud cruel 1t looks; like petrided
decree Of Judgment n...,,,ao
sc,ihss i bnt there comes the flood tide Of mercy
And the rush Of glowing sunset crimson. which
swept over Alpine peak and snow-bocnd plateau
busLed them both for a moment.
Thsy two had climbed beyond tho meadow and
the belt OF green larches and pines that hemmed It
H. the sun set as y sos nowhere s'S IN axe
the frowning heights. but that made the feeling OF
isolation only the deeper the two old ladies who
com pleted their sunset party had sat down breath
less fifty yards back and to all practical purposes
they were alone with the mountains. he and She
Fair samples Of their age and per,oa; P tSs Oh
Quiste coorng and quiet grace OF manner tnat ae
cared her nationality before one heard her English
softness Of speech; he, tall. dark and active; Eng
linh TOO one would have said. except for certain
nervous energy and q Interrogation OF dinerence
In accent and infection OF voice. ,-,.,us,,
and had met at Cbamoun in the most commonplace
way posslble--a mere table dhote acquaintance.
Zsrmatt. and Captain Hereford and his daughter
had vague intentions In that direction too so they
drifted together somehow and joined forces; and
tho last fortnight had BEEN At least to one OF the
q whole fortnight fresh from Eden
PERHAPS many men might have found two weeks
of such daily intercourse and intimate association
with mnd so pure and spirit so sweet as Decims
Heroforls fatal to their peace OF mind; but the
peace OF mind Of some people is thing soon to be
some snch disturbing cause. Not so Ralph verri-
ker; there a strength of will in brow and chin
which went to show that his was not fancy
lightly to and waDe, and the most casual OBJ
server might have read his present state OF mind by
only too obvious signs. desire to exhibit all due
respect TO age, but truth rules me ana my test
mony t. Captain Hereford's intense u1pleasaptness
as travelling companion only throws up Verrikers
slavish AFFECTION 10 him In more amlabe light;
and as all virtue reaps some Ieward even In this
world of injustice. Ralph's payment had come with
compound interest on this July evening, whcn he
OF Miss Hsrsoras personal safety IL their
expedition. There was "a delicious thrill or exulta
tion to MIN in the situation they were so utterly
alone:
GThe world had died
And left the twain In solitude ,;
and to enjoy the unearthly glories OF an ALPINE
sunset in the c0mpapivnshlp of a perfectly appre-
ciatve and sympathetic nature. is q qualification
not granted to every SOUL
Tiers was not much need OF speech after that
last blaze of shifting color eye met eye. and said
more than words could do; then there was
breathess almost awestruck pause, until the opal
escent lines began to fade and then yerriker held
out ms hand, for the path below them stretched
down rough and sterp
Come he said. almost below his breath that's
enough let go before the END ali the rest will
be anti climax.
Down tue slope they went together, be guiding
while the two old ladies trotted OIL. far ahead. in
amisble oblivion. The awe and the wonder weIe
on her STILL and she could not come back TO earth
90 soou again but young man is but human after
oil aud Verrikcr was conscious with every fibre OF
his frame OF the light contact of her hand with his
But once within the a she came TO- esr'e
face like q reflection tossed back from the rose
d, cd hills, Withdrew from the support that las GER
tainiy not now demanded by the exiRencies Of the
Il was almost too Beautiful she said. MY first
and then the Matterhornl To you it must be snch
hsckneyed experience that you can hardly under
stand what il means TO me-
Yet think Icsil,' he answered. No amount Of
repetition can stale sight like that and it's not
50 many years since left Oxford and made the
giand tour first
and you have been abroad 20 often since, you
tho Channel in all my life before. and scarcely even
stoekinghami Is that where you liver
.h, Ies have lived there SINCE was little
Only geographically. I'm afraid; somewhere, IN
tho Miolands isn't iti 10 it nice sort OF placer
oh. no! not nice-not pretty at all u great man.
factories, all hard, and busy, and money-making:
nothing beautiful. think the only nice thing III 1t
T. the school Of art splendid one Tor x Saam
hours y child. studying at that artschool; Swift
zerland is the first realization OF my childhoods
dreams OF beauty; but your life must have been
Yes, different enough with half q smile. Il
an international. yon know. My father went to
America very young. and married New-York girl,
and after his death ] was sent to England to be-
educated. Elton and Oxford made me an Englsh-
man and foreign travel finished the compound:
Yet my mother aud my home are in New-York and
cftep think there is good deal of the American
i am sure OF it, she answered d. murely. 'Ihave
heard you say. Why, certany1 a. least dozen
times, and you distinctly "guessed" one day at
Verriker laughed deligbtedly Did she actually
remember small thing about hint Bnt as
needle clngs to the magret 80 the lover cleaves to
one subjcct and he was back again I'D an instant
70 tho chief topic OF interest
Speaking OF guessing he said, drawing nearer
Il have had fertile matter Of speculation In your
name. What is it Captain Hereford calls you 7
Deceit How quaint and how pretty never
.Oh. il is short for Decima. Do you like itf /
always think IL so angular and mathematical.
was tho terth child. and the only one who lived ont
Of babyhood u seems 30 strange that L should
why,
Ralph looked as though he could have offered a
woods now. and on the high road, and crowd Of
lingering children vendors of pebbles, and lichen,
one last chance Of esniimss sent by a hene6cent
Providence. aud rushed up through tho gathering
twilight like horde Of licensed bandirti, scream
ing and jabbering vociferonsly.
'Edeiwsissl Oh. Is 1t really the edelweiss 2 ex-
claimed Decins. as white danney looking yege-
sen must have it, And she hastily felt for the
pocket which women nowadays wear rather asa
Renance than ss convenient receptacle; but
Ralph interpoeed with an energy which startled |
Miss Hereford, DON'T ! beg You won't think Of
Prs DON'T Selling sdslw i was s there ever
take that yoa small rsptilssF And the whole crew
vanished, y0luK, AFTER INC uaueiiui VI smdn Coho
that ratified viciously down the hillside. Decima
stood transfxod with surprise; then haiphs race
Of righteous wrath struck her with mirth. and she
burst into merry Laugh.
ssd. WHOM she could speak what can 1t all be |
Sbout inot one little scrap of white flower. sureyI
Why en- rot to have II, pIeaseT
Don't you really knowf he asked laughing too |
st bis own vehemsnce. Perhaps l was rather yo- |
lent, but the vulgarization of the present age
Wing that disgusts me beyond words. To sell edel
know
Knowi know nothing except that IL is
stsInal SNOW and that / want one very much. as