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

"a her own emblem, within her gentle hand. SO at
length It grewo DO sacred 70 oetrothals, az 'ne
maiden might be won till her lover had scaled the
perllous heights himself to seek the priceless ede-
White heather, 1t told In itself the old sweet tale;
for if the maiden took his offering, the happy lover
might hope; ana If she placed It In her girdie OF
her BOSOM then he kneW that she was his Now,
do Won understand why cannot bear the edelwelss
to be profaned-why would not let you buy it ~
They had come out close BY the hotel now.the
hots with its yellow tide of lampght pouring from
tie open door. and babble of voices. French Ger
man, English, Sounding from the high balcony:
a raSed in denuncation Of the manners customs and
charges of the country: They paused Just beyond
the outer circle Of light still hand in hand and he
stOoped his tall head to asEhat last question with
lowered voice. Decima's head was bent, too. as II
to hide the face 1t was too dark for him to see and
for moment she did not speak. Then she slipped
her small fingers from the clasp where they still
reyes Yes. understand she said, very low and very
G shed INTO the cult Of Light and left him alone In
outer darkness.
where's vegr,ker gone ? was Captain Herefords
morning greeting, AZ Decima appeared at break
fast. Il want. to settle that trip to the Corner
Young people would have some consideration
But Decma prud.ntly refrained from all remark.
At dinner her fathers Indignation was still higher.
what earth that young fellows mp to, no one
can thinkr he growled over his thin SOUP Started
OIL at sunrise this morning; wouldn't take guide
only his alpeusock and nailed boots, and two days
provisions Must be madness In his family. Bah!
beastly stuff this; take it away
At supper he was cynical This comss OF lick.
ing up trav ,lling companlonsl The young fellow
looked gentleman, but no doubt he's one OF the
swell mob-just see II INV dressing case is intact,
y yOa sontemsn oes nut rsn another In
this way. Pray, did no honor you with his plans
DecieT
more only she knelt long, long time before her
window that night. looking up at the Matterhvrns
Jagged peak, as It shone in the silver moonlight.
All next day 1t was the same more irritation
from her father; more apprehension IN her own
heart and sort OF sickening feeling OF unspoken
terror People at the hotel began to wonder too; 70
speculate what the rash young American could have
meant to do-when he would return; to talk OF the
folly OF venturing to climb without guide; to
shake their heads. The hot day had cooled OIL
into another brilliant night, and again Declma
knelt at her low window IN the white moonlight
trying to soothe fcsersh headache, aud 20 pray
when all AT once some doomed ont OF the shadow
Yellowstone one whom even that light showed to
be- weary and worn and travel-staned an eager
n noi0t of tail alpenstock something was laid
gently down upon the window-ledge at her side
No need to see what IT wss: the prayer ended In .
PASSIONATE thanksgiving, and, while burst OF well
come CONGRATULATIONS and questions burst from
the hotel party below, the pale moonlight shono
npon slrl's face pressed upon the small hard pill
low of a narrow bed, and starry white flower.
believed with happy tears
Halt an hour later as Captain Hereford sat smok
Yerriker came to him. crnmpling an envelope In MS
hand and looking disturbed and agitsted.
May speak 70 y1u on mater nat f Oh srsat mPop
awaiting me from America, summonng me home ut
once Some one isdangerously ill--it does not say
who hut tear it must be my mother must start
at daylight tomorrow too much time has been
lost already by the telegram following me about So
But before 1 go must say word to you, sir |
have learned TO love your daughter-no one could
help it. I should think and hope-l dare 70 hope
she likes me just little May write to her l
ought 20 tell You 1 am not rich man; have
almost nothing Of nv own. for though my uncle
makes me fair allowance, have cousin VINO Is
his heiress, and he will leave me nothing But
am youne-I a,n strong-I can work. i will get
something to do at once. if only you will give your
consent ,
education from n study of Captain Herefords face
during ills address Surprise, bewlldernont con-
and eventually gave way to strange OK preston,
which it was. unfortunately. too dark Tor Nerriker
to observe. or he might have been wiser man. 10
tell the truth Decimas father was too sclfengrossed
to have noticed Ralph's devotion and perhaps
even had this sutton been the man OF means his ap-
psarance and surroondI1es had led captain tain Here
struggle to consider his daughters happiness before
his own but it was. this, candid avowal Of
and decided the question the instant His
only thought was howsnost plausibly to give an
absolute checx to such presnmptuous hopes.
INV dear Verrikerr He cleared his throat, then
went on more firmly: I'm very sorry-very con-
fess never guessed AT this TILL very recently. but
It's out of the quSstonqulte Not alone the nation
alty and limited means-I trust I'm as free from
narrow prejudice as any man-but the fact Is. my
dear fellow. my daughter H-Th-hum-areadY
.Engagedr uttered verriker. in a voice of hor-
ri6ed incredulity.
with success. Why the weddings all but settled
old fiiond, you know, and ali that. Pom my
word I'm sorry Verrfker;' and there was enough
shame left In the old man to make him blush In the
But Miss Hereford stammered poor, Devil:
dered Ralph. had thought had dared to hope
Yes. yes, thInk she feared SO. saw it in her
manner. She's young. you know. and tender
hrarted perhaps she seemed too KIND. There,
there Verriker, don't take 1t to heart ; and for n
moment even this villain was touched with re-
Poor little Decio. No need for her to blush and
tremble. aud steal into tho breakfast room with
down cast eyes and noiseless step, next morning
Only Ralphs vacant chair stared her in the face,
and her father was deep in a weok-old Tines.
'Oh by the way. sad he with an of-hand air,
avoiding her eye as a, g ng
tee gram so he's OF for America early tins morning
Bore isn't itf Didn't even leave You message;
Can Won start for the Corner Graf to-dayf Why, |
child what makes you wear that ugly scrap of ede
weiss in your brooch IT'S beastly plant. and
bears as much resemblance too flower as sea- |
anemone does to An anlmalP
All WE'LL il is woman's part In lite to watch and
wait with patient smiling face and breaking heart
Why should Decma have had happier lot than |
millions of her sstersf This sort of trouble does
not kill ; II only whitens the bair and dolls the
eyes, and poughs ngly lines In a smooth Young face
and the spring. Why should Decima complain
She had what most women have-a relic or two a
torn glove shrivelled scrap of flower, memory |
a heart-aohe. What would she have more Life |
was not over for her yet, alas There was her old
father; and to him she devoted herself little |
dreaming poor child, of the cruel wrong he had |
done her and as tho months dragged away, newer |
more urgent cares ana troubles began TO push the |
a t,,fo I'm n1fil flere "A
when a cooperative company broke, aud with it |
went all the committed pension her father had In |
vested in It, aud they were pennies she young |