The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-28

take so late IN the year.
81 think at present you may do any
thing you like" was Jeni'S favorable
answer.
'sTRen I'll engage you for as long as
this fine weather lasts, and we will see
if we cannot manage something alto
! gether astonishing
80, no, sir! not this year, 1 am sor-
~ to say, for l. am going home again
tomorrow morning"
Perhaps Jeni was almost as disap-
pointed at having to say this as Stanley
was to hear it: for. Notwithstanding his
love for his wife and child, Jeni was. as
he always had been, a keen mOuntain-
eer; and the prospect of week or two s
work with such good walker and
climber as Stanley, and such a pleas
ant companion, too, was very attrac-
tive to him. From Stanley there fol-
lowed a long protestatiOn. He did not
care for the Engadine; he did not care
for his holiday: and, in fact, he might
as we'll 90 straight back TO England, he
said. since .Jeni would not change his
mind and consent to stay. ~
"Aud, indeed, would give the whole
thing up," he concluded, .'if it WASH t
for another fellow who is out with me.
and with whom have promised 10
make 1T least one or two ascents. Look
here, Jeni, put off leaving just for a
day, and take us mp the Piz Bernina,
and won't plague you to do anything
else, but will be eternally grateful to
you" .-..
: ,.'Up the Bernina! You never would
be as foolish as to start with that for a
first ascent?"
II should not choose to, but I'm
determined TO 90 up it this year, and
so is my friend Langley. He has got
into training already in the Tyrol, and
well, I'm never so much out of it,
you know." r- IN
Jeni looked the wiry, muscular tig-
ure of the speaker, and believed him.
"COme, now, You won't refuse me
this" Stanley persuaded. I'm ready
to start TO night; and instead of your
reaching your wife tomorrow evening,
why, it will only be the evening after;
for suppose you will 90 down in the
diligence now you are a married man.
You'll do this to oblige an Old friend. l
| am sure"
''Yes, will do it, If you think that
everything can Ee got ready and an
other guide iound; for if your friend is
going we must have a second guide;
and then he added suddenly, chow
about your friend? Is he safe? l do
not like going up the Bernina with an
untried man."
''You may trust me that he is all
right. | am no fool to risk your life and
mine with fellow who does not kpow
what he is about. Langley is member
of the Alpine Club, and has this sum-
mer been up the Ortler Spitz and Monte
CriStallo.". .-... -...
II trust to you, MIR. Stanley" : 4:
And they fell to arranging details of
the expedition.
The PiE Bernina is the highest noun
tain in the district, but by no means the
most difficult to ascend, and Jeni, Who
had once been up it in mid winter, tax
ing twenty-seven hours without any
rest over the expedition, thought lightly
of it, now that all the conditions were
favorable. After some discussion he
decided to leave the preparations to
Stanley, who thoroughly understood
such matters, as he was anxious to keep
a promise he had made long ago, and
visit that afternoon a cousin of his wife's
in the neighborhood. Stanley Sugge tel
az Il second guide man called Hardt,
whom Langley had brought with him
from the Tyrol, and to this Jeni con-
sented.
81 sent on my ropes to Coire yeSter-
dav." Jeni said. s.Will YOU see that
Hardt brings sufficient and strong?"
Stanley promised to do this, and every
thing else, and .Jeni having arranged to
call for him at one a. m., the two men
separated.
,Jeni was veXed with himself, now the
whole thing US settled, for he disliked
having to telegraph TO his wife, and he
disliked. too, having, for the first time
in his life, entrusted the preparations
to some one else; however, there was
10 help for !. row. He went to the
telegraph cl1io6 and sent Off the follow
ing telegram: Sorry, but cannot come
till the 6:20' p. M. train on the 9th -
And then he dutifullv started to sec
Christina cousin. because he knew his
little wife would be sadly vexed if he
failed to do so. He did not get back
before $50 p. M, when he threw him
self on mis- bed, and. with his useful but
acquired faculty of going to sleep and
of waking at any given time, he slept
until midnight.
The two gentlemen and the two
guides met punciually at the rendez-
vous; j. was too dark, in spite of the
lanterns they carried, for Jeni to exam
inc the faces of Langley and Hardt, but
he saw that both were young and heavy,
erful-looking men. He asked Hardt
il he had everything that was neces-
sarv.
''Yes. everything"
You arc Sure?'
"Quite sure"
''Then let Us be off.
And in the silence which character
izes men at the beginning of anv long
undertaking. they started, skirting the
small dark Lake of st. Moritz and
through the pine woods toward the
foot of the Bernina. When daylight
broke they were climbing slowly up its
snowy slopes; Jeni was the only one of
the party who knew the mountain, but
he had not been up it that year. and he
found the snow, after the long hot
summer they had had, unusually soft,
and consequently tiring: they could
not make. as rapid progress as usual.
,Ieni broke a long silence by announc-
ing fact that was by no means en-
couragihg.
This will be the longest ascent of
the Bernina | have ever made"
What. twenty-seven hours?
Except that one, of course, which
was follv!''
They were toiling over 4 LONG snow